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Zoo · Healesville, Victoria
Healesville Sanctuary
Australian animal sanctuary run by Zoos Victoria, featuring platypuses, koalas, kangaroos, Tasmanian devils and birds of prey displays.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Healesville Sanctuary
Healesville Sanctuary sits in native bushland on the outskirts of Healesville and is dedicated solely to Australian animals. It opened in 1934 and is run by Zoos Victoria, the authority that manages the state’s zoos. Paths wind through large enclosures surrounded by eucalyptus and ferns.
The sanctuary is renowned for its work with the platypus: it was here that the species was first bred in captivity in the 1940s. In the platypus house you can watch them swimming behind glass. You can also see koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, echidnas, the dingo and the Tasmanian devil.
The Spirits of the Sky presentation features birds of prey and other native birds in flight in an outdoor amphitheatre. The sanctuary also has a wildlife hospital that treats injured animals from the region and can be viewed through windows.
The sanctuary works on breeding threatened Victorian species, such as the helmeted honeyeater and the corroboree frog.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
3 to 4 hours.
Best time
In the morning at opening, when the animals are most active. The bird presentation does not run in heavy rain or on extreme heat days.
How to get there
By car from Melbourne in just over an hour. By public transport, train to Lilydale and bus to the sanctuary.
Tip
Check the daily map for presentation times and keeper talks, and begin at the platypus house.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Healesville Sanctuary
Which animals can you see at Healesville Sanctuary?
Only Australian animals: platypus, koala, kangaroo, wallaby, wombat, echidna, dingo, Tasmanian devil and many native birds.
Can you see a platypus at the sanctuary?
Yes, in the platypus house behind glass. The sanctuary has a long history of caring for this species.
How much time to allocate for the sanctuary?
About 3 to 4 hours for the full visit, presentations and the wildlife hospital.