Posted By : Patrizia_P
What a great way to spend a day! Not far from the city Healesville is a beautiful place where you can view animals in their own natural habitats.
The most memorable part of the day were the two experiences we booked. Up close & personal with a koala & feeding a kangaroo, definitely a ticket list item
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Posted On : 2024-03-10
Posted By : Navigate59356531243
I’m an Aussie and have been to many zoos in and around the east and south west of Australia. This one was by far the best I’ve been to. The enclosures were amazing and the animals had plenty of space. The sanctuary has gone out of its way to keep the animals and birds in enclosures close to their natural habitat. The staff are amazing and very friendly. The talks, especially the wild bird session was fantastic. We went on a day that was 31 degrees outside but there is a lot of shade and some of the nocturnal sights were air conditioned so that gave us a respite. Great for families friends and couples. We were there for over 3 hours and had a great time. Even got to see some Tasmania devils running around 😁
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Posted On : 2024-03-06
Posted By : bradziker1
This is a large park with friendly staff about 1.5 hours from the cruise port. Our group had about 2.5 hours and I could have easily spent the entire day. As it was – I needed to walk very quickly to see most of the animals. You could not hold koalas, but they had wildlife encounters you could sign up for (extra money) to get up close. There was an awesome bird show in an outdoor amphitheater – they were awesome and well-trained. There are tons of koalas in their own area that are put in trees, but you can get good views of them. Some really good bird enclosures (just remember to open one door and close it before you open the next door). There is plenty of shade under trees in most places. My most exciting thing is I finally saw a platypus (their area is inside and very dark – so you have to look carefully). There are supposed to be several cafes to eat, but one by the reptile house was closed – but no signs. I ate at another café - a bit pricey, but I got a lot of very tasty (but very salty) sweet potato fries that came to about USD 4.25. I figure it goes to the upkeep and the animals. My only regret is that I just wish I had all day here.
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Posted On : 2024-03-01
Posted By : Alita_B
We had so much fun! We especially loved the bird show! Hearing the lyrebird up close was incredible as well. Everything was awesome. 10/10 experience!
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Posted On : 2023-12-20
Posted By : Natalia T
This is quite a nice place for kids to spend a day. You can get to see various animals like the koala, platypus, kangaroos, birds etc. There are play areas for the children, as well as dining outlets. Friendly volunteers are around to provide information.
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Posted On : 2023-11-08
Posted By : Halley_A
Lovely afternoon with lots of animals about. Staff was friendly, volunteers helpful, facilities were clean.
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Posted On : 2023-10-19
Posted By : EllieBellie27
We could have picked a better day weatherwise as it was raining on and off. Luckily we went to the cafe during the heaviest shower. A few babies to see when we were there. The baby emu was very cute, lovely to watch him running around and hear how it is the father that does the rearing. Mum lays the egg and that's it! There was a baby koala, we believed the guide, but really couldn't tell as Mum was not moving and the baby was inside her pouch. Baby tasmanian devils were fun, also watching the bigger ones feed. Quite amazing seeing them ripping off skin and bone. My favorite was the duck billed platypus, much smaller than I imagined, full of energy swimming around the tank. The bird show was shortened due to rain. The reptile house was warm and dry, appreciated on a rainy day.
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Posted On : 2023-09-18
Posted By : World_Traveller_838
My wife and I visited this place during our recent holiday in Healesville where we stayed at the RACV Resort for 2 nights.
Healesville Sanctuary is a zoo, specialising in native Australian animals. It has a history of breeding native animals.
The Spirits of The Sky performance at 12 noon, was the highlight of our visit. Held at the flight arena, the birds of the Sanctuary show off their skills of flight and foraging, allowing us to see the Wedge-tailed Eagle, parrots and an owl that performed magnificently.
Another highlight is the Platypus. We were able to watch it swim for several minutes, up close behind the glass screen, in its enclosure.
We spent 3 hours walking along the various paths and tracks to enjoy the beauty and displays available in this sanctuary. We were here before in the 1990's and this place has undergone many improvements since then.
We visited on a Tuesday morning, off peak season, when there were not many visitors.
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Posted On : 2023-09-16
Posted By : Manda_conwayy
Had a lovely morning at the Sanctuary.
Saw plenty of animals some were missing / sleeping but that is to be expected!
This grounds are beautiful, clean and well maintained. The layout was easy to follow, you don’t miss anything and there are several cafe and toilet areas along the way. The bird show was impressive and a definite highlight of the day! The staff and volunteers were very friendly, always asking if you needed information or guidance. Warm fires in the outdoor seating areas to keep you warm when stopping for a break. Just be careful of the sneaky bin chickens, one stole food straight out of my hand!
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Posted On : 2023-07-03
Posted By : EireDude
I'd been here twice before and suggested it to my friends. We were not disappointed. On a bright day - with small crowds - it was a peaceful and educational few hours with the highlights for us being 1. the bird show 2. the platypus and 3. the Tasmanian devils. My friend's two children were captivated much of the time and we 3 adults learned a lot about the indigenous wildlife.
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Posted On : 2023-05-15
