Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park

Victoria’s award winning wildlife park, meet endangered species, cuddle a koala, feed wallabies in bush surrounds.

Victoria’s award winning wildlife park, Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park invites you to wander through 10 hectares of bushland, meeting endangered species, feeding kangaroos and wallabies, cuddling koalas and enjoying encounters with colourful birds, reptiles, dingoes and many other animals.

At night, Moonlit Sanctuary comes alive with world-famous lantern-lit tours. Night birds are active, tiny feathertail gliders and giant yellow-bellied gliders swoop around, and endangered quolls, pademelons and bettongs forage for food.

Recently winners at the 2010 Victorian Tourism Awards, Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park invites you to wander through 10 hectares of bushland, meeting endangered species, feeding kangaroos and wallabies in the wild, cuddling koalas and enjoying hands-on encounters with friendly sugar gliders, pythons and dingos.

Inspired by the work of famous British conservationist Gerald Durrell, Moonlit Sanctuary is now home to 50 Australian species. Many, including about 80 wallabies, are free to roam through the bush and give visitors a rare natural encounter.

Others are housed in large natural enclosures, including endangered creatures such as the strange-looking bush thick-knees bird whose call hadn’t been heard on the Mornington Peninsula for more than 60 years.

Red bellied pademelons, southern bettongs and eastern quolls (all extinct on mainland Australia), endangered fluffy gliders, squirrel gliders and Tasmanian Devils are also protected at Moonlit Sanctuary, which has received the Sustainable Cities award for Preservation of the Environment.

Colourful parrots abound, waterbirds are at home in extensive wetlands and visitors can sample the flourishing bush foods garden.

At night, Moonlit Sanctuary comes alive in a remarkable way, with world-famous lantern-lit tours. Owls and other night birds are active, tiny feathertail gliders and giant yellow-bellied gliders swoop around, and quolls, pademelons and bettongs forage for food. Visitors are amazed that even animals such as wallabies are much more active and responsive at night.

Moonlit Sanctuary is fully accredited and received a 95% rating tin the Tourism Victoria Excellence program audit.


• Open daily between 10am and 5pm for daytime visits. Feed wallabies and kangaroos on our famous Wallaby Walk. Entertaining keeper talks conducted throughout the day.

• Ideal stopover on the way to the Penguins at Phillip Island or to the Mornington Peninsula.

• One of seven top attractions in the Mornington Peninsula Attractions Pass, which saves up to 40% on admission and bonuses at four attractions and includes discount offers at three more.

• Koala petting and photography encounter allows visitors to get up close and cuddle Australia’s most famous marsupial.

• Programs for special interest groups, designed to meet the needs of the group.

• Full range of programs for school and educational groups, conducted by our education officers and biologists.

• Magical evening tours, the very best way to see Australian animals. Led by experienced guides, the lantern lit groups meet diverse and fascinating night creatures face to face.

• We can arrange city hotel pickups for our evening tours.

• For special occasions, book one of our private evening tours.

• Our cafe can provide refreshments and light meals for individuals and groups.
• Enquire about our new program for longer stay visitors – bunk out with us and volunteer in the park for a week or two.

“We have hundreds of amazing memories from our month in Australia, but your sanctuary ranks in our top 5. We were in awe” Ryan James, professional travel writer and Frommers author.

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Attractions/things to do