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Warrawong Wildlife Sanctuary
Warrawong Wildlife Sanctuary is the only place on mainland South Australia where you may see the elusive platypus. The Sanctuary is also a thriving eco-system where hundreds of Australian native animals flourish. Koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, bandicoots, potoroos, bettongs, and birds, rarely seen outside the feral-proof fence, all live safe and protected at Warrawong.
The award winning Sanctuary was founded in 1969 by Dr John Wamsley, when he purchased a 35 acre dairy. Later, he and his wife Proo surrounded the property with a 2.1 metre high, electrified, feral proof fence. The fence created a safe haven where native animals were protected from introduced predators like cats and foxes. Many consider this approach to be a world’s first.
Experience the tranquil haven of Warrawong Wildlife Sanctuary for yourself by booking an animal encounter, behind the scenes experience, show, tour, or camp.
Warrawong Wildlife Sanctuary is a serene environment for animals and humans alike. Visit us and experience the best of natural Australia.
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We then spent the whole day exploring, watching wildlife shows (included in admission), feeding kangaroos, emus & even dingos. We had lunch in the onsite cafe which was great.
If you're looking to see everything in a 'zoo-like environment' then that's not Warrawong . but it's so much more than that . its the most idyllic spot where you're really immersed in nature and can get up close with the animals or simply relax in the beauty. The staff are friendly, welcoming & super knowledgeable . can't wait to go back!
Great, friendly family atmosphere.
The staff & presenters are passionate, knowledgeable, gentle & interactive, drawing the audience into their world.
Without a doubt, I can highly recommend a visit to the sanctuary to both visitors & locals alike; you won't be disappointed.
Michael & Joanne
So hands on and interactive with the animals and the staff are so passionate and informative when presenting the shows.
Such a great kid friendly place for all ages and even so much for the adults to enjoy!
We didn’t even get to explore the whole place it’s massive and so much to Jam Pack in we nearly need another day to explore the forest and ruins.
We loved this way more than the Adelaide zoo as all the staff absolutely love what they do and it shows so much when they are happy to chat to everyone. The animals are so well loved and looked after and the whole place is so neat and tidy.
The food and coffee was so good and the chips were amazing and the kids rated the chips 10/10
Definitely will be going again next visit to Adelaide
Warrawong Wildlife Sanctuary is a truly special place. It’s small in scale but big on authentic, memorable experiences. If you’re after a more personal and hands-on connection with Australian wildlife (and not a commercial zoo setting), this is the spot.
One of the absolute highlights of our visit was the reptile presentation by Jen. Her energy and enthusiasm were infectious, and she had the whole audience completely engaged. The hands-on snake experience was a standout, holding their largest snake, an olive python, was unforgettable! The way Jen tied in Aboriginal culture, especially the Rainbow Serpent dreaming story, added real depth and meaning to the presentation.
The kangaroos were another favourite. It was some of our group’s first time seeing kangaroos, and Warrawong delivered! These gentle, friendly roos didn’t just come over for food, they held your hand while nibbling from it. Absolutely adorable.
A personal first for me was seeing platypuses. Spotting them in one of the ponds, doing their thing in a semi-wild environment was magical. It’s not like seeing them in a tank, and while the view isn’t always perfect, just catching a glimpse of such a shy creature in a natural setting was thrilling.
After exploring, we loved warming up in the cozy restaurant with a crackling open fireplace. The food came out quickly, tasted great, and was reasonably priced.
Final tip: This is a wildlife sanctuary, not a zoo, so manage your expectations accordingly. The charm lies in its intimate scale, relaxed pace, and genuine encounters with nature. Highly recommend!
It was wonderful!!! Food was lovely. Beautiful cafe and grounds also!
Staff are amazing and the keepers are so caring and knowledgeable of the native animals they care for!!
TBD Mother’s Day event was perfect, with a small wildlife show included in the package!!!
Will be back next year!!!🐨
Our party host Indy was fabulous, the kids loved her and all the interaction with animals went above and beyond expectation.
The party started an hour prior to the park opening to the public and this was fabulous as the children essentially had the “run” of the place for the first hour and after that we had a private wildlife show and reptile handling.
The function room was perfect and everything was just fabulous. Could not have been happier.
Will definitely be recommending to other parents
Being family owned the staff is extra friendly, helpful and offers a much more personal experience than the others. Even on short notice we had the opportunity to spend time with their friendly koalas which added even more to our visit and is highly recommended. It's nice to know that extra fees for the several up close visits to their animals goes directly to the facilities rescue programs.
Can't say enough about how this park made our vacation to Austraila the best day ever.
Upon entry, we initially struggled to find kangaroos to feed, who weren't already surrounded by other people, which led us to take a long walk through the extensive grounds where we were subsequently mugged by a couple of very thug-like emus who were both quite fun. After trecking along some long paths past some ponds full of turltes and a rainforest, we also found some very bored looking dingoes on top of the hill where it appeared only about 10% of the park visitors actually go. It was on our way down the hill where we finally found a few of the lazier kangaroos, who had opted to wait for people to come to them. This was actually much more rewarding than a previous visit to a park in Ballarat that has 10x more kangaroos that are so well fed they can hardly move, all crowded into a smaller area where they're easily accessible. Here though, having to hunt for them in a much more natural setting and finding some timid ones that made you earn their trust made for a more enjoyable experience overall.
Just remember, though, if you want to eat here, you're at a wildlife park, not a restaurant. We just thought after paying nearly $50 for a crusty, overcooked schnitzel and some fried frozen fish, with overcooked in dirty oil chips, asking for $1 for tomato sauce was a bit much. 🙄
Overall it was an amazing day I had with my friends.
The public transport is a bit shit on a Sunday, we had to walk 45 minutes. This was the most fun walk, you can enjoy the view and get one with nature.
Overall it was an amazing day I had with my friends.
The public transport is not great on a Sunday, we had to walk 45 minutes. This was the most fun walk, you can enjoy the view and get one with nature.
Good Scenery for a walk too
The staff are lovely, so knowledgeable and the property breathtaking. Love seeing our beautiful Australian animals in their surroundings. I will be back.
Also have to say congratulations on such a beautiful job thats been done on restoring the sanctuary. Looks fantastic & the cafe view of the birds is beautiful. We will be back!
Amazing animal shows and all the friendly animals we got to pat
Kids had an amazing time and we will be definitely coming back in the future ???????? 10/10
Started with Fluff and Stuff which included feeding a joey, possums, squirrel glider, potoroo with the required pats and nuzzles. Then the delightful public displays of the birds, reptiles and dingos.
Young Aimee (hope I spelt it right) conducted all these events with a wealth of knowledge and whit and was excellent with the children and nervous adults. (Found out later she had only been doing the job for around 6 weeks and landed the job after applying 3 time - what perseverance and what a gem the Sanctury got as an employee).
Plenty of kangaroos to feed and pat and the food in the cafe is excellent to be enjoyed by a nice open fire.
Well worth the visit for the general exhibits and the walk in the grounds, but I strongly recommend the extra cost for Fuff and Stuff.
Looking forward already to our next visit.
And the coffee is excellent!
My recent visit to Warrawong Wildlife Sanctuary was an absolute delight! From the moment we arrived, we were greeted by the friendly staff who made us feel incredibly welcome. Their warm hospitality and extensive knowledge about the sanctuary and its inhabitants added a personal touch to our experience.
The sanctuary itself is a tranquil haven nestled in the heart of nature. The serene environment immediately put us at ease, allowing us to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The well-maintained grounds and lush greenery created a peaceful ambiance that was simply breathtaking.
The staff at Warrawong Wildlife Sanctuary went above and beyond to ensure that we had an unforgettable time. They were always available to answer our questions and guide us through the sanctuary, providing fascinating insights into the diverse range of species that call this place home. Their passion for wildlife conservation was evident, and it made our visit all the more meaningful.
The highlight of our visit was undoubtedly the kangaroos. These incredible creatures were not only captivating but also incredibly friendly. It was a joy to observe them in their natural habitat, hopping around with such grace and curiosity. The sanctuary's commitment to providing a safe and nurturing environment for these animals was evident, and we felt privileged to witness their beauty up close.
Warrawong Wildlife Sanctuary offers an enriching experience for nature enthusiasts and animal lovers alike. With its variety of species and the opportunity to learn about wildlife conservation, it is truly a gem. We left with unforgettable memories and a renewed appreciation for the wonders of nature.
If you're seeking a peaceful retreat surrounded by nature's wonders and a chance to connect with Australia's unique wildlife, I wholeheartedly recommend a visit to Warrawong Wildlife Sanctuary. It is an experience that will leave you with a profound sense of awe and gratitude. Don't miss out on this hidden treasure!
Feeding the kangaroos and emus were a highlight while wandering around the Sanctuary. There are platypus in the lakes but we didn’t manage to see any.
There were great boardwalks and fencing around the water areas and made it easy to get around.
The rainforest was a peaceful area with many small animals scurrying around under the ferns.
Warrawong Wildlife Sanctuary is approx half hour drive from Adelaide and is located in the Adelaide Hills.
We had a nice day here, watched both 'shows' and had a walk around, we didn't see a heap of animals in the sanctuary but i guess that whats you get with more wild animals then caged ones.
I feel the place could do with a little more information made available. There were no maps and we were trying to work out what their plans were going forward for the place after being closed for so many years, are they looking to grow? Add more animals? The walking track came to a locked gate, was previous part of the sanctuary, will it be again?
I would like to see this place grow and hopefully return in a couple of years to see it become a really beautiful and special place.
We had a nice day here, watched both 'shows' and had a walk around, we didn't see a heap of animals in the sanctuary but i guess that whats you get with more wild animals then caged ones.
I feel the place could do with a little more information made available. There were no maps and we were trying to work out what their plans were going forward for the place after being closed for so many years, are they looking to grow? Add more animals? The walking track came to a locked gate, was previous part of the sanctuary, will it be again?
I would like to see this place grow and hopefully return in a couple of years to see it become a really beautiful and special place.
We did the koala caper encounter and loved it.
Most of the koalas are rescue animals and happily let you pat them or pose for photos.
There are all kinds of activities and demonstrations as well as a cafe with a log fire.
It's an excellent place for a family day out.
The cafe menu was pretty bleak & prices too high, not your proper cafe food if you want a quick snack.
We had better memories what was before it closed.




























