Healesville Sanctuary
Healesville Sanctuary
Healesville Sanctuary
4.5
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Healesville Sanctuary, in the heart of the Yarra Valley, is world-renowned as the best place to see Australian wildlife in their natural habitat. Set in a beautiful natural environment, the Sanctuary offers a place for people and animals to reconnect with nature from creek to canopy, and plays a critical role in saving some of the world's most endangered animals. Explore the 70 acre bushland haven to experience close-up encounters with some of Australia's unique and endearing wildlife, including koalas, kangaroos, wombats, emus, dingoes, birds of prey and platypus. Visitors are also free to explore the Australian Wildlife Health Centre, a working vetinary hospital treating over 1500 orphaned, ill or injured wildlife every year. The expert team shares the journey of animal rescue, rehabilitation and release with the Sanctuary's visitors. Don't miss: Spirits of the Sky: A free flight presentation featuring Australian raptors such as the Wedge Tailed Eagle, and colourful parrot species.
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- Mallo_PahanenHelsinki, Finland879 contributionsExcellent place to see animals!I was left with the impression that the welfare of the animals and the living conditions of the park have been invested in. It is a good thing. There is a lot to see in the park and there are especially a lot of koalas. Allow enough time for this experience.Visited March 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 28 October 2023
- AbbottHsuSerang, Indonesia2,322 contributionsOne day tripIt is another primitive and friendly safari in the protective areas. The overall surroundings and environment are maintained naturally by lots of experienced volunteers. I can tell the devoted contribution they make here. The banners and instructions are really easy to be read and understood. You can explore different kinds of zones by walking or jogging. It is a new and fresh experience for me and family since you can really see those wild creatures in a very short distance. Kids and I are impressed with the kangaroo and koala since it is our first time to see them. They are really cute and easy going by their general movements. Visitors either take photos or shoot videos while visiting those attractive creatures. My kids get lots of fun and knowledge by visiting them. The climate in this area is cloudy and cool for me and family. It is really comfortable to dive in the evergreen fields here. The air is really fresh and the water is so clean and chilly. It refreshes your body and mind while walking around the safari. There are 2 cafes inside safari. One is close to the exit and the bigger one is close to the kangaroo zone. Simple meals are available but it is crowded during lunch time always. Be patient with queue up and make sure animals won’t bother you while dining. It is a good place for kids and family to visit and the duration is around half day. Just come and visit here. Have fun.ÂVisited November 2023Travelled with familyWritten 12 December 2023
- Sarah V48 contributionsFantastic. Must SeeSo worthwhile. Fantastic to see all the Australian animals. The environment and enclosures were beautiful and natural. Go to the (free) Keeper Talks they were interesting and often did things eg feeding so you saw the animal. The entry starts at $46 for an adult. This is a must see!Visited January 2024Travelled with familyWritten 2 January 2024
- Our Wanderings | E&JUnited Kingdom99 contributionsA fun getaway outside of MelbourneWe visited the animal sanctuary as part of our day excursion to the Yarra Valley. The sanctuary is a good size and splits into 3 main areas which you can explore. There is plentiful to see and all the animals are native to Australia. We particularly liked the animal hospital where you can watch the vets perform procedures on their rescue animals. One thing to keep in mind is that there is not much cover between the trails, so keep that in mind if you’re visiting on a rainy day. There is also not too many food options so maybe consider bringing your own meal and snacks particularly if you’re in a big group as the food is a bit pricey.Visited January 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 19 January 2024
- dare2burbestMelbourne, Australia191 contributionsWorth the trip.Went to the Sanctuary with my daughter and grandsons. Haven't been for years as living in the valley it was done to death with visitors. Was pleasantly surprised. Great for kids but also good to have a wander any age. The dinosaur exhibition is especially good for kids. The bird of prey show is fabulous. I probably wouldn't go back for a while but I found it most interesting.Visited March 2024Travelled with familyWritten 28 April 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
2,123 reviews
Excellent
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Average
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Poor
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Terrible
30
tinker
Sydney, Australia115 contributions
Dec 2019
We made the mistake of going to Healesville on a hot summer day (34 degrees in Melbourne meant it was getting close to 40 at Healesville).
Due to the heat, it was not surprising that most of the animals were trying to find somewhere cool to rest. The koalas were asleep (par for the course), the kangaroos were lying down the back of their enclosures, and sadly they had to cancel the bird show that we were really looking forward to.
On the plus side, the staff did all they could to keep everyone cool and happy. The indoor enclosures (platypus, reptiles and nocturnal creatures) were handy for letting us escape the heat too.
Due to the heat, it was not surprising that most of the animals were trying to find somewhere cool to rest. The koalas were asleep (par for the course), the kangaroos were lying down the back of their enclosures, and sadly they had to cancel the bird show that we were really looking forward to.
On the plus side, the staff did all they could to keep everyone cool and happy. The indoor enclosures (platypus, reptiles and nocturnal creatures) were handy for letting us escape the heat too.
Written 12 January 2020
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.
Hi Tinker901,
Thanks for your feedback. We're glad to hear the indoor enclosures provided some shelter from the heat. The welfare of our animals is our number one priority, so on warm weather days we make sure they have lots of shadey areas or inside areas where they have choice to access. However, this may mean our visitors struggle to see them. We apologise for the inconvenience caused from this.
We hope you do make it back to the Sanctuary on a cooler day to enjoy the beautiful grounds and animals.
Kind regards,
Zoos Victoria
Written 14 January 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
WallyHolland
Voorburg, The Netherlands458 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
As a Zoo it is more than fine. The park is not that big but you still need approx 3 to 4 hours to see it all.
You get the possibility to come up close and personal with specific animals if you are willing to pay more.
Overall good, but it stays a Zoo. It is better to see animals in the wild.
You get the possibility to come up close and personal with specific animals if you are willing to pay more.
Overall good, but it stays a Zoo. It is better to see animals in the wild.
Written 23 February 2020
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.
MrDavetheSarks
Melbourne, Australia19,326 contributions
Jan 2020
It is tricky to get to by public transport, especially if you live on the other side of the city. Still, the trip is definitely worth it. Focused mostly on native animals, and animals that one tends to find around here. Great demonstrations as well. well worth a visit.
Written 24 April 2020
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.
Jeffry b
Essendon, Australia13,527 contributions
Dec 2022
This Zoo has loads of Australian native animals in their natural environment. Kangaroos abound, it's a thrill jumping around. The emus are inquisitive. The emus are the world's second largest flightless birds. They look fierce, but their bites are harmless. The wombats are interesting; visitors will find that the platypuses, which are unique to Australia, are fascinating. It's easy to spend a day at the Healesville Sanctuary. The Sanctuary is in the Yarra Valley, around an hour from Melbourne.
Written 21 December 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.
StephenR285
Canberra, Australia785 contributions
Feb 2022
Four adults visited mid week after booking tickets on line and we really enjoyed our three hours exploring the Sanctuary. We followed the suggested trail and saw animals we had not seen before plus we went to the amazing bird show and finished off with lunch in one of the cafes. We loved the experience and could certainly see why children love going there .
Written 22 March 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.
Jeffry b
Essendon, Australia13,527 contributions
June 2022
Children will love Healesville Sanctuary, you can get up close to the animals. All the birds and animals are Australian natives. Healesville Sanctuary is a zoo, with many Australian native animals, including the wild dingoes, kangaroos, koalas, wallabies, wombats and many more. Make sure you don't miss the platypus display. The Healesville Sanctuary is one of the few zoos in the world to breed platypus successfully. There are over 200 species of native birds. By the way, the animals all live in a natural Australian bushland setting.
Written 6 June 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.
Our Wanderings | E&J
United Kingdom99 contributions
Jan 2024 • Couples
We visited the animal sanctuary as part of our day excursion to the Yarra Valley. The sanctuary is a good size and splits into 3 main areas which you can explore. There is plentiful to see and all the animals are native to Australia. We particularly liked the animal hospital where you can watch the vets perform procedures on their rescue animals. One thing to keep in mind is that there is not much cover between the trails, so keep that in mind if you’re visiting on a rainy day. There is also not too many food options so maybe consider bringing your own meal and snacks particularly if you’re in a big group as the food is a bit pricey.
Written 19 January 2024
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.
Christa K
3 contributions
July 2023
We went with a family group from ages 12 to 74. We were able to pre-book a free wheelchair for a family member who had a recent leg operation.
We saw a wonderful variety of Australian animals. Some animals like the koalas are set up to be easy to see. Some appeared when we watched long enough, especially in the nocturnal house. I couldn't spot the lyrebird, although I enjoyed a lot of the birds in the multiple giant aviaries that we went through.
The younger members of the family were able to spot the platypus and also went to the "Spirits of the Sky" wild bird display.
I didn't really plan in advance for the displays and zoo keeper talks, but the ones we passed were interesting, but a bit crowded with the school groups.
We spent about 5 hours seeing lots of animals and had a great family day out.
We saw a wonderful variety of Australian animals. Some animals like the koalas are set up to be easy to see. Some appeared when we watched long enough, especially in the nocturnal house. I couldn't spot the lyrebird, although I enjoyed a lot of the birds in the multiple giant aviaries that we went through.
The younger members of the family were able to spot the platypus and also went to the "Spirits of the Sky" wild bird display.
I didn't really plan in advance for the displays and zoo keeper talks, but the ones we passed were interesting, but a bit crowded with the school groups.
We spent about 5 hours seeing lots of animals and had a great family day out.
Written 2 August 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.
CoastrunnerVictoria
Doreen, Australia162 contributions
Dec 2020
We visited on New Years eve and spent about one and a half hours there.
Unfortunately not all exhibits were open to visitors for whatever reason. We were hoping to see more snakes in the reptile enclosure, but the only one we actually sighted was the large python. There were only 2 snake enclosures which surprised us.
The highlight of the time there was a temporary dinosaur display with a walking track that winded its way through the various moving, roaring exhibits.
Apparently it won't be there much longer as it's very expensive to show them off.
Unfortunately not all exhibits were open to visitors for whatever reason. We were hoping to see more snakes in the reptile enclosure, but the only one we actually sighted was the large python. There were only 2 snake enclosures which surprised us.
The highlight of the time there was a temporary dinosaur display with a walking track that winded its way through the various moving, roaring exhibits.
Apparently it won't be there much longer as it's very expensive to show them off.
Written 1 January 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.
Hi CoastrunnerVictoria,
Thank you for visiting Healesville Sanctuary and leaving this feedback. Please be assured this has been passed on to the relevant teams.
Unfortunately we do have some exhibits closed for various reasons. This could be due to maintenance and cleaning or health checks with the animals for example. We're glad to hear you enjoyed the Dinosaurs, which will be at all three zoos over the summer.
We do hope you make it back to Healesville Sanctuary in the future for a more enjoyable experience.
Kind regards,
Zoos Victoria
Written 2 February 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
AbbottHsu
Serang, Indonesia2,322 contributions
Nov 2023 • Family
It is another primitive and friendly safari in the protective areas. The overall surroundings and environment are maintained naturally by lots of experienced volunteers. I can tell the devoted contribution they make here.
The banners and instructions are really easy to be read and understood. You can explore different kinds of zones by walking or jogging. It is a new and fresh experience for me and family since you can really see those wild creatures in a very short distance.Â
Kids and I are impressed with the kangaroo and koala since it is our first time to see them. They are really cute and easy going by their general movements. Visitors either take photos or shoot videos while visiting those attractive creatures. My kids get lots of fun and knowledge by visiting them.
The climate in this area is cloudy and cool for me and family. It is really comfortable to dive in the evergreen fields here. The air is really fresh and the water is so clean and chilly. It refreshes your body and mind while walking around the safari.
There are 2 cafes inside safari. One is close to the exit and the bigger one is close to the kangaroo zone. Simple meals are available but it is crowded during lunch time always. Be patient with queue up and make sure animals won’t bother you while dining.
It is a good place for kids and family to visit and the duration is around half day. Just come and visit here. Have fun.Â
The banners and instructions are really easy to be read and understood. You can explore different kinds of zones by walking or jogging. It is a new and fresh experience for me and family since you can really see those wild creatures in a very short distance.Â
Kids and I are impressed with the kangaroo and koala since it is our first time to see them. They are really cute and easy going by their general movements. Visitors either take photos or shoot videos while visiting those attractive creatures. My kids get lots of fun and knowledge by visiting them.
The climate in this area is cloudy and cool for me and family. It is really comfortable to dive in the evergreen fields here. The air is really fresh and the water is so clean and chilly. It refreshes your body and mind while walking around the safari.
There are 2 cafes inside safari. One is close to the exit and the bigger one is close to the kangaroo zone. Simple meals are available but it is crowded during lunch time always. Be patient with queue up and make sure animals won’t bother you while dining.
It is a good place for kids and family to visit and the duration is around half day. Just come and visit here. Have fun.Â
Written 12 December 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.
Suzan H
Melbourne, Australia
Hi everyone can I pat an owl
Thats my dream to touch an owl I love them
Written 6 January 2023
Sorry, I can't say for certain but visitors can get up close to their favorite animals by booking an Animal Encounter
Written 6 January 2023
Hi - do you have to book something special in advance to be able to touch the animals? Would love to interact with a Koala, Kangaroo or Walabee, etc. Coming in from the states so want to book well in advance if possible. My 20 month old daughter absolutely adores animals and I want this to be more than a standard trip to a city zoo.
Written 13 November 2019
As said in the other replies there is a ticket you can buy on arrival. There are also trails amongst some of the animals. It is a great place to see native Australian animals, enjoy!
Written 14 November 2019
Hi everyone, I would like to know can we pat and feed kangaroos without paying for the close encounter in Healesville Sanctuary?
If the answer is no,
I would like to know which zoo is the best if my main interest is only for patting and feeding kangaroos and koalas?
Healesville? Moonlit? Maru Koala and Animal Park? Ballarat?
Written 18 July 2019
No, I don’t think you’re allowed to pat the Roos or the Koalas at Healsville.
Written 18 July 2019
Are there Wombat experiences where we can touch and play with the wombats? I read online that there is this 'pat and play' experience listed but it seems to be outdated information. Would like to confirm.
Written 24 December 2018
Could not interact with wombats. They were in their own area.
Written 3 January 2020
Can someone please describe what happens during the kangaroo Encounter? We are a family of 6, so I’m trying to determine if a 10 minute slot is worth the $80 usd that it costs. Thanks!
Written 6 October 2018
I am pretty sure it is where you enter the roped off area with a ranger and hand feed the kangaroos. The ranger gives a personalised talk about the animals. Personally I don’t think it is worth the additional money as you are up close to the kangaroos in their enclosures anyway. If I was to pay additional to do anything additional I would do the platypus experience . The bird show is free and is a must do. Enjoy, regards Russell
Written 17 October 2018
Hi, I am planning to visit in November with a big group of adults / elderly. Can anyone advise how much time should I allocate for a casual tourist visit? Thanks!
Written 10 September 2018
Take it gently and plan the day there. Have relaxed lunch in the cafe where those that want to can have a glass of wine. I am sure you can get assistance for those with mobility issues. Ring and chat to Healsville Sanctuary - they are very helpful.
It really is worth spending time at this Zoo and see if you could book some of the lower cost zoo experiences as I am sure your group would really love them.
Written 11 September 2018
Are children admitted free during easter holidays?
Written 6 April 2018
Zoos-Victoria
Melbourne, Australia
Hi cbuc53,
Zoos Victoria is pleased to advise that children under 16 years of age receive free admission to Healesville Sanctuary, Melbourne Zoo and Werribee Open Range Zoo on Weekends, Victorian Public holidays and Victorian Government school holidays.
This excludes wild encounters (experiences), special events or any other offers.
Children 3 years and under receive FREE entry every day.
Hopefully this answers your question and we hope to see you soon!
Cheers,
The Zoos Victoria Team
Written 11 April 2018
Can a gopher be used on the tracks for someone who has trouble walking distances
Written 24 January 2018
Definitely, I can't recall any step or very large gradients. I am sure there will be no issues just ensure the battery if fully charged to get you around the place. Cheers
Written 2 April 2018
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