NSW offers plenty of unforgettable animal encounters but there’s nothing like seeing animals roaming free in their natural habitat. An enriching wildlife experience that you can have right outside of Sydney is at the Walkabout Wildlife Sanctuary in NSW. A cross between a wildlife rescue centre and an open wildlife park, this sanctuary allows visitors to engage closely with a variety of native and friendly Australian animals in a nature-sensitive space. From native birds and mammals to reptiles and farm animals, you never know who you might meet at this lively spot.
Walkabout Wildlife Sanctuary
This sanctuary has been committed to the care of Australia’s unique wildlife since 2005. Spread across 80 acres of beautiful natural bushland, it has served as a refuge for rescued animals, focusing on rehabilitation and breeding programs that aim to reintroduce endangered species into the wild.
It’s a place where visitors can find many free-ranging animals around the sanctuary, including wild kangaroos, emus, and wallabies. Guests are invited to pack a picnic and spend an afternoon immersed in the world of some of Australia’s most beloved animals including koalas, Tassie devils, dingos, pythons, flying foxes, and possums. Walkabout Wildlife Sanctuary is also a Heritage-listed Aboriginal Cultural landscape, featuring ancient sites dating back more than 4,000 years and the only wildlife sanctuary in New South Wales that has both free-roaming Australian animals and ancient Aboriginal rock art sites.
Key info
Every animal you meet here has a story — they’re either unable to be returned to the wild, are orphaned pets needing a safe home, or are survivors of illegal breeding and trafficking, so each visit necessitates support for vital conservation work.
Guests will also find a cafe on-site serving snacks like pies, sausage rolls, cheese pastries and sandwiches, and excellent coffee. Like the rest of the sanctuary, friendly wallabies and kangaroos will be nearby to keep you company. If you want to stay a while, you can check into a cabin or a safari-tent campsite and continue hanging out with the animals after dark. Book a tent here.
Getting there
This might sound like an off-the-beaten-path escape but the sanctuary is just a stone’s throw from Sydney. Located in Calga, on the Central Coast hinterland of New South Wales, you can get here in less than an hour’s drive from the city. Find more information and book your tickets here.