 The Healesville Sanctuary is located in the Coranderrk Bushland Reserve in the Yarra Valley. This is only a one-hour drive from Melbourne. Virgin Blue fly to Melbourne and several tour companies make the trip daily. You never have to worry about visiting on the right day because the Healesville Sanctuary is open every day of the year. Admission prices are also fair, especially considering the size of the sanctuary as well as how much is offered. Below are the prices.
| The Healesville Sanctuary is a zoo that showcases native Australian animals. This alone makes the park unique and well worth visiting. Another big plus is that the animals here are well taken care of, which can’t be said for all zoos in Australia. In addition to caring well for the animals, the people at the Healesville Sanctuary are involved in several breeding programs. One of these breeding programs is for the endangered Helmeted Honeyeater. Another is for the platypus. Only one other place in the world has successfully bred a platypus, which was the Sydney’s Taranga Zoo. These are great and unique features for the Healsville Sanctuary, but there are other features that make this zoo unique. For instance, if you arrive early in the morning, you can take on the role of a zookeeper – with assistance, of course. Another option is to become a veterinarian for a morning. The best part about the latter is that it often leads kids to wanting to be a veterinarian when they become adults.
 The Healesville Sanctuary has a great layout. It’s great because it’s easy to follow and impossible to get lost. Many zoos are setup like mazes. The Healesville Sanctuary is closer to a large circle. There are paths off the main circle, but those paths lead you right back to the main circle. This allows you to see everything without wasting time or getting lost. There are four main sections to the zoo, which are Woodlands Track, Flight Arena, Wetlands Creek and Badger Creek. |
If you visit during the summer, be sure to see the Top 10 Deadliest
Snakes. This is one of the newest attractions and it has already become
one of the most popular. In addition to seeing the Top 10 Deadliest
Snakes in Australia, you will also learn about their venom as well as
how fast they can strike. While the Top 10 Deadliest Snakes is popular,
it still doesn’t compare to the Koala Feeding. There aren’t many places
in the world where you can feed koala bears by hand. This is a lifetime
memory and highly recommended. Other great features at Healesville
Sanctuary include dingoes, kangaroos, emus, wedge tail eagles, Tasmanian
devils, echidnas and crocodiles.
It’s important to note that Healesville Sanctuary also goes by the name
Sir Colin MacKenzie Fauna Park. If you choose to visit, consider
bringing a picnic lunch so you can enjoy the surrounding area, which as
natural as you will find. Also consider driving through local villages
and visiting the wineries.
