Healesville Sanctuary, in the heart of the Yarra Valley, is world-renowned as the best place to see Australian wildlife in their natural habitat. The Sanctuary's 30 hectares (70 acres) of bushland offers a distinctly Australian setting for visitors to experience unique close-up encounters with some of Australia's unique and endearing wildlife, including koalas, kangaroos, wombats, emus, dingoes, birds of prey and platypus. It's also an ideal place to enjoy the best food and wine the Yarra Valley has to offer.

Don't miss seeing 'Spirits of the Sky', a free flight presentation featuring Australian raptors such as the Wedge Tailed Eagle, and colourful parrot species. The new reptile presentation Fearsome to Awesome commences in January and be sure to see Australia's most deadly snakes in the reptile exhibit. Other highlights include the Platypus exhibit and Dingo Country.

The Australian Wildlife Health Centre is a working veterinary hospital treating over 2000 orphaned, ill or injured wildlife every year. Their expert team shares the journey of animal rescue, rehabilitation and release with the Sanctuary's visitors.

Share the secrets of the Coranderrk, one of the last remaining and precious parcels of original Yarra Valley bushland. Led by an experienced Eco-ranger you will travel lightly on the land in an electric Eco-train. Discover some of the oldest and tallest Manna gum and spot wildlife and their habitats. Enjoy morning tea at the Bush Hut before visiting a scar tree.

Healesville Sanctuary is an Australian wildlife experience that centres on local conservation and indigenous culture. Set in a beautiful natural environment, the Sanctuary offers a place for people and animals to reconnect with nature - from creek to canopy. Healesville Sanctuary plays a critical role in saving some of the world's most endangered animals.

Experienced guides offer a free volunteer guide service between 10.30am - 3.30pm.

Cost

Local directions

Healesville Sanctuary is 65 kilometres from Melbourne. From Melbourne, head east along Maroondah Highway through Ringwood, Lilydale and Coldstream. Follow the signs to Healesville. Once in the township of Healesville, turn right into Badger Creek Road and travel four kilometres. Follow the signs that direct you to Healesville Sanctuary.

Facilities

Activities

Opening hours

Daily
9:00am -5:00pm
Open every day, including Christmas Day and Public Holidays

Memberships

• The Ecotourism Association of Australia
• Inbound Tour Operators Association
• Tourism Alliance Victoria
• Tourism Council Australia

Disabled access

Contact operator for further details.

Additional business information

New Sanctuary Experiences
BHP Billiton Platypusary Another platypus first! All the behind the scenes action is revealed for the first time in Healesville Sanctuary's new Platypusary. Within an amazing golden-arched structure, discover a world of platypus pools, secret tunnels, digging mounds, feeding tanks, sleeping and nesting chambers. Meet the Keeper (daily at 1.15pm) and see first hand what's involved in the art of platypus care and breeding - lifting the lid on this most secretive Australian. Now and into the future, Healesville Sanctuary will continue to be the best place for visitors to discover the platypus anywhere in the world - a truly unique Australian icon. Opened 12 May, 2005. Australian Wildlife Health Centre For 70 years Healesville Sanctuary has played a leading role in the long-term care and protection of Australian wildlife and for the first time visitors can now see the experts at the front-line of wildlife care. At the Australian Wildlife Health Centre visitors can experience a real-life working wildlife hospital and follow the journey of an animal, such as an injured or orphaned baby wombat, through the process of rescue, care and rehabilitation. Unlike any other wildlife operation in the world, a visit to Healesville Sanctuary's world class Australian Wildlife Health Centre is set to become a 'must do' experience. Opened 14 December, 2005.

New Sanctuary Tours
The Working Sanctuary Tour Visitors can now experience the amazing behind the scenes activities of a real-life working sanctuary. Led by a Keeper, this tour reveals the day to day operations with an interactive tour that explores off limit areas including: The Reptile House, Nocturnal House, Food Preparation Room and a Kangaroo Feeding. Bookings are essential. Indigenous Walking Tour The Burra Burra Yan (A walk in the bush) is a 1 hour guided walk led by Murrundindi, a local Wurundjeri interpreter and storyteller. Explore the Coranderrk - a unique area of protected bushland which has never before been open to visitors. On this amazing journey, visitors will experience the Australian bush through the eyes of the Wurundjeri, the traditional custodians of the land. Tours depart1pm, Saturdays only. Bookings are essential.

Presentation Times
Healesville Sanctuary has been a leader in Australia for developing 'Animal Close-up' presentations. New and imaginative methods of imparting information to visitors are constantly pursued and the development of 'Close-ups' has been an ideal learning environment through face to face interpretation. Scheduled every day presentations give visitors the opportunity to experience a close encounter with Australian animals and their keepers. Interaction between visitors, animals and keepers facilitates the sharing of information. Each 'Close-up' is designed and presented to captivate the imagination of the visitor, promote understanding of animals and their habitats, and motivate visitors to take actions that support conservation locally, nationally and globally. Wombat Close-up 11:00am to 2:00pm Meet a young hand-raised wombat and their keeper. Reptile Talk 11:30am and 1:30pm There are 600 species of colourful and fascinating reptiles in Australia - meet the keepers and some of their animals. Bird of Prey Presentation 12:00pm and 2.30pm Exciting demonstrations of the hunting skills of Australia's magnificent birds of prey. Koala Talk 1:00pm and 3:30pm The koala has won the place in the hearts of people all over the world. Meet the keeper and find out how we look after them. The Playtpusary 1.15pm Meet the keeper and learn more about the breeding and care of this unique egg-laying mammal. Pelicans - Meet the Keeper 1:45pm Pelican feeding time is not to be missed! You can see them daily in our beautiful Wetlands habitat. Dingoes Meet dingoes and their keepers on their daily walk around the Sanctuary. Murrundindi Murrundindi performs Saturdays only. Aboriginal dancing, music, dreaming stories and boomerang throwing.