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Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary

Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary

Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary
5
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary (pronounced “Bon-a-rong”) was established in 1981 as a sanctuary for injured and orphaned wildlife and is Tasmania's most popular wildlife park. At Bonorong you will see native animals which are extinct everywhere but Tasmania such as the famous Tassie Devil, Tasmanian Bettong, Eastern Quoll and Tasmanian Pademelon. You will also see favourites like wombats, kangaroos, possums, lizards, native birds and so many more. The animals of Bonorong are loved and cherished by all of the staff here at the Sanctuary and we are sure you will love them too!
Duration: 2-3 hours
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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  • AliOz
    124 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Absolutely loved it!
    We went into Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary with low expectations as some of the reviewers hadn’t seen many animals, but our experience was amazing. We saw a lot of Tasmanian Devils from the outset and some were quite active, which immediately set the tone for our day!!! We also saw wombats, black cockatoos, snakes, echidnas, emus and fed and patted kangaroos. We felt it was the perfect way to spend a morning. The property is surrounded by mountains and is really breathtaking. The enclosures blend into nature are very nicely done. We’d recommend going early in the day as that seemed to be a good time to see the animals awake and moving around. Would definitely return next time we visit Tassie.
    Visited January 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 24 January 2024
  • Bobby P
    Sydney, Australia233 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Best memories
    Still, after 9 years, we get the Bonorong calendar every year to remind us of one of our most memorable holiday experiences ever, and to support the sanctuary too, of course! We recommend adding on a personal experience with an animal of your choice - we chose the sugar glider. It’s worth the extra cost.
    Visited February 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 3 February 2024
  • Vic & N
    9 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Brilliant and ideal for animal lovers. Support their good work!
    Wonderful place and lovely people who were running it. The animals are well cared for with lovely enclosures. We got to do a wombat experience and it was wonderful, the staff were so invested and shared lots of info about the animals. They do great work helping the orphaned and hurt animals. Make sure you make the trip if you can.
    Visited February 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 25 February 2024
  • ilGiangy
    Italy738 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Good experience
    About an hour from Hobart, it is located in the countryside and is structured in the form of a ranch. IT IS NOT A ZOO it is a sanctuary where injured, sick and orphaned animals are cared for, in some cases they will be able to return to their free life in nature, others, since they are not independent, will be cared for by volunteers. It is possible to admire birds of different species, reptiles, Tasmanian devils, small marsupials, wombats and obviously a colony of kangaroos, many of which roam freely in the park looking for cuddles. The visit can last about an hour, a nice experience
    Visited January 2024
    Travelled with friends
    Written 1 March 2024
  • Joanne
    Lake Mary, Florida2,139 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Can feed roos
    Our cruise group took a tour with the owner from the port (over an hour drive). You can really tell the love the owners put in and are so enthusiastic to discuss the sanctuary and bits about Tasmania on the way. The sanctuary may appear a bit 'rustic' , but the animals are well cared for with a nice hospital with displays. Most of the animal displays have life stories about each of the animals and how they got to the sanctuary. The kangaroo feeding was awesome. There are troughs with free feed that you can pick up and walk slowly to any roo - and they eat right out of your hand. Be aware that everywhere you walk is roo poo - so no getting around your shoes getting it all over. There is a small store. It was a bit warm when we were there, and there is not a lot of shade. The place is not huge, you can probably spend about 2 hours. Bathrooms are fine. Definitely worth it.
    Visited February 2024
    Travelled with friends
    Written 2 March 2024
  • Stephanie
    Perth, Australia11 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Unmissable wildlife experience!
    We did the evening feeding tour of Bonorong and cannot recommend it highly enough. Our guide Robyn was fantastic, so friendly and full of information and charming stories about the animals. We especially loved the inquisitive echidnas and snuggly young wombat. The sanctuary itself is also beautiful with stunning sunset views of the surrounding mountains. Do not miss this if you are in Hobart!
    Visited March 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 4 March 2024
  • RKK
    Saint Louis, Missouri8 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Bonorong Private Premium Night Tour
    A frequent, worldwide traveler recommended the Bonorong Private Premium Night Tour as a highlight of Tasmania "must do" experience. If you love animals, this is the place for you! We started at 4:30 pm (after hours) by handfeeding kangaroos and visiting animals who were visible throughout the sanctuary. Our guide, Robyn (ask for her!!) gathered us at 5:30 pm for a lovely reception with choice of beverage, short film and history of the most amazing place for animal welfare. Her personal stories about the animals we met, fed and touched made the 3 hours fly by even though we were dealing with wind/rain. At the end she gave us a heartfelt thanks because the money goes to help fund staff and their project to expand the veterinary clinic which helps rescue and rehabilitate animals from all over Tasmania. Although pricey, the tour is well worth it if you love animals.
    Visited January 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 6 March 2024
  • JLF
    40 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great animal encounters
    A great little park with a lot to see in terms of Aussie animals. We'll laid out enclosures. The sweet, gentle Forester Kangaroos were gorgeous and happily ate out of our hands and welcomed being patted. First time seeing Tasmanian Devils and Echidnas, the keepers were really informative too. A must see if you're around Hobart.
    Visited March 2024
    Travelled on business
    Written 26 March 2024
  • Grant H
    3 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Highly recommended to visit
    Had a great & memorable experience at Bonorong. Very cool to get an up and close visit with Tasmania’s wildlife and learn so much along the way. The member of the team Elise was very knowledgeable and caring for all the animals. Would really recommend anyone thinking of visiting to stop in here.
    Visited March 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 26 March 2024
  • HighlanderGuyMN
    Saint Paul, Minnesota29 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Meet the Devil, Feed Kangaroos & Support the Sanctuary
    Visiting the Wildlife Sanctuary was one of the highlights of my stay in Hobart. Besides seeing the various residents, including the Tasmanian Devil, it was very fun feeding the kangaroos. I used & recommend the Heart of Tasmania Tours daily shuttle service for the LONG drive to the sanctuary. Arrival time coincided with a tour & there was more than enough time available before the return to Hobart. If you enjoy seeing wildlife this is for you!
    Visited March 2024
    Travelled solo
    Written 2 April 2024
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5.0
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GSD0201
Canvey Island, UK98 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019
This is not a zoo. Guide gave us excellent information about each animal we visited. She explained that the wombat would hopefully be returned to wild before age two as they becoming difficult to handle. She brought him round for a close up photo. We then were given a talk on the Tasmanian Devil who appeared to be asleep but as soon as she brought out food it came to sought out a meal. We then visited the koala who was resting in a tree branch. She advised no more than three people at a time could gone in to stoke his back but, should he become anxious she would have to stop the in pen visit.

The kangaroos, with and without joeys were all brought in for medical help and, if suitable will be returned to wild. The area has no level paths as it is the kangaroos enclosure. There are free food boxes to allow you to feed them.

There are other animals in pens but if they are asleep etc you may not always be able to see them. As you leave there are viewing windows (one way) to treatment rooms. It is small but staff know their stuff and treat animals with respect.
Written 19 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for visiting us at Bonorong, and for taking the time to understand that we're not a zoo, but a sanctuary where we care for and rehabilitate native animals :)
Written 22 January 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Tonya W
4 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2021 • Family
We were so glad that we booked a night tour at Bonorong and had the added bonus of sharing Robyn's 500th night tour. It was just the three of us walking the grounds and providing the park's residents with some nutritious snacks as the sun went down. Robyn was very knowledgeable about the native animals we were feeding and the bond she shares with them was evident. The tour was pricey but when you consider the amazing work that Bonorong is doing to care for and protect 'wild' Tasmania it was money well spent. We would highly recommend including a visit to Bonorong while you are in Tassie.
Written 26 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

KenVicLee
Huntington Beach, CA2,095 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020
Our tour company, Down Under Endeavors, knowing we were fascinated with the marsupials of Australia has set us up for this 5:30 night feeding led by one of the docents. We arrive as the regular guests are leaving. We check in and are told to look around the gift shop as the other day time employees say their good-byes for the night. Then it is our turn.

As it turns out there is one other small group of docent led night feeders. Other than about 10 guests and two docents, we are all that remains in the sanctuary. Okay, unless you count all the animals.

Our good fortune is to have our group led by Robyn, a former 31 year customs official (as I recall). She volunteers here because it feeds her soul. Needless to say she knows all the animals and they know her. We visit, and generally feed, every unique species that is housed at Bonorong. As the daylight fades away the animals become more animated. Part of that is a reaction to their nocturnal existence. Part of it is a response to feeding time. And some of it is attributable to seeing Robyn, their old friend.

When possible we enter the enclosure of the animal. Some we get to hand feed. Some we get to hold (looking at you wombat). Others we only get to watch. In every case it is a good experience.

I wasn't watching the clock but I think Robyn let us stay an extra hour since she was willing to let us spend a lot of time with each animal group. I know the other group had left well before we did. I can't guarantee you will have as good a time as we had but if seeing these animals as important to you as it was to our group then I would highly recommend the 5:30 night feeding. Ask for Robyn!

There is only one other small group of folks in the place.
Written 18 May 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello KenVicLee, Thank you so much for coming to visit. We are so pleased that you enjoyed your visit with us. We certainly love the environment, here once the sun starts to go down. Warm regards Kathryn
Written 27 July 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Nelly P
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia12 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Family
This ‘sanctuary’ capitalises on the cruising public that cannot ‘vote with their feet’. There are no paths to walk on - just dirt tracks that are very uneven (many rocks, roots etc) and the area is barren. On the day we went dirt and dust was constantly blown into our eyes, mouths. Viewing each enclosure resulted in zero animals sighted. We had to actually read the small signs on each enclosure to know what we could not see. In the “Older Tassie Devil” enclosure a sign read, “cartons, cardboard, plastic brushes and general rubbish are purposely placed in the enclosure for stimulation purposes.” What?!? Mind you, no ‘rubbish’ was evident so NO animals were ‘stimulated!’ There were 3 pens that had a ‘ranger’ appointed to give information but they were only there to answer questions, not do a presentation. We unfortunately arrived at 1pm just as a bus load of cruise ship passengers arrived. The enclosures had a frontage of approximately 2 metres - so goodbye being able to see anything over the throng of people. At the koala enclosure a very rude young girl announced, “I’ll let one person at a time come in for a photo, but if any of you’s touch the animal...that’s it no one else will come in...”

I have never been more embarrassed as an Australian for the poor conditions of the park; the poor display of animals; the standard of ranger ‘presentation’ - this place was truly horrible! It took me 3 managers time obtain a full refund, but I persisted as I really couldn’t accept actually paying to see NOTHING!!

The souvenir shop did a roaring trade as it was the closest the cruising public got to any Australian wildlife!!
Written 15 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for taking the time to leave a review. We're sorry that your visit didn't meet your expectations. We are an animal Sanctuary that focuses on rehabilitating injured and orphaned wildlife rather than a zoo. So the viewing experience is different to some zoos. We believe all animals should have the right to withdraw to private areas whenever they please, and we do not believe in forcing animals to be seen. Bonorong runs a state wide 24 hour Wildlife Rescue service, designed to provide safety and care to thousands of injured and orphaned animals every year. Whilst also running a unique Wildlife Hospital, so that our critters can avoid the stress of being able to smell domestic animals, that come with most other veterinary clinics. This is certainly our point of difference to many facilities. We are a non-government funded organisation. This means our Sanctuary, Wildlife Rescue service, and Wildlife Hospital are funded entirely by entry fees, which means every time we rescue an animal it is because our guests came to support us. We are very grateful for every single one of them. At our sanctuary, the well-being of our animals is our number one priority. Here at Bonorong our Sanctuary’s critters are nocturnal by nature, which means they are usually most active early in the morning and later in the afternoon, through till dusk. We make their enclosures as close to their natural setting as possible. Although we place a number of hollows in areas for viewing, it is the choice of the animal where they prefer to rest. Cruise ship days can be very busy at Bonorong and we run the tours differently on those days - and certainly if a ship is in port, it is worth calling us if you are not so keen on the “constant tour” style we set up on these days. We are sorry that the experience was different to what you thought it would be. We take feedback very seriously and have analysed your feedback alongside the feedback of others and appreciate you taking the time to provide it. Warm regards Kathryn
Written 5 October 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Jo H
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Family
Night tour was fantastic. We got to touch and feed alot of the animals. Robyn is a super informative guide; her passion for wildlife is so evident, she is engaging with children and adults alike.

What a fantastic experience in a small group environment.

Thank you Bonorong!
Written 13 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We're so pleased you enjoyed your Bonorong Night Tour with Robyn! We think she's pretty great too :) We wouldn't be able to do the work that we do with Tassie wildlife if it wasn't for people such as yourself visiting us. Thank you so much for your support!
Written 22 January 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Long time traveller
Portland, OR6 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Friends
Beautiful sanctuary (not a zoo so animals are rehabilitated and released back into the wild if possible). Got to feed the kangaroos. Pay the extra money and take part in an animal encounter (I got to hold a gorgeous baby wombat). I went on a Saturday afternoon, and despite being a sunny weekend, it did not feel overcrowded with people.
Written 9 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We're so pleased you enjoyed your experience with one of our sweet wombats. They really are adorable, aren't they? :) Thanks very much for visiting us at Bonorong!
Written 12 February 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

BrigAvocado
Melbourne, Australia4 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2022
We did the 2.5Hr Feeding Frenzy and it was THE BEST experience ever. Our tour guide, Ryan, was very knowledgeable and you can tell he is super passionate about wildlife and wanting the best for the animals.

The is a rescue and release organisation so you won't have a lot of wildlife being kept there just to be on display. However, they do have a few permanent residence there which are deemed too high risk to be released into the wild. Having said that, there are quite some animals there before they are released so you still get a really good coverage of Australian wildlife. We got to hand-feed a wild range of animals, including of course the tasmanian devils and kangaroos.

It is a not-for-profile organisation so every cent you pay go towards the operation of the sanctuary and welfare of the animals. It could get quite cold at night during the tour so make sure you rug up (although Ryan was still wearing a short sleeve top and shorts!).

The night tour starts around 5:15pm for us (start time may differ depending on time of year) so we went there around 4ish and got to feed the kangaroos as part of normal entry (you get a bag of kangaroo feed when you enter the sanctuary). Then we got to feed them again as part of the Feeding Frenzy tour at 5:15pm.
Written 26 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

tagnrocky
Noblesville, IN1,065 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Couples
This is exactly what I was hoping to see on my trip to Australia. There are lots of kangaroos hopping around and they will freely interact with you. Free roo food is provided to encourage them to approach you. Stay low and offer the food in your open palm. They are quite gentle and love scratches on their chests - not so much on their backs or heads. You can also see other critters as well. Tasmanian devils are in enclosures with walls about chest high, (they do bite, of course) but you can watch them run past you unobstructed. There are also echidnas, quolls, wombats, sugar gliders, snakes and many birds, including the kookaburra and a sulfur crested cockatoo named Fred that’s 104 years old. You can also observe the treatment room through a one way glass. They were treating a penguin when we were there. The paths are rough and there is dirt and mud. This is an animal sanctuary after all, but it is wonderful to see all this indigenous animals up close and personal. Many animals are returned to the wild after rehabbing, so this is a great place to support with your tourist dollars.
Written 27 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We are rather lucky to have such unique animals in Australia and Tasmania and we are glad you were able to experience and see so many of these critters in the Sanctuary. We hope you have fond memories of these interesting animals from down under, that you will never forget, tagnrocky!
Written 3 April 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Elisabeth
Melbourne, Australia11 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2022
We did the private night tour and had an absolutely superb time. Our tour guide, Robyn, had such passion for the animals and was generous in sharing her knowledge in an engaging and interesting way - we were entirely enthralled for the whole time. It was amazing to have the whole sanctuary to ourselves and to be able to get up close to so many different animals. We hand fed echidnas (my personal highlight), met the Tassie Devils, spent time with a young wombat and had cheeky encounters with kangaroos, a koala and many different birds. The sugar gliders and quolls were also incredible. I would thoroughly recommend this experience - the cost is 100 percent worth it and it feels as though you are contributing to a great organisation.
Written 10 January 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Karen K
12 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2019
If you want a top-ten experience on your vacation, the Feeding Frenzy tour at Bonorong is it! Instead of peering through cages at animals that might be sleeping or hiding, our guide Robyn took us inside the cages where we were able to pet the koalas and wombats and feel their lush, thick fur. We lured sugar gliders from deep in their burrow with the promise of a treat. We learned about the habits of kroll, emu, and met Fred, the 100 year old cockatoo. When we fed the Tasmanian Devil, we saw his sharp teeth and understood the need to feed him carefully! Robyn's love for the animals was obvious, and she provided a wealth of information about them. The kangaroos lounge in the yard, and they are gentle and eager for your attention and petting. Bonorong is great for adults and children as well. Do not go home without a visit here!
Written 10 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for visiting us at Bonorong, Karen! We're so glad you enjoyed your Feeding Frenzy with Robyn - we think she's pretty great too :) Booking into a Feeding Frenzy tour is definitely a great way to have an up close and personal experience with our animals, and we're pleased yours didn't disappoint. We really appreciate you taking the time to visit us.
Written 21 January 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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BONORONG WILDLIFE SANCTUARY (2025) All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

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