Australia Walkabout Wildlife Park
Host: Mike Whitney
Mike’s getting close to the animals at the Australia Walkabout Wildlife Park in Calga.
Just a 50-minute drive north of Sydney, the Australia Walkabout Wildlife Park is the only feral-free natural bushland in NSW. It also contains ancient Aboriginal sites, including cave paintings and middens.
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While the whole site is roughly 170 acres, the area free of feral predators amounts to 80 acres and is surrounded by a state-of-the-art fox- and cat-proof fence. This exclusion zone is home to around 180 species of mammals, birds, reptiles and frogs.
Many of these animals are species on the verge of extinction, but here, protected from introduced dangers, they are thriving.
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Once you’ve paid your entry fee, you’ll have all day access to the sanctuary and its facilities. The Park runs talks, tours and shows on most days at around 9am, 11am, 1pm, 2pm and 4pm. Each tour or talk takes approximately half an hour.
The tours and talks that are on at the Park are as follows:
Kangaroos & Coffee
Call the Park the day before to let them know you'll be there for "Kangaroos and Coffee" and they’ll make sure there is a muffin for you hot out of the oven.
At $1 each the muffins are almost as famous as the animals. Enjoy your early morning tea on the veranda as the animals emerge sleepily out of the bush for their special breakfast.
Koala Interaction
Meet Keith and Livingstone, the wild koalas, rescued by the Koala Hospital at Port Macquarie and nursed back to health after they'd each received life threatening injuries.
Not able to go back into the wild because of residual disabilities, Keith and Livingstone are looking forward to a long and happy retirement at Walkabout Park, waking just a few times per day to say g'day to you.
Keith especially loves a "Koala massage" of his shoulder blades. For just $5 you can meet him face to face, be his personal masseur, and take the most wonderful photos to remember this very special moment.
Koala Feeding
The other thing that Keith and Livingstone love to do is eat! Learn about the almost miraculous way these animals have adapted to the harsh Australian bush, living off the poisonous, almost energy-less gum trees.
Aboriginal Sites Tour
There are magnificent Aboriginal sites at Australia Walkabout Wildlife Park. These include carvings, paintings, caves and middens.
Our rangers will take you on a guided tour of some of the sites, showing you how Aboriginal people lived off the land, and explaining the role of fire and water in their everyday lives.
Dingo Puppies Walkabout
Munji and Kirika love nothing better than going walkabout with you through the park. Meet these amazing Alpine dingo pups, pure bred descendants of Asian wolves.
Bush Tucker & Bush Medicine Demonstration
The rangers at AWWP are experts on bush tucker and bush medicine. In this half an hour they will share with you some of the fascinating secrets of how to live off the bush.
Boomerang Workshop
The mysteries of boomerangs are revealed by the talented rangers who will show you how to make this aboriginal throwing stick return.
Try it yourself… yes a few get lost in the bushes and trees around the property, but you'll have fun trying and, who knows, you may find out you have hidden talents!
Roo and Emu Feeding
Go walkabout with the rangers along the bush tracks and boardwalks as they feed the kangaroos, emus, wallabies and pademelons.
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More Information
Australia Walkabout Wildlife Park Corner of Peats Ridge & Darkinjung Rds
Telephone: (02) 4375 1100
It’s open every day and entry is $22.50 for adults, $10 for the kids and $55 for families (2A+2C). |
Prices correct as at 24/11/07