For the ninth
year, Georgians and visitors from
around the country can get a taste of
Australian wildlife by visiting the
Kangaroo Conservation Center, a scenic
87-acre park located one hour
north of Atlanta at the foot of the Blue
Ridge mountains in Dawsonville.
The Kangaroo Conservation Center
- selected as "Best Animal Encounter"
in Atlanta magazine's Best of Atlanta
2006, profiled by The New York Times
and Smithsonian magazine and rated
"Fodor's Choice" by Fodor's The
Carolinas and Georgia, 17th Edition in
2007 - features the largest kangaroo
collection outside of Australia with nine
species and over 300 kangaroos.
Under the direction of
founders/directors Roger and Debbie
Nelson, who have successfully bred
and cared for a dozen different species
of marsupials for over 25 years, the
Kangaroo Conservation Center is dedicated
to the preservation of kangaroo
species through captive breeding and
public education. The KCC is certified
by the Association of Zoos and
Aquariums.
The Kangaroo Center has more
than just your average marsupial.
Individuals and tour groups can take
the "Aussie Adventure" - a 90-minute
guided tour that consists of a
boomerang exhibition, a ride on the
"KangaRanger" truck though the park
where visitors can view the kangaroos
in their natural environment, the "Wild
Australia" show in Australia Station
where visitors meet the animals up
close in an entertaining and educational
look at the different species living at
the KCC.
Before or after the guided tour, visitors
can walk through the "Billabong
Encounter" that is home to native
Australian birds, mammals and reptiles,
walk or hike along the "Aussie
Walkabout" to view kangaroo mobs
(what groups of kangaroos are called),
enjoy the adjacent butterfly picnic garden
and follow the trail through "Fern
Valley," which is a native Appalachian
forest. KCC souvenirs, gifts for friends
and family and delicious snacks are
available at the "Aussie Outpost." All
KCC gifts and souvenirs can also be
ordered online year-round at
www.kangaroocenter.com.
The "Aussie Adventure" admission
(excluding sales tax) is $30 for adults,
$28 for senior citizens (65 and over)
and $25 for children ages 6-17. Other
individual visitor options are available
starting at $18 per person. For up-todate
ticket availability, and to easily
purchase tickets, go to
www.kangaroocenter.com. Group
rates are available - contact the KCC
at (706) 265-6100 or visit
www.kangaroocenter.com for more
details and tour date availability. The
KCC offers tours through the end of
November. Tour days and dates vary
so potential visitors are strongly
encouraged to check the tour calendars
on the website for the most up-todate
information regarding availability.
To reach the Kangaroo Conservation
Center from Atlanta, take Georgia
Hwy. 400 North to Hwy. 136. Go left
(west) on Hwy. 136 and travel 12
miles. Turn right onto Bailey-Waters
Road at the Forrest Hills Conference
Center sign. Drive about 100 yards to
the first entrance on the right - just look
for the large bamboo gate.
