The Sanctuary

Experience Conservation in Action at Trowunna

Step into Trowunna and discover a sanctuary dedicated to protecting Tasmania’s unique wildlife. Our sanctuary provides a safe haven for native animals, from those part of breeding programs to individuals being rehabilitated for release, as well as residents who call Trowunna home when returning to the wild isn’t possible. Every visit helps support the vital conservation work that safeguards these species for the future.

Explore a variety of carefully designed micro-habitats that showcase the incredible diversity of Tasmania’s flora and fauna. Positioned at the crossroads of alpine, forest, and coastal regions, Trowunna provides a safe passage for transient and migratory wildlife and a rare opportunity for visitors to witness conservation in action.

Don’t miss our enchanting amphibian wetlands at the top of the sanctuary. Follow the waterways to the lake and hear the mesmerizing chorus of frogs. Five of Tasmania’s eleven frog species call this habitat home, including the Eastern Banjo (Pobblebonk) frog, Brown Tree frog, Common froglet, Spotted Marsh frog, and Tasmanian froglet. It’s an immersive experience that brings Tasmania’s wildlife conservation story to life for visitors of all ages.

The lake at Trowunna is home to a variety of waterfowl, including ducks, geese, and swans, while offering visitors stunning views of Quamby Bluff and Mother Cummings Peak in the Great Western Tiers. Our alpine grasslands provide spacious, natural habitats for free-ranging kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, birds, and reptiles. Meanwhile, the shrubland creates a safe haven for smaller macropods such as pademelons, potoroos, and bettongs, with dense bracken fern offering protection from predators. Each habitat at Trowunna is designed to support wildlife in ways that mirror their natural environments, allowing visitors to experience Tasmania’s incredible biodiversity up close.

Our mixed sclerophyll forest is home to Forester kangaroos, Bennett’s wallabies, and pademelons, giving you the chance to observe these incredible macropods in their natural habitat. With natural ground cover and den sites for our free-ranging wombats, walking among the trees feels like stepping into nature itself. Keep an eye out for flicking ears, it’s the best way to spot these well-camouflaged animals as they blend seamlessly into the bark and leaf litter.

Beyond the sanctuary, over 10 hectares of untouched bushland form a vital wildlife corridor, providing a safe space for animals to rest, forage, or make their home. This protected area is part of the Land for Wildlife program, helping to ensure that Tasmania’s native species continue to thrive both inside and outside the sanctuary.

“Trowunna is such a unique environment that native animals are naturally drawn to the sanctuary, with the knowledge that they are among friends.”

Trowunna Sanctuary spans 85 acres of natural vegetation, featuring towering eucalypts and thriving acacias. Kangaroos, pademelons, wallabies, potoroos, and wombats roam freely, allowing visitors to observe these animals in their natural behaviours.

The sanctuary is also a haven for birdlife. Keep an eye out for Goshawks, Falcons, Honeyeaters, Wrens, and Rosellas, all of which nest within the forest. Other wildlife, including quolls, bandicoots, and bats, are mostly active at night, giving the sanctuary a dynamic and ever-changing ecosystem to explore.

Rescue and release

At Trowunna, we are dedicated to caring for injured and orphaned wildlife. Many of these animals are prepared for release through a method called soft release. Unlike a “hard release,” where animals are returned directly to the wild, soft release allows them to regain confidence and natural instincts while roaming freely within the sanctuary under careful monitoring. This approach greatly improves their chances of survival once fully released.

Some animals, however, are unable to return to the wild. These residents make their permanent home at Trowunna, where we ensure they enjoy the highest possible quality of life. You may notice some bird enclosures appear empty — that’s because these birds are free to come and go as they please. Whether temporary or lifelong residents, every animal at Trowunna benefits from attentive care, enrichment, and a safe environment to thrive.