The Story behind Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Park
Moonlit Sanctuary lets visitors get an up-close look at Australia’s amazing wildlife.
During the day visitors can explore our bush-land while feeding free roaming kangaroos and wallabies, petting friendly koalas and enjoying encounters with colourful birds, reptiles, dingoes and many other animals including endangered species. Alternatively visitors can come on a magical lantern-lit evening wildlife walk and view the animals in their natural nocturnal environment.
Just 50 minutes from central Melbourne, Moonlit Sanctuary is the ideal place to learn more about the fascinating animals that call Australia home with a keeper presentation or show every 30 minutes.
More than 60 Australian species and over 400 animals are waiting to meet you at Moonlit Sanctuary.
Who are the people behind your business
Moonlit Sanctuary’s Director has devoted his life to preserving Australia’s precious fauna. Michael Johnson has always had a passion for the rich yet threatened wildlife in Australia. For the past 18 years, his role as director and founder has been pivotal to the family-owned Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park where he is supported by a passionate team of wildlife experts.
Tell us something quirky or memorable about you, your customers or your business
During the day visitors at Moonlit enjoy close up encounters, keeper talks and conservation shows but at night, Moonlit Sanctuary comes alive with its world-famous lantern-lit tours. Night birds are active, tiny feathertail gliders and giant yellow-bellied gliders swoop around, and endangered quolls, pademelons and bettongs forage for food.
Involved with several breeding programs for endangered species, Moonlit Sanctuary is much more than a tourist attraction. It is an ark for endangered creatures, and a showcase of their unique beauty. It is a living classroom which encourages children and adults alike to unlock the mystery of Australian mammals, reptiles, birds, fish, insects and amphibians in a natural bush setting.
"Honestly one of the best places you can find near Melbourne. Just go, you won't regret it. All the animals look amazing and happy! If you have the chance, do some encounters. They are really worth it, you'll be able to be super close to the animals and touch them. The staff are amazing, they really are passionate and care about the animals." N Barber 06/19 "I often have been to Australian Zoos with overseas visitors but this is the best. All the animals look extremely well cared for. Everything was natural and relaxed. Thank you for making me proud to be Australian." J Hiddlestone 09/19
What is a thing you love about your business?
Above all, the welfare of the animals in our care is most important to us. Moonlit Sanctuary is dedicated to helping save Australia’s endangered wildlife from extinction. Many of the animals kept at the Sanctuary are threatened with extinction. However, just keeping and breeding rare animals is not enough, they must interact with programs aimed at saving them in the wild.
We thank every visitor who comes through our doors and experiences Moonlit Sanctuary, especially those who connect with wildlife they have never seen or heard of before.
What is the company background?
Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park grew out of the childhood dreams of Founder and Director Michael Johnson.
The Johnson family purchased a 25 acre property in Pearcedale which opened in September 2001 and initially operated by providing just night tours to the public. The lantern-lit tours were declared “magical” as word quickly spread about this special opportunity for visitors to get up close and personal to nocturnal wildlife that most had never seen before.
Michael imagined a place where people could experience the rare and unusual animals that roam the Australian bush. Moonlit Sanctuary is that place.
Each animal has been hand-picked to fulfill Michael’s lifelong plan to help halt the rapid extinction of animal species in Australia.
What is your ultimate vision for your business?
It is our hope that each connection between our visitors and the wildlife in our care creates an awareness of these rare and unusual animal’s plight. Our ultimate vision is that these connections mean that together, we can all help halt their extinction, so that our children’s children will also experience the joy of their company.
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