🐨 Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary: Up Close with Tasmania’s Locals

Just 30 minutes north of Hobart, Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary isn’t your average zoo—it’s a rescue centre, education hub, and a place where visitors meet Tasmania’s unique wildlife face-to-face. If you're moving to Tasmania with kids (or are just an animal lover), this is one destination you’ll want to return to again and again.

🦘 Feed a Kangaroo, Meet a Devil

At Bonorong, animals roam in natural enclosures, and many are part of active rehabilitation and breeding programs. You can hand-feed free-roaming Forester kangaroos, meet wombats and echidnas, and get eye-level with one of Tasmania’s most famous—and endangered—residents: the Tasmanian devil.

Guided tours offer insights into the sanctuary’s rescue efforts, with stories about injured and orphaned wildlife that are being cared for with the goal of returning them to the wild when possible.

🐍 Native Animals, Big and Small

The sanctuary is home to quolls, sugar gliders, tawny frogmouths, and even snakes, all of which play a part in Tasmania’s diverse ecosystem. Every animal has a name, a story, and a role to play in Bonorong’s bigger mission: protecting the island’s wildlife from threats like vehicle strikes, habitat loss, and disease.

💚 More Than Just a Visit

Bonorong is a registered social enterprise—proceeds from entry fees, donations, and experiences go directly into animal rescue and care. They also operate Tasmania’s largest 24/7 wildlife rescue service, fielding hundreds of calls from locals who’ve found animals in distress.

It’s a place where tourists and locals come not just to see animals, but to support them.

🏡 Living Near Bonorong

Bonorong is located in Brighton, a growing outer suburb of Hobart with a blend of rural charm and suburban convenience. Families enjoy the proximity to both natural beauty and city services, and it’s become a popular spot for first-home buyers and young families looking to settle down outside the city bustle.

Want to learn more about life in Tasmania and its community-driven attractions?
Visit www.movingtotasmania.com.au for town guides, lifestyle tips, and planning checklists.