Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary
Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary
Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary
4.5
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Duration: 1-2 hours
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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- Coni F55 contributionsSunset tour - the highlight of our trip to Kangaroo Island!We booked the evening tour and found that we were the only customers and they still took us out for the full tour. Josh was our tour guide and he was amazing! Even though it ended up being just us - we never felt rushed and he showed us so many koalas, wallabies, kangaroos and Cape Barren Geese. I loved seeing the koalas so active - and in a natural setting (not a zoo)! I highly recommend this tour. We learned a lot about the bushfires and the seeing the regeneration of vegetation and about the koala management program that the sanctuary is working on with partners to ensure their health and survival. I consider that this was the highlight of our time on KI.Thanks for visiting. Spring is great time to visit because the koala mating season is just warming up like the weather. Glad you enjoyed your visit to KI.Written 17 October 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited October 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 11 October 2023
- saragio15Leeds, United Kingdom147 contributionsAn excellent wildlife tour - Highly recommend !We went on this tour with Josh as our guide who was highly informative about the range of wildlife on the estate, the impact of the 2020 forest fire and the regeneration efforts made since. A group of 6 of us set off with Josh on foot initially and saw about 8 Koala bears, two with their baby joeys. Josh gave us tips on how we might locate koalas in the wild by looking at markings on the bark and for fresh poo. We then set off with him in his van and saw several kangaroos, as well as cape bitten geese and black swans. He provided us with lots of information about yucca plants, the regeneration project and the scale and impact of the fire. Also info about different species of koalas and their susceptibility to certain infections. An excellent tour well worth the moneyVisited November 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 11 November 2023
- Jules PNottinghamshire, United Kingdom53 contributionsBrilliant tour ! You’re guide excellentWhat a fantastic and informative tour we had. Josh the guide was great, friendly, knowledgable and funny. We saw Koalas and Joeys, kangaroos and geese. It was a great experience being so close to these beautiful creatures and to hear how the island is recovering from the dreadful fires that decimated parts of the island, the flora and fauna and the amazing wildlife. Thank you being part of making our island experience complete.Visited November 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 19 November 2023
- Teresa D19 contributionsNocturnal tour was greatAmazing experience with close encounters with many koala and kangaroos. Josh did a great job keeping the pace and content engaging for all ages. Beautiful sunset pictures. Highlight of our time on KIVisited December 2023Travelled with familyWritten 27 December 2023
- HeidiHomer, Alaska4 contributionsBest tour on Kangaroo Island!Best of the best tours, especially the evening wildlife walk! SO many koalas, up close and most were awake and moving. All of the koalas I have seen are asleep in a tree, not here! The guide was knowledgeable and entertaining! Thanks, Josh!!! We saw all kinds of kangaroo, wallabies, and even an echidna. All the wildlife was close and gave us great viewing and photo opportunities. Loved my time here. I would highly recommend and do again!Thankyou for your review. Our nocturnal tour is a great way to observe and learn about the iconic wildlife.Written 25 October 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited January 2024Travelled soloWritten 5 January 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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4.5
535 reviews
Excellent
343
Very good
140
Average
40
Poor
8
Terrible
4
Peter
Santa Ana, CA5 contributions
Oct 2022
We did both a daytime tour and a nighttime tour. Both were superb and I highly recommend them. Our guide Jim, was extraordinarily knowledgeable and had a deep commitment to conservation and the land and numerous animals that can be found in the sanctuary. We saw several koalas with joeys, including one with a tiny 6 month old that we had never seen before. We saw numerous kangaroos and wallabies. Everytime we come to Kangaroo Island, the Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary is always on the top of our priority list. This year, like others, did not disappoint.
Written 27 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
impossible50
Sydney, Australia748 contributions
Apr 2022
Our group of 4 did both the daytime tour and a dusk tour, on two separate days. We were in small groups and Jim, the owner, gave us a real insight into both the wildlife and the impact of the big fires in 2020.
The vegetation is regrowing at a great rate, and there was plenty of wildlife to see. Lots of koalas, Roos, and Tamar Wallabies, and we saw two echidnas up close on the dusk tour. Staying at Western KI cabins gave us close easy access.
The vegetation is regrowing at a great rate, and there was plenty of wildlife to see. Lots of koalas, Roos, and Tamar Wallabies, and we saw two echidnas up close on the dusk tour. Staying at Western KI cabins gave us close easy access.
Written 6 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
suzzyc161
Byron Bay, Australia14 contributions
Nov 2022 • Couples
Jim gently guided our group around his sanctuary where we saw mating kangaroos, mother koalas and joeys up close. Spectacular ‘Yakka’ that were in full recovery from the bush fires were in abundance. We learnt about the initial inhabitants and those that came later, their survival and what came next. Plant species were explained and we learnt how just how life changing the 2020 bush fires were. I would thoroughly recommend this tour.
Written 4 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
impossible50
Sydney, Australia748 contributions
Apr 2022 • Couples
Our group of 4 did both the daytime tour and a dusk tour, on two separate days. We were in small groups and Jim, the owner, gave us a real insight into both the wildlife and the impact of the big fires in 2020.
The vegetation is regrowing at a great rate, and there was plenty of wildlife to see. Lots of koalas, Roos, and Tamar Wallabies, and we saw two echidnas up close on the dusk tour. Staying at Western KI cabins gave us close easy access.
The vegetation is regrowing at a great rate, and there was plenty of wildlife to see. Lots of koalas, Roos, and Tamar Wallabies, and we saw two echidnas up close on the dusk tour. Staying at Western KI cabins gave us close easy access.
Written 5 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Fiona L
Perth, UK50 contributions
Mar 2023 • Couples
The nocturnal tour was first rate ! Highly recommend. Learn about , and see, wild animals as well as nature’s ongoing recovery from the wildfires. Peter was a very engaging and knowledgeable guide. A privilege to see koalas living free in the wild not in a zoo type environment. Lots of Kangaroo including 2 boxing then mating! Plus wallabies going about their nighttime routine. Great balance of walking amongst the wildlife and forest and some classroom presentation. Absolutely fascinating. Don’t miss it. Go here not the zoo place in the middle of island !
Written 5 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you. The sanctuary is like a night club....things really start hopping when the sun goes down! Wallaby "rush hour" is very special to witness. In my opinion the nocturnal tour is essential to fully comprehend western KI!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Written 19 May 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
saragio15
Leeds, UK147 contributions
Nov 2023 • Couples
We went on this tour with Josh as our guide who was highly informative about the range of wildlife on the estate, the impact of the 2020 forest fire and the regeneration efforts made since.
A group of 6 of us set off with Josh on foot initially and saw about 8 Koala bears, two with their baby joeys.
Josh gave us tips on how we might locate koalas in the wild by looking at markings on the bark and for fresh poo.
We then set off with him in his van and saw several kangaroos, as well as cape bitten geese and black swans.
He provided us with lots of information about yucca plants, the regeneration project and the scale and impact of the fire.
Also info about different species of koalas and their susceptibility to certain infections.
An excellent tour well worth the money
A group of 6 of us set off with Josh on foot initially and saw about 8 Koala bears, two with their baby joeys.
Josh gave us tips on how we might locate koalas in the wild by looking at markings on the bark and for fresh poo.
We then set off with him in his van and saw several kangaroos, as well as cape bitten geese and black swans.
He provided us with lots of information about yucca plants, the regeneration project and the scale and impact of the fire.
Also info about different species of koalas and their susceptibility to certain infections.
An excellent tour well worth the money
Written 12 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
joyce018
Melbourne, Australia260 contributions
Mar 2021 • Couples
What a day exploring Kangaroo Island. We did a circuit from Kingscote. Visited the Raptor Domain. Went on to Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary. We nearly left when we did a circuit and couldn't see any reception area. Fortunately we persisted and called the mobile number posted on a handwritten sign by the gate. Jim answered and obliged us with a personal guided tour in his Land Rover 1958. After a most informative 2 hours, we were so impressed with what he had done since the bushfire in Jan 2020 which roared through the 2000 hectare sanctuary.
Don't wait till KI has fully recovered from the decimation caused by the fires and Covid. Regeneration has begun. Go now and tell Jim that Joyce sent you.
Don't wait till KI has fully recovered from the decimation caused by the fires and Covid. Regeneration has begun. Go now and tell Jim that Joyce sent you.
Written 30 March 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dan Z
3 contributions
July 2023 • Couples
My wife and I booked the nocturnal tour. Our tour guide, Josh, was amazing! He was enthusiastic and really knowledgeable about the animals in the sanctuary. We were fortunate enough to be in the right place at the right time to see two male koalas sizing each other up as well as a further six females resting amongst the trees. Truly an unforgettable experience.
The set up of the tour was great - we were driven to different spots around the sanctuary and had the chance to walk amongst the animals. We learnt so much about the area and how it was affected by the bushfires in 2020 too. It was so awe inspiring to see how much the vegetation had bounced back from being practically barren after the fires.
Definitely an experience worth doing if you’re down on Kangaroo Island.
The set up of the tour was great - we were driven to different spots around the sanctuary and had the chance to walk amongst the animals. We learnt so much about the area and how it was affected by the bushfires in 2020 too. It was so awe inspiring to see how much the vegetation had bounced back from being practically barren after the fires.
Definitely an experience worth doing if you’re down on Kangaroo Island.
Written 3 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Richard S
Shepparton, Australia15 contributions
Mar 2021 • Couples
We arrived late as we had not booked...no problem we were warmly accommodated by our guide Mel...obviously the tour and finding the Koalas then the informative Mel keeping us well advised regarding the progress of the recovery after the fires. This is an impressive tour tom understand the habitat of the Koala and the restoration of that.
Thanks Mel and Jim
Thanks Mel and Jim
Written 10 March 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Creschendo
Sydney, Australia59 contributions
Apr 2022
Before even leaving the rendezvous point, Jim provides you with a great deal of knowledge regarding the history of the sanctuary, it's place in the koala ecosystem and the impact of the 2020 fires. Then it’s time for the stars of the show - koalas in the wild. It’s great to be able to see these wonder creatures looking healthy in the protected environment of the sanctuary. The visit continues with an introduction to the other unique flora and fauna of the sanctuary. Jim patiently answers all your questions with in-depth knowledge and a clear passion for his subject.
Don’t miss it !
Don’t miss it !
Written 4 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary
Address: 7797 S Coast Rd, Karatta SA 5223, Australia
Monday 9AM–5PM
Tuesday(Christmas Eve)9AM–5PM
Wednesday(Christmas Day)Closed
Holiday hours
Thursday(Boxing Day/Proclamation Day)9AM–5PM
Friday 9AM–5PM
Saturday 9AM–5PM
Sunday 9AM–5PM
Phone: +61 8 8559 7344
Written 23 December 2019
Overseas visitors seem to enjoy the extra info they receive from a guided tour. The nocturnal tour is very popular and the only way to visit and see any nocturnal wildlife. For a day visit there is lots of signage telling you about the koalas and easy to spot the koalas as trees with them in are marked. Kangaroos are just out and about as was an echidna when we visited so I am less sure a day tour is really necessary. You are best reading what other overseas visitors have to say about the benefits of a tour.
Written 9 December 2019
Hi, I'm going to be staying at Western KI Caravan Park and would like to do the nocturnal tour. I know its not wise to drive towards dusk, is it possible to get to Hanson Bay from the caravan park without a car?
Written 27 January 2019
It is only 2 km from Caravan Park to Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary. Drive slowly and you are fine. In fact it should be great fun especially with children because there is so much to see.
The problem is Kangaroo Island is large (160 kilometers long) and people get impatient and drive too fast.
Written 25 February 2019
Hi, can we just go and visit or do we have to book a stay? How much is the entrance fee? Thanks!
Written 30 December 2018
No booking required if you take a self guided tour.You can visit any time during opening hours which is 8am till 6pm Oct-April and 9-5 May to September.
The nocturnal tour is best but it requires a booking. It starts at sunset daily.
Written 25 February 2019
Is there a chance to pet a Kangaroo whilst visiting the sanctuary? Are you allowed?
Written 9 July 2018
We have abundant wildlife.... 500-1000 kangaroos, 5000+ wallabies, 50-100 koalas, tens of thousands of birds but you cannot pet or feed any of them because everything is wild!
Everything becomes highly visible toward sunset. We recommend doing a nocturnal tour because there is a huge difference between night and day. Think of it as a night club...things really get hopping when the sun goes down. There is always a lot to see but during the day (especially summer time) the kangaroos retreat to the shade so it is best to take a guided tour to avoid disappoitment.
Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary is 5000 acre wildlife conservancy with stunning ocean front accomodation.
We have about 2000 acres of cleared land (old farm land) which makes wildlife easy to see if you know where to look.
Written 23 November 2018
AUD $10 for self guided tour
AUD $20 for guided day tour
AUD $40 for guided nocturnal tour
The nocturnal tour is best (especially in summer) because the koalas wake up at sunset and all the other wildlife becomes more active at that time.
Written 21 May 2018
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