Billabong Sanctuary

Billabong Sanctuary recommended by our Townsville Chiropractor.

Billabong Sanctuary is an 11-hectare (27-acre) wildlife sanctuary located just 20 minutes south of Townsville on the Bruce Highway. It is one of Australia’s best interactive wildlife experiences and has been amazing tourists for over 30 years. The sanctuary features native animals in natural habitats of eucalypt forest, rainforest and wetlands.

it is a permanent home to over 100 species of Australian mammals and reptiles such as kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, wombats, crocodiles, and birds including parrots and cassowaries. In addition, the natural billabong (lake) at the center of the sanctuary is host to many visiting animals, some of which will breed and raise their young at the sanctuary. You can take guided or self-guided tours through the 11-hectare (27-acre) natural tropical bush.

What makes the sanctuary special?

Billabong sanctuary specialises in memorable experiences. Get up close and personal with a koala, stroke a wombat, pose with a parrot, pat a dingo, maybe even feed the cassowaries, the choices are endless. There are three walk-through enclosures where kangaroos will hop up to you for a pat. Most interactive experiences are free and you can take as many photos as you want.

You could even hold and pat a baby saltwater crocodile!

Throughout the day Rangers present inspiring wildlife talks for all ages. They even bring animals up close to family groups for a friendly chat and photo opportunities. During these wildlife presentations you will learn all about many of Australia’s native animals.

Billabong’s biggest highlight

One of the big highlights is the Daily croc-feeding shows where these majestic reptiles power out of the water to snatch their food.

The park is also home to successful breeding colonies of koalas, greater bilbies, red-legged pademelons, kangaroos, red-tailed black cockatoos. There are also many different  lizards, the southern cassowary, estuarine crocodile, northern bettong, common wombat, koala, nail-tail wallaby, eclectus parrot, black-headed python.

Thousands of native birds also migrate and breed at the park including ubiquitous whistling ducks and magpie geese, Pacific black ducks, ibises, egrets, moorhens, darters, pelicans, spoonbills and sea eagles.

Billabong Sanctuary has won several major tourism awards including the North Queensland Tourism Awards for Eco-tourism the Townsville City Council Environmental Excellence Award.

What not to miss at Billabong Sanctuary

The wildlife presentations, interactive talks, animal feeding shows and your chance to get up close and personal with all sorts of wildlife. They start at 9:15 am and all show are repeated in the afternoons so you don’t have to rush.

You can also return the following day with no extra charge. There are picnic areas with free gas barbecues or enjoy a meal at the Blinky Bill Café. You can also cool off in our tropically landscaped pool.

Billabong Sanctuary is one of my personal favourite eco-tourism places in all of Australia. When my daughters were little, we would go there many times a year to experience this wonderful attraction.

Imagine yourself holding a koala, hugging a wombat, hand feeding a cassowary, holding a small crocodile and wrapping a python around your neck. You can sit next to a dingo for a selfie and watch feeding of giant estuarine or saltwater crocodiles.

While in Townsville do not miss this wonderful experience.

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