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
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listing
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Top ways to experience Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary
See what travellers are saying
  • kwhite8206
    Ascot, United Kingdom9 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Wonderful Experience not to be missed !
    Really excellent experience and a must visit. We booked the premium night tour and had the park to ourselves ! Our guide Page was fantastic , very knowledgeable and clearly loves all the animals. We got to feed many animals , met a lot of the residents up close and personal and had a lovely game with a Wombat called Madge! Whilst a little pricey it’s a really special experience and all the money goes back into the great work the Sanctuary does. Thanks very much Page, Liz and I had a great experience!
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written October 5, 2023
  • cheldaly
    Christchurch, New Zealand21 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful experience!
    We spent a lovely afternoon at Bonorong sanctuary. We went to some very interesting talks by knowledgeable and caring staff and saw some beautiful animals. We very much admire the good work they do towards caring for native wildlife. I would recommend this to anyone.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written October 12, 2023
  • Mr_and_Mrs_Cuddles
    Washington DC, District of Columbia1,619 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Come Here to Check Your Australian Wildlife Boxes
    We came here to see Australian wildlife and that is absolutely what happened. This was the first place we went off the plane and honestly, we could have left Tasmania happy only having visited here. We were able to see Tasmanian devils, wombats, kangaroos, emus and all sorts of other delightful critters. There were so many amazing birds here as well, some with big personalities. And there were bonus cockatiels in the trees surrounding the refuge. It was so much great wildlife in one space!!! The tour guide we had was great. He gave us a ton of really interesting info and he was great fun to listen to. He also really seemed to love his job. You get a bag of kangaroo food when you walk in and you can hand-feed the free-roaming kangaroos. It's a little intimidating when one comes hopping towards you excitedly, but it is quite fun. They did seem a bit tired of people feeding them by the afternoon though, some more interested in naps, so you may want to visit early. The highlight of our encounter was a wombat encounter, which we paid extra for. It was worth every dollar to see her up close and get a bit of interaction. We got extra time with a baby wombat and we were lucky enough that we even each got to hold her for about a minute each. She was soft, inquisitive, adorable, and generally melted everyone's heart. Completely worth it. We loved our visit to Bonorong and love what they do for animals and conservation. Go here; you won't regret it.
    Visited November 2022
    Travelled with family
    Written October 30, 2023
  • Charlie H
    2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Amazing Sanctuary, Feeding Frenzy Experience Highly Recommended
    The sanctuary houses mostly native animals which have been rescued and cannot be returned to the wild. There is also a 24 hour vet clinic where injured wildlife can be treated and rehabilitated, with viewing windows into the examination and surgery rooms. We did the feeding frenzy tour which allowed us to get up close with many of their resident animals. Our tour included hand feeding echidnas, kangaroos, a possum and many species of birds. We were also able to feed Tasmanian Devils and Spotted Tailed Quolls from a safe distance. This was a truly unique and special experience which I would highly recommend.
    Visited November 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written November 28, 2023
  • Kyle
    Auckland, New Zealand27 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Must do, wonderful experience
    ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Bonorong Wildlife Park in Hobart is an absolute must-visit! Their dedication to animal rescue work is truly commendable, evident in the exceptional care given to the animals. The experience of interacting with their rescue animals is both heartwarming and educational, allowing visitors to connect closely with these incredible creatures. The park not only provides a chance to see a diverse range of rescued wildlife but also offers an opportunity to learn about their stories and the conservation efforts in place. The passion and commitment of the staff shine through, making every interaction memorable. A visit to Bonorong Wildlife Park is not just entertaining but also an inspiring journey supporting their invaluable animal rescue efforts.
    Visited December 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written December 8, 2023
  • Alissa H
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Feeding frenzy experience
    We were given a feeding frenzy as part of our Christmas gift and had a great time with Elisa. She took us up close and we got to hand feed many animals. Costs about $175 Australian each. We went 10 to 12 :30. Arrive 10 minutes early. Small groups. Just us on our tour. Highly recommended
    Visited December 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written December 30, 2023
  • HanweiZ95
    New York City, New York7 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Try the private evening tour
    We booked the evening private tour and it was amazing. We got to feed, touch, and learn about the echidnas, wombat, quolls, devils, and many species of parrots. Also the magnificent Fred the sulphur-crested cockatoo, who is 109 years-old! (Prob the oldest living bird on earth now) It was great to experience the conservation efforts up close and contribute to it as a visitor.
    Visited January 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written January 2, 2024
  • Emily
    Ballarat, Australia9 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Make the time for this place
    We loved our trip to Bonorong. It is small but is bursting with personality and care for the animals. It is primarily a rescue and rehabilitation organisation, all the animals on display are there only as they are unable to be released, or are part of a breeding program. The tour that is included in ticket price is worth its weight in gold. The guide was friendly, knowledgeable and quite clearly loved the animals. Definitely worth a stop.
    Visited January 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written January 2, 2024
  • Abigail C
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Fantastic day
    Had such a fantastic day at Bonorong! One of the best days of our whole trip! We joined the Feeding Frenzy tour which was incredible, as we got to feed the echidnas, quolls and Tasmanian devils. We also got to meet Tessa the wombat very close up and other animals. Our guide Alyssa was wonderful, sharing information and stories about the animals. The work that Bonorong do is amazing, helping injured and unwell wildlife with a fantastic team.
    Visited January 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written January 4, 2024
  • Compass51915136175
    Simi Valley, California2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Magical Animal Experience
    We had a wonderful time on our Night Tour. The up close and hands on visits with the animals were so special. Our guide was knowledgeable about each animal. She didn't just have facts about the animals, but she knew them and their personalities which made the visits even more special.
    Visited January 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written January 7, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles2,378 reviews
Excellent
2,015
Very good
278
Average
60
Poor
10
Terrible
15

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 January 15, 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 October 5, 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 January 13, 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 January 22, 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 February 9, 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 February 12, 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 April 26, 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, IN1,059 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 February 27, 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 April 3, 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 January 10, 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 January 10, 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 January 21, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

David N
Bribie Island, Australia169 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Family
This one of those occasions where I would simply say “this is a must!”

We toured with a group of 14 people ranging from 7 to 50. We paid for the tour and was not disappointed.

Not only was the location easy to get to, the scenery was breathtaking!

The sanctuary was beautiful and heart warming. Wombats, Tasmanian Devils, koalas- up close and personal.

The staff were extremely helpful and went out of there way to make our trip extra special. Our guide Emma was exceptional with her knowledge and passion of the wildlife!

The viewing into the hospital area was breathtaking. We were fortunate to witness a Joey undergoing a check up.. had my wife and daughter in tears as it was beautiful!

The cafe area makes wonderful coffee and has a delicious range of goodies to snack on. Please note the cafe is diary free!

I have two top tips:- book the BBQ area for large parties. Excellent area as we took along some bread and snags for lunch!

Secondly, Donate! This place is truly amazing and every donation helps!!
Written January 10, 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.
How wonderful that you were able to see a joey being seen to by the vets in the wildlife hospital, and you enjoyed your tour! :) Thank you so much for your kind words, and for visiting us at Bonorong. We're very grateful for your support!
Written January 21, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Jamie C
Melbourne29 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2022 • Couples
We did the Night tour and what an amazing experience!! Robyn our guide was very knowledgeable and introduced us to so many animals. The best part was being able to personally feed some of them! Cuddles with Reidy the Wombat was the highlight as well as feeding the tassie devils. There aren't many places that allow you to go into the enclosure and feed animals which is why we would highly recommend anyone who visits Hobart to include this tour on their itinerary. You won't be disappointed. The only thing we would recommend is to wear a few layers and rug up as it can get very cold. I will definitely be recommending this tour to my family and friends. Thanks again Robyn and Bonorong sanctuary for making this tour the highlight of our Hobart trip. Keep up the amazing work you guys are doing there!
Written May 23, 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.

nicholas r
Camden, Australia2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2022
We did the Bononrong Night Tour with Robyn, She was hilarious, informative and so fun. We had the best time meeting and feeding all the wonderful furred and feather little aussies, and getting to know each of their stories. From cuddling a little wombat to hand feeding the 3 legged echindnas, this was a truly unique experience that we could not recommend highly enough to any and everyone, kids and adults alike.
Written February 16, 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.

Showing results 1-10 of 2,256
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing

BONORONG WILDLIFE SANCTUARY - All You MUST Know Before You Go (2024)

All things to do in Brighton
RestaurantsFlightsVacation RentalsTravel StoriesCruisesRental Cars