Fodor's Expert Review Healesville Sanctuary

Come face-to-face with wedge-tailed eagles, grumpy wombats, nimble sugar gliders, and shy platypuses at Healesville Sanctuary, a lovely, leafy, native wildlife sanctuary. Don't miss the twice-daily Spirits of the Sky show, during which raptors and parrots fly close overhead. You can get up close and personal with a koala, kangaroo, or echidna on a Close-Up Encounter (from A$31 extra), or for A$102, take a two-hour VIP tour with a ranger. Another highlight is the Land of Parrots aviary, where you can feed and interact with colorful birds. You can also view the animal hospital to see wildlife recovering from injury or illness. The Future Vets play space lets kids—and their parents—dress up as vets and role-play caring for animals, and kids can also join the Sanctuary Food Tour to see what it takes to feed over 1,400 animals. Take a break and refuel at the zoo's three cafés, including the largest, Sanctuary Harvest café, which serves full meals made with Yarra Valley's seasonal produce.