FEATHERDALE WILDLIFE PARK: Everyone who goes to Australia as a total tourist has the ultimate goal of hugging a koala and chilling with a kangaroo. Anyone who says otherwise is lying. There’s no way this isn’t on your bucket list, but if it’s not, I’ll give you a sec to grab a pen and add it now. We do have these lovely creatures in the US, but there’s just something about being in Australia that makes the experience sweeter.

The Featherdale Wildlife Park is right outside of Sydney and well-worth the quick trek. Guys, I basically became besties with a koala, fed a kangaroo OUT OF MY FREAKING HAND, and saw a ton of other beautiful creatures I would have probably never had the chance to be so close to. Even if you’re one of those people who is sort of freaked out by things like this…let me keep it real, there is legit nothing frightening, gross, smelly or dirty about this experience.

It was so cool. Plus, the koalas eat eucalyptus like 4 hours a day, get high off the stuff and then pass out, so they’re WAY mellow. Not so mellow? The Tazmanian Devil…but that’s to be expected, right?

Oh and full-disclosure, I did briefly consider abducting one of the penguins. Cuz, did you see how adorable they are?