A living sanctuary for Tasmanian wildlife

Trowunna Wildlife Sanctuary is a conservation and rehabilitation reserve set on 70 acres of natural habitat in Mole Creek, in northern Tasmania. The sanctuary combines practical animal care with public education and aims to present animals in environments managed to encourage natural behaviours rather than manicured exhibits.

Where it sits and its size

The site covers 70 acres of grassland, forest, shrubland and wetland. That mix of habitats is used to support a variety of native species and to provide appropriate spaces for animals at different stages of care, recovery or lifelong residence.

Habitats you will walk through

Visitors move between open grasslands, dense shrubland and bracken, mixed eucalypt forest and a central wetland lake. Open grasslands allow free-ranging sightings of kangaroos, wallabies and wombats. Shrubland provides shelter for smaller macropods such as pademelons and for potoroos and bettongs. Established eucalypts and natural ground cover supply den sites and foraging areas throughout the sanctuary. The lake supports ducks, geese, swans and other waterbirds. Reptiles and a variety of native birds use the understorey and den sites.

Visitor experiences and interactive tours

Trowunna offers three daily interactive tours at 11:00 am, 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm. Each interaction lasts approximately 45 minutes and is included in the entry fee. Tour activities commonly include meeting a wombat and viewing the Tasmanian devil social feeding. Tours are designed to present individual animal stories and to explain the sanctuary’s conservation, rehabilitation and breeding work.

Hours, admission and booking

The sanctuary is open daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and is closed on Christmas Day. Published admission categories include adults, concession, children aged 3 to 15 years, children under three free, and a family pass. Current published prices are: Adults $35, Concession $30, Children (3–15 years) $20, Children under 3 free, Family Pass (2 adults + 2 children) $99. The three daily interactive tours are included in the entry price and the sanctuary states prior booking for these tours is not required.

Accessibility, terrain and suitability

Because habitats are managed to encourage natural behaviours rather than being heavily manicured, paths and viewing areas reflect a habitat-focused approach. Expect natural surfaces and informal paths in many areas. The sanctuary promotes conservation education for a broad audience and provides encounters suitable for families and children in the stated ticketed ages. Visitors should plan for an outdoor experience that includes walking between habitat zones.

Conservation, rehabilitation and lifelong care

Wildlife rehabilitation has been central to Trowunna’s work since 1979. The sanctuary provides specialised care for injured and orphaned native animals with the aim of returning suitable individuals to the wild. Some animals follow a soft-release process that allows them to rebuild fitness, confidence and natural behaviours before full independence. Animals that cannot safely return to the wild are offered lifelong care on site. Conservation breeding programs are part of the sanctuary’s approach to maintaining healthy populations of threatened native species.

Education and animal stories

Education is a core purpose of the sanctuary. On-site commentary and the individual stories of animals are used to explain threats to Tasmania’s wildlife, rehabilitation practices and the role of conservation breeding and lifelong care. The interactive format of the tours is intended to help visitors understand the practical steps involved in rescue, rehabilitation, release and long-term care.

Planning checklist before you go

  • Confirm opening hours and entry prices with the sanctuary’s current information because times and prices can change.
  • Note the sanctuary is closed on Christmas Day.
  • Plan to attend one of the daily interactive tours at 11:00 am, 1:00 pm or 3:00 pm; prior booking for these tours is not required.
  • Expect to walk between different habitat types on natural surfaces and informal paths.
  • Prepare for an outdoor visit that includes viewing wildlife and hearing educational commentary about rehabilitation and conservation work.

What to expect on site

Expect guided interpretation about individual animals, the rehabilitation process and conservation breeding. Some animals visible during a visit are undergoing care intended to support eventual release. Other animals are long-term residents that contribute to education and to the sanctuary’s conservation objectives. Seasonal changes and the animals’ own behaviours influence what is visible on any given day.