HEALESVILLE SANCTUARY

Welcome to Healesville Sanctuary

Healesville Sanctuary offers visitors the unique opportunity to connect with native Australian wildlife and experience the serenity of our bushland setting.

Relax and unwind in tranquil surrounds as koalas, kangaroos, platypus, dingoes, wombats, emus and other native fauna frolic around you. Immerse your senses in the sounds and scents of nature as you explore the pathways traversing the varied habitats within the Sanctuary. Let your spirits fly as you tune in to the calls of free-flying birds as they soar in the skies overhead.

Throughout the day, be enthralled by a range of feature presentations and informative keeper talks included in your admission price or why not book an unforgettable animal experience.

To complete your experience, be sure to visit the Australian Wildlife Health Centre and Raptor Rehabilitation Centre, where you can see the dedicated vets and nurses as they care for sick, injured, or orphaned wildlife as well as the animals that call Healesville Sanctuary home.

Enjoy tasty treats and refreshing drinks from our cafes and kiosks or pack your own hamper and enjoy an alfresco feast in our peaceful picnic areas.

Healesville Sanctuary is open from 9am to 5pm daily. Casual visits should be pre-booked online at zoo.org.au. Memberships are a wonderful way to help support our critical conservation work to fight wildlife extinction, and offer unlimited entry to Melbourne Zoo, Werribee Open Range Zoo, Healesville Sanctuary and Kyabram Fauna Park.

Get to know our gorgeous furry and feathered friends in a beautiful bushland setting with a visit to Healesville Sanctuary!

Finding Your Way Around

An easy-to-follow pathway system will help you navigate your way around Healesville Sanctuary.

The main entrance and exit are located on the western side of the property, close to the parking area. Right near the entrance you’ll also find the Sanctuary Shop, Candlebark Café, Emu habitat and a range of visitor amenities such as toilets and changing facilities.

From here, the main track circumnavigates the Sanctuary via a 1.2-kilometre loop. This central circuit takes you past many of the park’s iconic Australian species and connects with other shorter themed loops. These include the Woodlands Track, which passes through a native ecosystem where you’ll encounter a host of birds and mammals including kookaburras, pelicans, Tasmanian Devils, wombats, wallabies, and our Animals of the Night nocturnal house.

Or follow the Wetlands Track to a watery wonderland that resounds with the calls of native water birds and the chorus of croaking frogs. Majestic black swans and royal spoonbills grace these waters, creating a serene space to explore. Follow the boardwalk to the gum treetops where arguably Australia’s most adored animals reside in Koala Forest or join a mob of happy hoppers in Kangaroo Country. Other side tracks lead to the high-country habitat of dingoes, the watery World of the Platypus, and along a path of historic and cultural learning on the Wurundjeri Walk.

During your time at Healesville Sanctuary, make sure to visit the Birds of the Woodland Aviary. Not just an attraction for bird lovers, this lush aviary is a haven for a variety of native birds. Savour the tranquillity as they serenade you with their incredible birdsong.

Picnic and nature play areas are also dotted throughout the park, providing a perfect place to stop and soak in the beautiful surrounds.

Feature Presentations, Keeper Talks and Animal Experiences

Plan your visit around an inspiring and informative range of feature presentations and keeper talks that are conducted daily around the Sanctuary.

Learn about the natural behaviours and marvel at the unique characteristics of native Australian birdlife at the Spirits of the Sky presentation, held twice daily.

See a variety of bird species including the Wedge-tailed eagle, Black breasted buzzard, Barking owl, colourful parrots and many more. Each presentation is slightly different, guided by the birds’ chosen behaviours.

For the opportunity to connect with Indigenous Culture, visit on a Sunday and every day, except Saturdays during Victorian school holidays and meet with Wurundjeri Elder Murrundindi as he shares his culture.

Listen to the ancient sound of the didgeridoo, have a yarn, and marvel at his mastery at making a boomerang really fly!

You can also learn more about the Sanctuary’s amazing animals by joining a selection of informative keeper talks. Gain new knowledge and insights as keepers share stories about the animals they care for and discuss the important work Zoos Victoria is doing to promote conservation and fight wildlife extinction. Talks are presented on many of Australia’s most loved native animals, as well as key topics of conservation and fighting extinction.

Where To Eat

Enjoy the flavours of fresh seasonal food served at one of three cafes and kiosks, catering to a variety of tastes and budgets. Or bring your own picnic to enjoy in the serenity of our beautiful bushland surrounds.

Pop by the Candlebark Café near the gift shop at the entrance of the Sanctuary for a quick coffee or a tasty treat to keep you fuelled up for animal adventure or the journey back home. They offer a range of both hot and cold culinary delights – from muffins, toasties and sandwiches to indulgent ice-creams.

The Sanctuary Harvest Café is nestled next to Kangaroo Country, offering a blend of wholesome and convenient dining options. The carefully curated menu is designed for those on the go, offering a mix of high-quality, locally sourced ingredients and international flavours. Choose from a selection of pies, sandwiches, salads, sweets, ice creams, or wet your whistle with a selection of refreshing drinks and hot beverages.

During peak periods, the Pavilion Café also opens next to the Reptile House in the heart of Healesville Sanctuary. Relax and savour your surroundings while enjoying a variety of hot and cold food options.

You are also welcome to pack your own picnic and find your own spot of serenity in one of our peaceful picnic areas scattered throughout the park.

From a quick coffee to keep you hopping to a leisurely lunch outing, we invite you to experience the perfect harmony of nature’s wonders and delectable dining options.

Accessibility

Healesville Sanctuary is located on Glen Eadie Avenue, Healesville - just one hours’ drive northeast of Melbourne CBD. For public transport access, take the Lilydale line from Melbourne’s city centre to Lilydale Station, with connecting buses to Healesville Sanctuary. For journey planning information please visit Public Transport Victoria’s website at pvt.vic.gov.au.

We welcome visitors with assistance animals. However, there are areas where assistance animals will not be permitted. This is due to quarantine restrictions and safety risks. Admission staff will provide information about these areas on arrival.

There are accessible parking bays near the entrance. We also offer a Changing Places facility equipped with extra features such as a tracking hoist, full-sized change table, and larger-than-standard accessible toilets. This can only be accessed with a Master Locksmith Access Key.

Healesville Sanctuary has an easy-to-follow pathway system with access for people using wheelchairs and strollers.

Wheelchair and limited stroller hire is available, as well as free guided tours in an electric buggy to better assist visitors with accessing the Sanctuary grounds. This buggy can carry up to three passengers and travels at a walking pace so those unable to ride can join the tour on foot.

Volunteer Guided tours run for approximately one-and-a-half hours, and while they are unable to access all areas of the Sanctuary, they do provide a wonderful experience with expert guides. These tours cannot be booked in advance, do not run every day, and are based on volunteers’ availability. Please ask about these tours on arrival at admissions on the day of your trip.

We also offer a sensory map and social script, available from the Accessibility page on our website at zoo.org.au/healesville.

For more information about how we can accommodate your needs, please contact our Customer Engagement Team.