We loved our visit to Healesville sanctuary! An easy drive from Melbourne; the sanctuary is a little outside of the township. We arrived to find loads of parking and quickly made our way to the entrance. Tickets prices are reasonable if you plan to spend the entire day visiting. We spent a full and exciting day in this beautiful, peaceful setting observing animals in the natural environment. We were thrilled that some of the keepers spent quality time talking passionately about the animals and birds that were in their care. Unfortunately we didn’t bring lunch with us and relied on the on-site cafe. The food is ok and a little over priced but we will definitely come back with our own picnic basket as there are many gorgeous spots to stop for lunch! We also stayed for the Spirits of the Sky show. The show is located in flight arena with plenty of room for large sittings. The birds are incredibly well trained and are rewarded for their efforts! A wonderful way to see Australian native flora and fauna. Great day out for all ages and it’s wheelchair friendly too!

Amazing place to visit, I usually go there every year, this is my happy place. I would like to thank all your lovely staff members and specially KIM who gave us more knowledge about Black Cockatoos. And also the guy feeding the koalas, but forgot to ask his name, to give us more knowledge. Thanks to this amazing place. See you soon. Before I forget congratulations to Meg on the engagement..!! 😊

Fantastic zoo to take your children to it has all the native animals and you can get a close encounter with some of them. Be careful to go on a hot day. It is pretty dry and can get pretty hot as you walk around. The place takes at least 3 to 4 hours to see if you want to visit every exhibit. The staff is friendly and there is a lot to see and do. There are also baby change rooms located throughout the park so you can take your infants and babies with ease

I have visited this sanctuary multiple times and loved it every time. It has a good variety of animals with a nice setup to show them in their habitats. If you’re there in time for shows, shows are both informative and interesting. Staff are very friendly and helpful. It’s great to know that this place helps animals and puts them back to the wild. Another great thing about this place is that it’s open on public holidays, even on Good Friday and Christmas day. Also kids can visit the place for free on weekends.

WOW! What a brilliant experience the Healesville Sanctuary is. I hadn't been since I was little. We thought we'd pop in, have a wander and probably stay for a couple of hours. We were there for at least 5 hours! And loved every second. We saw most shows and free talks and learned many cool things and facts about wildlife. All the staff and volunteers were super friendly and so knowledgeable. You could tell they loved being there as much as we did. The grounds and pathways were terrific, and there was so much to see, do and explore. We took our time to stop, pause, soak in nature and look in wonder at all the different species. Thanks, Healesville Sanctuary, for a fabulous day.

Amazing little place to visit. You don't need to pay extra for any of the events if you just want to pay entry and roam, we got to watch after they changed the food in the koala enclosure. Even though it was so hot they had fresh food so they ended up being very active. The kangaroos normally come right up to you to say hi but in hot days they lay in the shade and sleep. It's definitely a good place to visit whether you are with family, a partner or by yourself. Plenty to see and do.

It was a rainy day, and still some of the animals were sleeping. I was the first visitor yesterday at 9 am. Maybe it's too early for them to wake up. Highly recommend for kids and families to visit the sanctuary and any animal lovers. Kangaroos, Koalas and lots of other species. Had a fun day and I'd go back again on a sunny day.

We had a wonderful time at Healesville Sanctuary. The kids all enjoyed walking around looking at the animals. The walking track was easy to navigate. The map and signage easy to follow. Only one of the keeper talks occurred. Which was a shame as we walked to quite a few animals enclosure at the specified times. The Bird Flight display was so good we went back for a second viewing later in the day. All the nocturnal houses were wonderful and of course the animals were not affected by the weather. The platypus performed for us like he was putting in a private show. A great family out. Would highly recommend.

Not as interesting as I thought it would be, I probably expected too much. This is just like a normal zoo. However the saving grace is that the bird show added an entertainment element to it. To have closeup encounters with animals all require additional costs. I just gotta manage my expectations.

Here close encounters with animals .. feels like pet ! Healesville Sanctuary is a popular wildlife sanctuary in Victoria, Australia, known for its diverse native animal exhibits. Visitors often praise the immersive experiences and the chance to see iconic Australian wildlife, including kangaroos, koalas, and various bird species. The sanctuary’s commitment to conservation and education is also well-regarded. However, it’s always a good idea to check recent reviews for the latest visitor feedback. There river passing through the sanctuary, that makes feel very natural. Also same river we can cool down with kids called Creek Play .Lots of kids park and cafeterias.. enjoying will feel relaxed

My very first live meeting with koalas and kangaroos. It will stay with my forever. It was amazing. The bird show and the small guided talks just added to the experience. I recommend this place.

A tourist must for visitors to Australia. This beautifully designed, interactive animal sanctuary sets a standard in animal care and exhibits. The keeper talks and shows are great. The volunteers are kind. I’d happily spend 4 hours here. Healthy options in the cafe too! However you can bring a picnic and find so many play and peaceful spaces.

Came here for the bird show, lined up in a big line. Some people lined up in a different section cutting the big line and the staff member Darren still let them in, did this with a couple of people. We were cut off, only by a few people because of restrictions, restrictions I understand. But for there to be a main line and then he lets people who just rock up enter is just gross and rude. The next show is in three hours and we’ve already seen the whole sanctuary. Not happy. Good thing about this sanctuary is that the animals can roam a bit more freely and you can see them up close without fencing everywhere.

We had a really great time here, learning about native Australian wildlife and a bit of history about aboriginal culture. Some of the animals were not out in their enclosure, but it was probably due to the warm temperature. I really enjoyed the reptile hub and the staff were very friendly!

Always a lovely experience to go to Healesville sanctuary. The staff is very knowledgeable, friendly and useful. Animals can be seen from very close and we can definitely see they are very well treated. The bird show was impressive. The park itself is relatively small but it can take the whole day of you wish to. There are plenty of small cafes and little playgrounds to enjoy time between the shows. A truly wonderful experience.

Great place to see Australian animals. The animals are well looked after and have plenty of space. Takes some time to walk around and there are a few shows that are very educational and fun.

I've been a few times now and I love going! Make sure you check the times for the 'Spirits of the Sky' show and things like Koala feeding to really get the most out of your trip. Plan your route through the park around those things (and get to the spirit of the sky a little early for a great seat!)

It was great. The exhibits are really nice, and the spaces are beautiful. Highly recommended to see Kangaroos up close! We didn’t get a chance to do the Close-Encounter experience, but in the end we found it wasn’t really necessary, you can get pretty close to the kangaroos in their normal exhibit

Amazing place to visit! I have been there twice now and each time it has been a great experience. The sanctuary has a variety of animals and all of them are looked after very well. The bird show is definitely the highlight and not to be missed! The Harvest Cafe inside the sanctuary serves great coffee and food. Overall, an excellent experience and really loved it. Highly recommended!!

Absolutely worth the drive from Melbourne! Even the drive itself is really lovely... But the Sanctuary is just great! You really feel like you're in the middle of the bush with the animals joining you. The animals are in nice large enclosures and seem to have good space, the trees tower overhead and the local river is just an extra nice feature. One of the definite highlights is the Spirits of the Sky bird show... Awesome information and skills from the keepers, with incredible natural behaviour on show from the birds... Who definitely own the decisions to participate or not. Kids and adults alike area just mesmerised. Thanks for another amazing visit Healesville Sanctuary! 😍

Love the water bottle refill fountains. Get to the Spirits of the Sky bird show if you can; included with ticket. Rush seating. “Stage right” seats seem to get a slightly better experience but all pretty good seats. Pram parking at rear. Very little shade.

A great selection of animals in the sanctuary. We enjoyed them all in a natural habitat including a river running through it. Koala Bears , Kangaroos, and more. It also had a wonderful show with the bird of prey.

We went there with a tour, but if you live nearby you can buy a membership and visit often. We tend to buy memberships to the local museum and zoo in our area and when we have visitors it's nice to take them there. This zoo gives you a chance to see the animals that are local to Australia, like the kangaroo, the koala etc. they have lots of play areas for younger kids. ,a few picnic areas and at different hours they have one of the caretakers come out and talk about a certain species of animal found there. If there are specific topics you are interested in, I would suggest to look at their website and know what time they have their talks and where, to plan for that. The best part for us was at the end they have a bird show at 3pm where the trainers come out to show your a few if the species they take care of and your studio see how well the birds they have are trained. It's pretty impressive. The downside is that it was a bit hot day and most animals are napping in the shade with their face hidden. Perhaps it's better to buy tickets yourself instead of paying a tour company to take you. You will have more time to do as you please. The main issue you will have is how to get there.. but if you are local.. you probably won't have that issue ;)

This is my favourite zoo. The natural surrounding bush is so beautiful and the enclosures are fairly natural looking. Such a nice day out for kids. Arrive early on busy days!

If you want to see just about every type of Aussie wildlife in one place this is a must. Lots of rescued creatures and endangered species cared for by dedicated and enthusiastic staff and volunteers. Superb layout means nowhere feels crowded and plenty of shade which doubles as shelter on a day with showers! Honoured that a newly rescued Dingo came and posed for photos, a Wombat wandered over to size us up, a Koala woke up and started to eat lunch and a kangaroo hopped across the path right next to us!

Amazing place, gets very busy at times but the layout accommodates for everyone. First class setup, it's great. Staff are all super nice and helpful. Very baby friendly. Lots to do and see. Plenty of parking

Lots of amazing Australian animals

So many native animals, you never get bored of it!

Best zoo experience I have had yet!! 90 percent of the animal enclosures you could actually see them, not hiding or sleeping either. Wonderfully layed out and the bird show was just fantastic. Each bird has such character and beauty to them. Dino exhibit was well beyond expectations with so many Dino's and large beast, had my favourite Dino styracy which isn't that well known so was incredible to see one in person. They moved too!! Id happily pay lot more then I did to go here and with tourist hot spots it's rare that places exceed expectations.

Amazing zoo with heaps of aussie wildlife and a great dinosaur area at the moment. The Bird show was also wonderful but bring sunscreen as there is little to no shade in that area. (So the birds can fly unobstructed)

Looks like animals are happy there :) Really nice place to go on Sunday morning, just remember to book your tickets before!!

Beautiful clean sanctuary, with lots of shady areas. Children getting in free at certain times is a bonus too. Lovely friendly staff willing to help. Great exhibits, and a live bird show which was fun for young and old. A lovely gift shop as well. There are 3 cafes and lots of places to have a picnic. Very covid safe, tickets MUST be brought on line before entering. A wonderful place to spend the day.

Making the best of a bad situation! Considering the things that they had to close due to density limits, there is a great vibe going on and keepers in many enclosures to tell you more about the animals and add to your day! There are less people about so the animals are calm and willing to come very close!! Would get in early to see the bird show as the density limit is only 100 people at the moment, however if you miss out there are keepers in the parrot Avery to give a bit more information. Such a beautiful local wildlife sanctuary, we had a lovely day!

Amazing day out with the kids. You get a real feeling of being in nature as you walk around the sanctuary. There is plenty of places to stop and rest and a few large area to stop and let the kids run around or play on some play equipment. There is a few cafes throughout the sanctuary to grab a bite to eat or a coffee or cold drink. The animals are amazing and much easier to spot then when you are at Melbourne zoo for example and it really is a fantastic experience for the whole family

It is a fantastic place to visit for anyone interested in Australian animals. I visited when there was a 25% capacity limit so it was very easy to park and get inside. There are many iconic Australian animals such as kangaroos and koalas but the truly amazing part is the large number of birds you can find. There are some food and drink options but they are on the slightly more expensive side and there are plenty of tables outside to sit down for a picnic. Tip: there are some picnic tables that are kind of hidden out of the view from the main paths so keep an eye out for those if you can't find one. The gift shop was open and there are some great Australian products and designs in there so get something for yourself and support the amazing work zoo keepers do there every day. It was a fantastic visit despite the keeper talks being cancelled due to the pandemic. I hope to come back once they resume. You can check out some of the animals I saw at Healesville in my photos.

This place is a wonderful representation of Australian animals all in one place. Very ethical treatment of them from what I saw. I purchased the children’s book and love looking at it. People were nice. It was just a great place seemed like it was well thought. Flying home I spoke with a woman on the plane. She had seen the zoo and wished she had gone to this sanctuary. A trip to Australia is a wonderful place to visit to escape a tacky Christmas season in the states. Love this sanctuary and it was one of my top highlights of going to Oz.

Very nice place. Natural environment. Not very tiring. Well maintained. We got to see the bird show which was fun. Staff very friendly. Worth a visit for the zoo and a good drive

Fun place to spend a day with the family or on a date. Staff are truly great and helpful, and love sharing their knowledge of the animals they look after. Good food and drinks are also served at the cafes, and the gift shop cant be missed on the way out.

A nice place to go with your kids. They will love its and the place is ideal for a picnic. You can see kangaroos and koalas very closely.

A really fantastic place to see native Australian animals. Different enclosures include kangaroos, koalas, kookaburras, platypus, quolls, reptiles, emus, dingos and an array of bird wildlife. The park is quite big and all the exhibits are well signed posted with good pushchair and wheelchair accessibility. The exhibit talks are quite entertaining too, and its a great place to take kids of all ages. There are a few food cafes and restaurants, albeit a little expensive. There's plenty of picnic areas however if you want to bring your own food. The gift shop is quite cool too, with lots of animal and Australian-themed products.

Worth travelling up to Healesville Sanctuary with the Zoo membership and experiencing some more of Australia's native wildlife. The kids had plenty of fun and really enjoyed the Spirits of the Sky show and walking around the various enclosures that offer really up close encounters without paying. Of course you can choose to do some of the paid feeding sessions as well. All in all, a good family time during a time where the weather wasn't stinking hot or wet and windy.

Great. Last time I was here was over 30 years ago. Enclosure are good and animals happy. Lots to see. Prepare for 3 to 4 hours to see everything. Good cafe and gourmet selection and quick food available as well. Great hot chips!

Top-notch sanctuary, had an amazing time. It is well laid out, just the right size, and with friendly and knowledgeable staff. Loved the echidnas especially, and how the kangaroos hop around right in front of you. The platypus section was also great as they are such unique creatures. Looking forward to coming back, 10/10.

Better than Melbourne Zoo in my opinion. Australian animals birds and parrots and a lot of endangered wildlife. Well worth the drive. Parrot show is exciting. Nice walk in native bush. Check out my photos and videos for a good indicator of what you can see.

An utterly brilliant day out! We have been to lots of zoos and wildlife parks but this must count as one of the best … + Brilliantly knowledgeable keepers willing to answer any question + Great shows and talks (the bird show was spectacular) + Wonderful range of animals, from birds to reptiles to marsupials + Fantastic duck billed platypus enclosure; awesome to see these incredible animals + Loads of places to buy coffee! + Great gift shop with something for all ages A simply brilliant day out. Our kids loved it. If we lived in the country, we would buy a season ticket!

Beautiful place with so many different animals locally from Australia! They have made beautiful pathways throughout the park and love to show the beauty of nature in all its varieties. The bird show is absolutely stunning and worth going there with family and friends. It is worth to see it for the young and old! It’s is a beautiful day trip for your family and friends! Enjoy you’re time there.

This is an absolutely fantastic place to see Australian native animals! The sanctuary does not capture animals for the purpose of being in the zoo and all animals are rescue animals, once pets, or have various stories as to why they can not be released back into the wild. You can tell all the keepers care deeply for the animals and the animals are all well looked after. Clean, well maintained and a pleasure to walk around. Also was not crowded on the weekday that we visited.

Lovely location with beautifully done up enclosures which made it feel like we were the visitors welcomed into the animals habitat. Lots of adorable animals and a nice space to walk about with the family! It was easy to navigate the area with plenty of signs around to guide you to your desired enclosure.

Wowah - much better than I expected. The best of thr three main zoos - really made me appreciate the amazing Australian fauna. I was amazed how close we were able to get to the animals. Staff were lovely. Animals even more impressive. The facilities were all quite new, and the layout was great. We will definately return here

What a great place for getting to know the Australian fauna. Beautifully laid out sanctuary with plenty of space for the animals. For Europeans it’s a place of wonders as we’re not used to the extraordinary and unique fauna of Australia. I always longed to finally see a Tasmanian Devil or an Echidna. There I had them all. The work they’re doing here is beautiful and important, so supporting the sanctuary is vital. We could even witness an operation on a wedge-tail eagle who suffered from trauma. Where in this world are such things remotely possible? Just wonderful. Loved every minute and would go there again any time we’re back in Australia.

We can easily spend a day here. Most of the animals were on display and we could see many of them up close. The bird show was entertaining. There were also 1 or 2 children’s play areas and kids loved playing with the sand. There was a toilet near the kids’ play area which was convenient. The directions were very clear, placed throughout the place and hence, helpful to get around the sanctuary. Thanks.

The sanctuary has most of the local Australian species some of which are endangered. They are kept in an healthy environment which is aesthetically designed. The kangaroos and the Kualas are fun to watch. You need a day to actually fully appreciate the place. Well kept and well designed sanctuary.

It was an enjoyable day out from Melbourne. However, the sanctuary did not keep us occupied for more than two hours. Although not small, there were not many animals to see. The ticket pricing is on the higher end. Not sure if we will revisit until more animals and activities are introduced. The Spirits of the Sky show was fantastic and interesting.

Amazing place for a day out with the kids. Plenty of fun animals to see, great shows and a few little play areas for the kids. We went Australia day, kids are free any public holiday or weekend.

Lots of great animals to see, clean and tidy sanctuary. The gift shop has some really good stuff, something for everyone. There is a bird show on 2 times a day.. it is free and included with your general ticket. You can see the birds fly around the area and do things on commands. Beautiful place, we enjoyed it more than the melb zoo. Felt like there was more to see here also. Would recommend and would definitely return.

Lots of trees, long paths, and happy animals make this sanctuary a wonderful way to see Australian wildlife. The koalas were super cheerful. Well worth a day trip from Melbourne.

Seriously amazing. This place blew my mind. The birds are majestic and the staff went above and beyond to ensure our visit was a memorable one.

Kids really loved the dinosaurs in Lost Sanctuary. Great playground. Animals seem happy in natural enclosures.

Nice place to visit with family. They work for a great cause too.

Great day out with the family. Relaxing to walk around, great variety of animals on show and easy to get to...

A lot of the areas are closed due to co vid which is understandable, lined up for bird show which has limited amount that can go inside to see people being allowed by the staff(Darren) to cut in at the front of the line, as soon as we got close to the front we were informed that they had reached capacity...

Was OK seeing as some of the enclosures were closed due to the pandemic. However the dinosaur sanctuary proved to be a high light for the kids. The spirits of the sky was a major disappointment compared to other years I was expecting more from that including a wedgetail eagle as in previous years but no so I would say not worth the wait.

A good place to spend the day away from the busy city life and get closer to the nature. Ideal for picnics and long walks.

This place is really good to visit, especially with family.. but due to social distancing, most of the shows and attractions are closed.. but it still worth the visit..

Loved it, we went during the week with less people around. Really enjoyed it with small kids and family from overseas loved it. We got up close with kangaroos and koalas

An amazing place for family.

Great animals and realistic dinosaurs.

Amazing showcase of extinct Australian flora and fauna

My son loved it! Also because of the restrictions in place for crowd numbers, the place was not too overly crowded. We brought our own food and had a nice picnic. Definitely bringing your little ones here, and book early!

Great for a whole day experience with the kids

Dinosaur exhibits are awesome.

There is a wide variety of animals here, also the animals are kept in nice conditions.

Great place for the family. The bird show is amazing.

Lovely and quiet right now

Good for kids

A bit underwhelming comparative to the many sanctuaries around. Nice day out but a tad bit expensive for what you get

Friendly staff,great park

A family friendly place to visit operated by a friendly and passionate team.

Great experience!! My ride loved running around exploring and interacting with the animals.

Very wet & cold day, but the staff were all warm and friendly. Loved the dinosaurs.

A true sanctuary to be enjoyed by all. Spectacular shows that are sympathetic to the plight of our beautiful wildlife and easy walking tracks suitable for all fitness levels with seating through out the park for the less able to be able to enjoy the place with plenty of resting in between

I live close to this place, been many times, best place to see Australian animals in natural surroundings.

(Translated by Google) The environment is very comfortable, the animals can be seen to be taken care of, and the performances at regular performances are also very exciting. Worth visiting. (Original) 非常舒服的環境，動物看得出來是被用心照顧的，定時演出的表演也非常精彩。值得一來的地方。

Didn't see any animals That I couldn't see in the bush.

A few things closed due to Covid. Make sure you line up early for the bird show. Only half the seats available

Fantastic! They are doing great things here for conservation and education. All natives so less guilt. Very well organized for a visit during covid-19.

Great place to unwind and wander around with the family

Great fun for adults and kids!!

Pleasant scenery

A great place. I saw a wild platypus in the creek. Amazing.

Amazing

Not as good as it normally is due to covid 19 restrictions closing a couple of exhibits down but still good

Such a lovely family friendly experience. Staff were so friendly and welcoming. Animal enclosures are well done and good viewing for children (and adults). Good amenities and playground for children to burn some extra energy.

(Translated by Google) It was quite a car away from the city but it is worth the trip. You can see the platypus in front of you. (Original) シティからは車で結構離れていたけど、行く価値はあり。カモノハシを目の前でよく見ることができる。

Initially frustrating as the first few exhibits were closed due to covid. Still can't understand why the outdoor Avery was closed. Day improved and we had a great time

First trip to Healesville Sanctuary and it was amazing. The staff were very friendly! It’s a shame we missed out on 12pm bird show as it was too full being a public holiday and COVID restrictions! The Dinos of the Zoo was a highlight of our trip - not to be missed!

Nice birds Sanctuary with Kangaroos, Tasmanian Devils, Dingo & few small animals. And good Dinosaur Park (real look alike Dinosaurs with motion and sounds)

Wonderful place for kids and grownups. Lots of koalas on the trees in a close range for seeing in their natural habitat, kangaroos, reptiles and birds. Don’t miss the bird show if you go on the weekend, it’s really good, be there early to find a shade spot on the right side to sit. Food choices are limited and a bit pricey, but you can pack your own food. Don’t forget to buy your tickets online as they are not selling the tickets over there anymore. You can spend easily 4 hours there if you want to see everything.

Healesville Sanctuary is a great place for kids and adults alike. It a usually not very crowded as it is some distance away from Melbourne and visitors are limited to enthusiastic families. The sanctuary has a great collection of birds and aviaries. The other animals in the zoo are kangaroos, wallabbies, wombats, platypus, and other Australian native animals. The zoo does not have large cats or non-natuve animals.

Loved it. So fantastic seeing all the Australian animals and right now they have Dinosaurs! The dinosaurs are placed so well in their landscape, they move and make noise. Kids young and old will love it.

Great family day out. Well worth the hour and a half drive there. Had a delicious packed picnic lunch on the lawn near the exit of the flight arena and the dingo exhibit. Perfect weather for Victoria to completely enjoy our visit to the Sanctuary. Highly recommend it locals and tourists alike.

This is such a great little zoo! Perfect for kids. Well priced, easy to get around, plenty of facilities for food, toilets, picnic areas with BBQs, shaded walkways, gift shop and more. Very friendly staff and hands on adventures too. You can get real close the the animals and the kids love it. Definitely worth a visit

Healesville is a beautiful drive so it is worth the journey alone. The Sanctuary is thoroughly enjoyable with great exhibits and plenty of great areas to sit, relax and have a picnic. We went during the dinosaur exhibits installation and thought it was very good. Free entry for the kids to any of the three Zoos etc is always a massive draw card. This visit we especially loved the birds of prey show which really was rather incredible.

A fantastic family day out. Absolutely beautiful grounds, a great array of native animals, nearly having your hat knocked off by a wedge tailed eagle in the flight arena, beautiful riverside picnic spots, its just magic. Best of our 3 major zoos in Victoria in my opinion. Only drawback was lunch costing more than entry. Love the place.

Excellent well organised lovely place to visit! Get there early is my recommendation to beat the crowds.

Loved it

Good place for kids. Must come

Overall underwhelming experience. Animals hard to see or removed for renovation (ie wombats and devils) and lots of walking between enclosures. The croc I remember from 20 years ago was no longer there. Ironically the favourite part for our children (5 and 7) was the mechanical dinosaur exhibit that all 3 zoos seem to be doing at the moment. It wasn't as tacky as I thought it would be, but we didn't drive 90 minutes just for that. There are plenty of smaller native animal parks around vic that offer a much better experience, ie moonlit in pearcedale and others I am sure. Probably wouldn't return. Not on par with partner zoos at Weribee and Melbourne, yet commands the same entry fee. On the plus staff were friendly and knowledgeable and ample shaded picnic spots.

Great day out with the family

We enjoyed watching them so close. The bird show was really cool. It worth going there if you love animals especially birds. We saw so many different type of birds and never know when you bumped into them. Sometime they just appeared in front of us from nowhere!!

amazing place ❤

A great day out seeking Australian wildlife

Five of us came to Healesville Sanctuary on a Tuesday morning to see the native Australian animals. We were delighted to see that the animals were all well-cared for, and there seemed to be a strong vision to protect and care for all the animals at the sanctuary. Rather than a focus on handling and petting the animals, I respected that there is a stronger focus on observing and appreciating the animals. We also thought that the wildlife hospital was very informative and engaging; we had the opportunity to watch a wallaby having a health check and being hydrated with fluids. We really enjoyed our time at Healesville Sanctuary and I would recommend everyone who passes through Healesville to visit this zoo.

Great experience

Very impressed with this park, the dinosaurs were marvellous, had a thoroughly wonderful time.

Awesome

Nice day out for my 2yr old.

It's Australian A lovely day out when the sun is shining I love it always

Loved the sanctuary - amazing to see so many wonderful and unusual native species. We were particularly amazed with the aviary/birds - normally at a zoo these are the 'filler' enclosures but were some of the best at Healesville. Only word of warning: the 'up-close encounter' with a Koala was a bit underwhelming. There is no touching of the Koala by the handler or customers (this is good... we don't want to stress them out or make them uncomfortable), but at 30 dollars a pop it was almost the same price as the entry to stand maybe 1 or 2 metres closer than people with normal tickets have, and get some information from an knowledgable and helpful staff member. My main recommendation is to lower the price or set expectations about what this entails. The saving grace was we loved the sanctuary so much we didn't mind extra money going to them

Actually more impressive than I remembered as a kid! Recommend it on a nice day it’s a beautiful drive out too

Great experience and good for family trips kids love it there

great selection of ways to see the animals. You can get very close to them and there is lots of info

Great themes Fun for all ages

Had a great time, heaps to see and kids really enjoyed themselves, especially the dinosaur exhibit.

Great place to visit for Australian animals

Was great to go after not having been for years. Good to see that indoor areas were open, even though their website had mentioned that they may be closed. Bird show was great! Highlights of the day were definately the cute echidnas and the koalas lounging in the trees :)

I love Healesville sanctuary so much! I’ve been there twice now and it’s the best! There are so many animals and you can do special experiences; I did feeding the sugar gliders, and the staff are so helpful and friendly! The sanctity is easy to navigate and has lots of vendors and bathrooms! I would definitely recommend!

I love to see the animal and I love that you can get up and close to all of the aniamls

The family really enjoyed the Australian animal experience at Healesville Sanctuary. Koala enclosure was our favorite and the dinosaur walk.

It's a great zoo, it just needs more undercover areas to seat and have lunch.

Small but nice sanctuary

Very nice place

Lovely place would highly recommend to visit if you are in this region, have been there 2-3 times... children also will have a good time .. bird show also was good .. and would like to visit again

A great place for family and friends.

Beautiful spot to spend time with family and friends 😊

It was a very enjoyable day pitty we missed the birds of flight

Native animals up close.

Dino zoo was great alot larger than the Melbourne Zoo.

Great wildlife experience. Staff are knowledgeable and helpful. The bird show is a must see.

Great set-up with easy access to all areas of sanctuary. Friendly staff around the park are only to happy to inform the customers on the particular animal/wildlife attributes. It was very interesting and we loved the fact that we get up close and personal with many of the animals.

Friendly staff

We went when the dinosaurs were at demonstration. It was fun for my family and specifically my son is a dinosaur fan and enjoyed watching them in action.

Such a fun day for my partner and I! So sad the wombats weren't there and we couldn't see the show due to the massive cues and limited numbers (something we understood due to COVID). We would have preferred masks to be worn around the park (something my partner and I did), as it was very busy and people were very close. Overall a lovely day, but keep in mind with no children the day only takes 2 and 1/2 hours so a tad expensive for this (but I'm happy the money goes to wildlife conversation). I can't wait to bring my son here when he's older!!!

Healesville sanctuary is great! It isn’t very big and the paths are perfectly laid out for visitors to follow. My kids loved all the beautiful animals that were there and the animals seemed well looked after and relaxed. 100% would visit again!

The staff here are wonderful and the exhibits just beautiful. The girls who perform the Spirit In The Sky demonstration have such passion, it is a joy to watch.

Excellent place to visit for both adults and kids. First time seeing Tasmanian Devils, Platypus and other indigenous animals. Was great! The

Fun day!

A very well landscaped place. Hadn't been back here in more than a decade. There were many well placed informative signs about. The toilets near the main entrance are in better condition than the ones further in. Very accessible place for strollers, prams and wheelchairs. Lots of shady places and play areas for kids. I love the walk in aviary where you can see the birds close up. A pair of birds had their nest in a fork of a tree right next to the path. There were many purple swamp hens strolling all over the place. Allow anywhere from 2.5 hours upwards for this place if you want to also attend the keeper talks. Only electronic versions of maps are available.

We really enjoyed our visit. It's huge and my little one loved it. I highly recommend it ! 😍

Love the bird show in this beautiful zoo

Absolutely loved the bird show. Excellent place to charge your batteries.

Good day out must see raptor show.

Animals out and about, so great experience for the grandkids, dinosaur experience definitely worth a visit, must see.

Amazing! Loved all the animals 🦉🤓

Relaxing place to visit and admire the birds and animals

A wonderful place to visit and a worthy cause to support. Great day out with the babes. The staff is lovely, the animals look happy, the zoo is clean, the parking is as easy as possible.

Cue Jurasic park theme song. Welcome to Healesville Sanctuary. The dinosaure exhibit had my kids thinking they were in another world. My one year old splashed his dacks when he saw the T-rex. The staff are super nice. Only thing missing is a bush tucker guide. That'd be tops.

Brilliant day out with the family. The kids loved it and the closeness to native animals gave a fresh perspective to our own unique fauna.

Kangaroo close up is worth it

needs more of the following = BIRDS. pacific black ducks ,

It's always a beautiful walk, no matter the weather. At the moment there are dinosaur animatronics. They impressed the big and little kid.

Great place to see Australia's native animals.

Absolutely fun day out, bird show is the highlight, will always go back !! : )

Not having been for many years i was quite impressed with the sanctuary. Had a very enjoyable day with the family

I was little disappointed in lack of animals, ie one koala in an enclosure and only about 5 all up , souvenirs really expensive, food was good, again on.pricey side.the enclosures and park itself really good, the bird show was excellent

the little ones had a great time! good for keeping them preoccupied. check out the bird show and the dinosaur attraction. book your tix, better yet, become a member!

Great experience, despite the bad weather... the bird show is a must-see!

Showing the best of Australian animals, lots to see

Love the place. Received a zoo membership for 2021, so will be returning alot.

A great place to spend a day

Love this place🥰 Awesome native animals & staff are helpful too

Great family day out

Brilliant day out, especially paired with some of the excellent produced on offer in town. Even the angsty teenagers can't resist Healesville sanctuary

Love the Sanctuary. Great for the whole family. I was a guide there years ago. It was great then and is still. Must do Birds of Prey and all the native wildlife. Can easily spend the whole day at the Sanctuary and Healesville township.

It was amazing and the animals seems to be very well taken care of, the staff were super friendly and helpful. The animals were playing a bit of hide and seek though, but we made a little game out of it and made it fun trying to spot them

Such a beautiful zoo, recognising Australian animals in beautiful enclosures. Highly recommend the bird show!! We visit frequently with our zoo pass and take time to see different features of this zoo.

Wonderful experience to enjoy ,a must do for bucket list

Bit disappointed bird show was ok a lot of enclosures empty,

It's the same old place, MAGIC PLACE and the staff are extremely helpful.

It's a great place to take the family

Good times, bandicoots are the best

(Translated by Google) My favorite zoo. The bird show is a must-see, so be sure to check it out. There are many cases where the essential animal is hidden somewhere and cannot be seen, but that is charming. (Original) 大好きな動物園。鳥のショーは必見なので是非。肝心の動物がどこかに隠れてて見えない、ということも多々ありますが、そこはご愛嬌です。

Never disappointed when we go to the Sanctuary. Very lucky to have such an amazing place near us.

Much more of a natural setting than the Melbourne Zoo, very chillax and not too many crowds all trying to see the same thing. The bird show what the highlight of my visit, but the queue fills up quickly so be prepared to get in line 30 minutes early for the best spot. The birds are well trained to fly over the audience's heads (like really really close!) and they put on a good show. We didn't get enough time to see everything, so plan to spend a whole day there and you'll get through it ok.

A sanctuary with minimal animals.

Absolutely love the sanctuary. Really peaceful and beautiful to walk around explore. The zookeepers and all staff are really friendly and would answer an questions you got.. highly recommend to go and explore because there are lots of places to have a nice picnic and for the kids to run around.

So amazing, I loved it. Great natural design of the experiences, knowledgeable keepers and volunteers and a thoughtful practical approach to conservation.

A lovely place to see many local animals. Some animals hid themselves maybe because of the hot weather. Facilities in the sanctuary are very good. There are water fountains in many places which is very convenient on a hot day.

Healsville sanctuary is a must visit place if you want to experience the beauty of native Australian animals. It genuinely gives you an experience of walking in a open plan sanctuary where animals are kept in their natural environment. You can also book special excursions and tours to engage with some animals very closely. A day very well spent for my family :)

Always a good day out here. Definitely bring a packed lunch to have a picnic on the lawns! They also do events here too so check their website for details. Bird show is fantastic and you absolutely must see it! Plus it’s included in the ticket price.

A great day out amongst Australian wildlife. I've been many times & always enjoy myself. Great for children. Cafes with healthy food. Zoo keeper's are very knowledgeable if you have any questions

Love this place. Always a great place. And very covid safe

Lovely place to walk around you a full day to see everything

Well worth a visit. A close up view of our wonderful Australian animals. Spacious with enough room for prams and great play areas to stop and rest. Keepers all were super friendly and knowledgeable and happy to stop and chat and provide interesting anecdotes.

Awesome experience. Brought a Canadian friend to Healesville Sanctuary and she loved it!

Love their setup and children play area and sandpit.

Great place to see Australian native animals and birds.

Nice place, especially the flying arena.

It’s one of the attractions in Healesville. A really big sanctuary and has wild environment for different kind of animals. I was surprised by seeing koalas so easily, cuz other places I went was just too hard to see one( I don’t know why). It costs $40 pp and make sure you reach every corner of this place. It’s so easy to get lost 😆

Fun place to spend half a day with your family. Definitely visit the spirit of sky, where they show different birds flying over and there was even one parrot which could speak. Make sure to bring your hat during these peak summer seasons and expect to walk around at least 5k steps. The staff was really good, explained about different animals etc.

Worth driving going here. Great place for kids to enjoy Australian wildlife. Ample parking space. Nice place to walk around and enjoy nature. Friendly staff and recommended.

It wasn’t covid safe. We've been a few times, with kids and its always been a wonderful experience. The animals are super cute, the grounds are beautiful to stroll through and the cafe food is yummy. The bird show was fun. Cafe was good. Too busy with families. Healesville is a good town with other cafés and restaurants. Please make it Covid safe.

A fabulous experience. Wonderfully set out, very friendly staff. The botanical aspect as well as the wildlife brought us great pleasure. A must is the Spirit of the Skies event, where you are introduced to many of our amazing birds and they fly right over you, spectacular.

Fantastic sanctuary. Weekdays are delightfully quiet. Highly recommend the keeper talks and the Spirts of the Sky bird show. The nocturnal displays allow you to see creatures you never normally would have the opportunity to. My personal favorites were the platypus and the koalas, but the Tasmanian Devils and Spoonbills are also great!

Healesville sanctuary does not disappoint. There is so much opportunity to get up close with Australian animals and birds. The staff are incredible and I learned so much about our native wildlife. We went on a cold wet day but it did not dampen on our experience (pardon the pun 😉). I purchased a poncho from the gift shop for $6 and was still able to enjoy being outdoors in this beautiful park. I also loved seeing the animal hospital - their are windows into all the surgeries so if you’re lucky you can see staff working on some little creatures 🦜🥳🐨

The sanctuary seems to be run very well. I went in late June so a bit wet. There is an amazing amount of creatures here that were all healthy and active. The staff is very friendly, knowledgeable and genuinely excited about their animals. The bird experience is amazing. It's a must see. I highly recommend taking the VIP tour. It's a bit pricey for those on a budget however, totally worth it as you get to be up close to several animals. I won't spoil the surprise which ones but trust me, it's worth it. Outside if the beautiful Yarra Valley wine region. Bring your walking shoes and plan on spending several hours there to see all the creatures they have. Food on site is good. Great place for kids. Highly recommend!!

Absolutely loved coming back here after coming here as a kid 15 years ago. It was awesome to see so many lovely Australian animals and I especially loved the Indigenous/Aboriginal additions to the park. I was also having so much fun spotting superb fairy wrens all day 😊

I had a brilliant experience. Visited after about a decade. At places it felt like a zoo but overall could see the animals in their natural habitat. They are well looked after. Had conversations with the keepers and volunteers which displayed their genuine love for the animals in their care. The staff is friendly and accessible. The flight deck bird show was informative and exciting. Cafes and washrooms are well located. Not posting many photos as they are readily available on the net.

The whole experience was fantastic, a lovely day out getting to see some of Australia's native animals. Keepers and volunteers were so informative and helpful throughout the day. The cafes on-site were great for various dietary options, whether you wanted a light bite or a filling meal. Toilets were well kept. Lots to do, my personal favourite animals were the platypus and Tasmanian devils.

Visited during the school holidays so The Harvest Cafe was very busy, but served great coffee and food. Plenty of free informative talks available to listen to from the keepers at various times throughout the day. The Bird Flight Display show was a big highlight, with birds of prey flying inches above your head! Loved the platypus enclosure, you were able to get very close while they fed on Yabbies. The zoo was very easy to get around with plenty of signage to help navigate your visit. Friendly staff at every touch point also made for a great day out. Definitely worth a visit!

The animals were happy and active on our visit! We seen lots of animals including platypus, koalas, kangaroos, echidna, tassie devils, reptiles and much more! The bird show is AWESOME!!

It was absolutely beautiful! All 3 of my kids LOVED the visit to Healesville Sanctuary! Getting soooo close to so many amazing and iconic Australian native animals! Heaps better than the Zoo, where there are literally hundreds/thousands of people and crowds, pushing over my 3 kiddies (all under the age of 10!). The Sanctuaries educational officers were also extremely friendly, knowledgeable, interactive and kind to my children in particular, on more than one occasion too! HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! A++++

Lots of fun, shout out to Greg (I think), volunteer on day 2, who rescued my daughter's lost water bottle! Put aside at least 2-3hrs. Lovely, helpful staff!

A must-visit for all Australians and particularly overseas visitors. Many of our indigenous animal species our represented in their habitat. For me the bird of prey demonstrations, the platypus aquarium and the quoll were the highlights. They also have human food on sale and an excellent merchandise shop. Wifi is available in the shops.

Long-time members of the zoo, the membership has been wonderful, especially through the younger years of the kids' lives. The walk-thru aviaries and bird show at Healesville are magnificent. I would sit in there all day if i could.

Visited as part of their annual Wine & Wildlife event. Beautiful Sanctuary with lots of local Australian Wildlife. The park has a peaceful ambience with lots of showcases featuring Australian animals. The bird show was fantastic. The Wine & Wildlife event added a new dimension to the sanctuary, where you could sample wines from the Yarra Valley region and soak up the festivities with live music and great food.

Absolutely loved it. The Spirit bird show was great and loved the bird enclosure. The staff were very informative and the playground kept the kids super busy the entire time.

Wine and wildlife day at the zoo was great for adults and kids. The renovated vet hospital that ee got a sneak peak of, is amazing. You can see the injured animals come in and be treated by the vets.

even though it takes almost 2 hours from melbourne, this place is really worth a visit. the animals here are left in cages that are made close to their natural habitat. the keepers are also very friendly and knowledgeable. time went by really fast, because we really had so much fun

It’s my second time visit Healesville Sanctuary, and it is my favourite zoo in Melbourne! Here has so many Aussie animals, and a lot of super cute koalas! The bird show is obviously amazing! I would like to take my overseas friends to visit here when they travel to Melbourne!

Healesville Sanctuary was amazing, we had the most wonderful day here, it was super relaxing walking around and looking at the animals in the enclosures, the animals are so well kept and the enclosures are lovely and big too. I can highly recommend this would be one of the best animal parks I've ever been too. We loved every bit of it.

Was expecting more but I suppose cost of running a sanctuary is costlier after the pandemic. The cost of an adult ticket years ago was AUD25, today it cost AUD40 and seniors without an Australian senior card do no longer get a discount 🙁 The bird show is at 12 noon and 3 pm. Pretty close up encounter as the birds fly very close to the audience many times.

If you're visiting Australia, this place is well worth the visit. One amazing thing about Australia is the unique wildlife and the Healesville Sanctuary shows it off beautifully. Whatever you do, don't miss the free flying bird exhibit!

We really enjoyed our time at the sanctuary. The grounds are beautiful, the animal hospital is superb and we saw a lot of animals. Highly recommend!

Healesville Sanctuary is a haven for Australia's most indigenous wildlife, where their natural essence is lovingly conserved. It's not merely for human amusement; it's a sanctuary for creatures in need, offering them a paradise. Here, these animals relish their twilight years in the embrace of their native habitats, as if they've gracefully returned to their own piece of nature.

My review is heavily biased and based on where our hotel was and our itinerary. We stayed in a hotel in Melbourne Central, and we also visited the Werribee Open Range Zoo before that. This place is not worth the time and distance. While the zoo boasts a variety of animals, each exhibit is actually a little disappointing in terms of how much you can see. We saw one Tasmanian Devil in this large enclosure, we saw ONE African Wild Dog in this large enclosure (and they are supposed to live in a pack). My least favourite is really 'Animals of the Night'. Sure, I get that the concept of a night zoo is not common. So what they did was to setup an environment that is dark, in order to trick the animals that it is actually night time. The problem was that it is too dark. You can barely see anything.

Unfortunately the glorious weather departed Victoria on the day we rolled into healesville making it a very wet day at the healesville sanctuary. In fact the woman at the ticket booth called us brave🤣. But given it was now or never I made my 2 boys put on their raincoats and go in. Staff were all fantastic. We had a debacle with tickets from werribee to transfer and then it turned out I had also made an error and it was all sorted out with no drama whatsoever. Other staff we saw walking around were all lovely and helpful. I really wish we'd been able to see this beautiful park in all its glory because it's absolutely amazing. There are sculptures and art everywhere - even the bridge rails were pieces of art. Wandering along the paths was an adventure and the grounds are just amazing. It didn't really bother me too much that we didn't see many animals because the landscape was so lovely. Although after being told a few days ago how amazing the flight show was, I'm really sad it didn't run today. But I understand you can't make birds fly in the rain if they don't want to😔. It was great to see a couple of platypus swimming around doing their thing as it's a pretty rare sight. The play spaces look like they'd be lots of fun in fine weather and there are lots of places to stop along the way for a snack or just a rest. If it wasn't pouring with rain... I'm already trying to work out how I can work this corner of the world into our travels again with fingers crossed the weather plays ball.

We had a wonderful visit to the Healesville Sanctuary on our recent visit to Australia. It was part of our day tour to the Puffing Billy trip that day. It's more like a zoo, but it has the same purpose. Saving animals and educating the public. They have a world class animal hospital that you can tour as part of your admission.

Definitely worth a visit. Staff were very knowledgeable about the animals and talked to the visitors with ease. Viewing of animals was easy and most were very active. The bird show was exceptional.

Had a fantastic time at the Sanctuary this past weekend after a wedding in the Yarra Valley. Its a really well laid out zoo in stunning native bushland with large enclosures for all the animals. Especially enjoyed the nocturnal animal section as we managed to see all of the animals actively moving about which can be a luck of the draw at times. The bird show was also a highlight with the wedgetail eagle and her mates skimming the crowds heads. A great way to show my Irish gf our native critters!

had a great time visiting and learning about the native australian animals like tree kangaroos, red kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, pelicans, platypus etc. well maintained paths with clear signs of what’s next along the way. expect to spend at least 3hr and longer at the sanctuary as there are a lot of talks and shows going on throughout the day. we’ve only managed to catch the talks on koalas and red kangaroos, both were very interesting and informative. plenty of cafes and benches to chill and have a bite though most of them were either not opened or were closed for renovations during our visit.

Very expensive for what you get. Animals are lethargic as they do not have to find food. This place is great for small children and students. Melbourne Zoo probably has better attractions for older people. 3 restaurants are available for food and beverage.

Even though the sanctuary is far from the metro area, it also gives a benefit to get out of the suburban area and see such amazing animals. What makes the area unique is its setting in the valley. You can gorgeous photographs from the scenery alone.

Lots of Aussie animals and birds. Worth the money. Good place to spend time with family. If you need to attend the keeper talks make sure you are at the right place at least 5 mins before the scheduled time. There is a bit of walking to do thou' so if you have kids who can't walk consider taking a pram. One can pack home food to eat, there are a few places to eat.

I had an incredible time at Healesville Sanctuary! It felt like the animals were right at home, freely roaming in a spacious area. The bird show is a must, not to be missed! It was so much fun, and those birds are real characters. It's an absolute must-do if you want to connect with Australia's incredible wildlife.

Fantastic place! Great range of native Australian animals, and the Flight Arena show is a must-see. Staff and volunteers were all super friendly and knowledgeable. Absolutely worth going if you love animals, and if you don't, you will after visiting!

We took an international visitor to see the native animals. The Sanctuary is beautiful, easy to navigate and the staff are informative. We did the koala talk, the kangaroo feeding and the bird show. All were fantastic. The highlight though was seeing the baby koala. I hadn’t been to Healesville since I was a kid. It was totally a worthwhile outing.

A must visit when in Melbourne. We loved visiting the Healesville Santuary. The staff was very friendly and you could tell they really cared about the animals. Very well organized and a beautiful space for all the animals. The bird show is a must. That was amazing! I highly recommend a visit.

Highly recommend this sanctuary for Australian animals. Good layout, lots of trees and shades. Easy to navigate within the sanctuary, good signage that shows directions for each animal. This centre serves to protect endangered and vulnerable species and promote education and awareness.

Healesville Sanctuary is a delightful journey into wildlife and conservation. Meet native animals up close, learn from passionate keepers, and wander through beautiful bushland settings. Perfect for families and nature enthusiasts alike, it offers an intimate, educational, and utterly heartwarming experience with Australia's unique fauna. A true treasure! We have a positive experience while visiting 😊 😀 ☺️