National Geographic has named the planet’s 25 most exciting destinations for 2022…. and Wildlife Wonders is one of them.
By: Toni Stevens, November 2021
We’re so honoured to be listed as one of the 5 best places in the world to enjoy nature, alongside safaris in Namibia, tropical wildlife spotting in Belize, and viewing the northern lights in Minnesota.
Here’s what they had to say:
“Wildlife Wonders, in Victoria’s Otways region, is a new wildlife sanctuary tucked away off the Great Ocean Road amid lush ancient forest and waterfalls. It’s the brainchild of Brian Massey, the landscape designer of New Zealand’s Hobbiton movie set tours. Massey, along with botanists, scientists, zoologists, and environmental specialists, has crafted a sinuous wooden path that winds through the refuge and blends seamlessly into the landscape.
“Visitors can set off on 75-minute guided tours of the sylvan site, wandering through thickets of eucalyptus trees and admiring the koalas, wallabies, and bandicoots that now call the sanctuary home. During a stop at the Research Base, guests can learn more about how the site provides a safe space for native species like the long-nosed potoroo, a marsupial that often falls prey to invasive predators such as foxes and cats.
“All profits from Wildlife Wonders go toward the Conservation Ecology Centre, which helps to fund several vital conservation projects in the Otways, including one that studies the movement of potoroos before, during, and after planned forest fires.”
For Conservation Ecology Centre CEO and co-founder of Wildlife Wonders, Lizzie Corke OAM the timing of the article couldn’t be better.
“Years of work and thousands of hours went into Wildlife Wonders, to create an environment which feels like it has always been here – and what visitors experience is a thriving, beautiful Otways filled with wildlife.
“It was absolutely heartbreaking to open in February 2021 in the midst of a global pandemic, and on the eve on another lockdown, so we can’t wait to welcome back domestic and international visitors alike in 2022 and share this magical experience with one and all.”
Wildlife Wonders is just 5km from Apollo Bay and is open daily for wildlife tours, and the café and gift shop are open to the public.
For more information, opening hours and ticket prices, visit: https://syn06be.syd5.hostyourservices.net/~wildlife
