Healesville Sanctuary

Kids are free on weekends, VIC public holidays & VIC school holidays

Healesville Sanctuary is one of Australia’s most loved zoo attractions. It houses thousands of Australian animals, and visitors can get close to these magnificent animals in a uniquely Australian bush setting.

Located in Healesville, the Sanctuary is only a one-hour drive northeast of the Melbourne CBD. So bring your whole family and spend a day here as you interact with and learn more about Australian wildlife. The best thing about Healesville Sanctuary is that kids are FREE on weekends and Victorian Public and School Holidays.

With a focus on conservation, Healesville Sanctuary is committed to fighting wildlife extinction and promoting sustainability within the park. Visitors can see many animal exhibits, as well as wildlife shows and keeper demonstrations, which are FREE with the cost of admission.

The most popular attraction within the Sanctuary is the ‘Spirits of the Sky’ show, held daily at 12pm and again at 2:30pm in the Sanctuary flight arena. During the show, visitors will discover Australia’s majestic birds of prey in flight, including wedge-tailed eagles, buzzards and owls. Sit and watch as these magnificent birds soar overhead, and make sure you bring your camera, as this is an experience you won’t want to forget.

While strolling through the grounds, stop at the ‘Tales from Platypus Creek’ exhibition, where Sanctuary keepers give talks about these unique marsupials daily at 11:15am and again at 1:30pm on weekends. You will see the usually reclusive platypus in all its glory during this show. Visitors will face this shy creature as they swim, play and interact with the keeper during their talk.

Animal lovers will also love seeing wild Dingos, walking through a huge aviary and getting up close to Australia’s best-loved birds, as well as stopping at the Nocturnal House, where you will enter the dark and secret world of Possums, Bilbies, Bandicoots and Gliders. There are also plenty of reptiles, Tasmanian devils, wombats, emus and echidnas to see within the Sanctuary.

For an extra fee, visitors can also book a special “Wild Encounters” experience, which will allow them to have a close encounter with their favourite animal. Accompanied by a keeper, they can get up close to a kangaroo, koala, dingo, emu, echidna, or even a python.

There are also a number of picnic spots within the Sanctuary, so visitors are welcome to bring their own lunch as they rest in the shade on one of the beautiful grassy areas. There are also a number of cafes and food stalls within the Sanctuary, and being in the heart of the famous Yarra Valley, you will find some of the best food, coffee, and wine here.