If you really want to see the wild side of the Great Ocean Road, join us for a nature tour through our wildlife sanctuary, where on a short, guided walk you can experience all the magic of the Otways, just 5km from Apollo Bay.
Take a walk on the wild side
Immerse yourself in nature with a 75-minute Walk with Wildlife nature tour through the magical Otways bushland, where you’ll discover lush tree fern gullies, explore eucalypt woodlands and marvel at spectacular ocean vistas.
Along the way your conservationist guide will share with you the secrets of the bush and the plants and animals who call the Otways home.
Our sanctuary is protected by a fox and cat proof fence, so it is free from feral predators. This means you’ll be able to enjoy a thriving Otways ecosystem that presently cannot be found elsewhere.
Each nature tour will have a unique experience, encountering our beautiful Australian animals living freely, as they would be in the wild. It’s almost certain you will see koalas, but you might also be lucky enough to spot a potoroo, bandicoot and many other amazing Australian animals that call Wildlife Wonders home.
Go wild at dusk for more wildlife spotting
As the sun sets over the hills of the Otways, potoroos, bandicoots, pademelons and more are waking up and starting their active nights of feeding and foraging. And you can spot them as they emerge for the evening on our Dusk Discovery Wildlife Tours.
On this small, intimate, 90-minute tour, your conservationist guide will give you exclusive insights into the lives of some of the more elusive and rarely seen animals who call the Otways home, plus spectacular sunset photo opportunities.
The experience includes a small meal of local delights with beer or wine.
This unique Australian wildlife encounter is not to be missed!
BOOK YOUR AMAZING DUSK EXPERIENCE NOW
A Great Ocean Road walk for all-abilities
The 1.4km all-abilities walking path makes this a wonderful and achievable experience for the whole family, and one of the few wheelchair friendly walks on the Great Ocean Road.
The path is suitable for sturdy wheelchairs, as well as people on crutches, or even those with prams.
We also provide audio headsets and binoculars to make sure you don’t miss a thing.
Companion Card holders are welcome.
We encourage you to call ahead on (03) 7046 1664 to discuss any specific needs we can assist you with to ensure you get the most out of your experience.
You can find more in depth information such as tour path gradients, accessible facilities etc. on our Accessibility page.
Know your visit is giving back
Every visit to Wildlife Wonders, including money spent at the café and gift shop, supports a brighter future for the wild Otways, and for nature across Australia and around the world.
This is because Wildlife Wonders is a social enterprise, with all proceeds invested in nature by supporting the critical research and conservation programs of the Conservation Ecology Centre, building knowledge, restoring habitats and supporting threatened species.
The guided Walk with Wildlife includes a pause at the Research Base, where you’ll be able to learn more about projects currently being undertaken across the Otways by the Conservation Ecology Centre, which your visit is helping to support.
These include planting habitat trees for koalas, undertaking surveys for threatened species, and controlling cats and foxes so our native species have a change to thrive.
Along the final stage of the walk, we’ll show you some of the research work ‘in action’, including camera traps and nesting boxes.
And if you’re into delicious local food and great coffee
Wildlife Wonders offers sanctuary for humans and wildlife alike, a peaceful place you can take in the sights, sounds, and scents of the Otways.
You can relax and recharge in our café or browse our extensive gift & book shop any time, watching the emus forage while the kids enjoy one of our many activities for kids, or entertain themselves in our outdoor courtyard.
All profits from the café and gift shop also support conservation.
Make Wildlife Wonders part of your Great Ocean Road holiday
If you’re looking for other things to do in Apollo Bay, wildlife tours, walks along the Great Ocean Road, or places to see Australian wildlife, check out our “Wild things to do” blog.
The finer details of your Walk with Wildlife
Guided tour pricing
All prices are in Australian dollars and are inclusive of GST.
Why not bring a group on your Walk with Wildlife?
Group Bookings, Private Wildlife Tours, School Excursions and more are also available please contact us for more information or to make a booking.
Family Ticket – $149 (includes two adults and two children under 15)
Extra child – $15 (only valid with a family ticket)
Group of 10 – $490 (on public tour of up to 20 people)
Private Tour – $640 (maximum of 10 people, to book please call 1300 099 467)
Private Dawn or Dusk Discovery Tour – $750 (maximum of 10 people, to book please call 1300 099 467)
School Groups – find out more about our wildlife experiences for school groups.
Wildlife Wonders opening hours
Wildlife Wonders is open every day from 9:30am until our last tour of the day.
Our café is open every day from 9:30am to 2:30pm.
For tour times and availability please check here.
If you are interested in making a special booking outside these times, please call us on 1300 099 467 to discuss what might be possible.
Got another question?
If you have any other queries, please take a look at our FAQs or call us on 1300 099 467
Getting to Wildlife Wonders
From Apollo Bay
Wildlife Wonders is located 5km south of Apollo Bay along the Great Ocean Road.
When you see the sign, take the next turnoff on the left for the carpark. It’s approximately 7 minutes’ drive from the Apollo Bay Visitor Information Centre.
By car (from Melbourne or the airport)
Apollo Bay is 197km from Melbourne CBD and will take approximately 2hours and 30 minutes to drive.
- Travel from Melbourne city onto the Westgate Freeway (or if departing Tullamarine Airport follow the signs to Geelong via the M80 Ring Road)
- Continue onto Princes Freeway (if you are driving from Avalon Airport you’ll join the Princess Freeway just before Geelong)
- Continue on the M1 to Cape Otway Rd/C135 in Mount Moriac
- Take Forrest-Apollo Bay Rd to Great Ocean Rd/B100 in Skenes Creek
- Turn right onto Great Ocean Rd/B100
- Arrive in Apollo Bay
To drive the Great Ocean Road, exit the Princes Freeway at the Torquay exit. Note, taking the scenic route via the Great Ocean Road will add 30 minutes to your journey (plus photo stops).
If you are arriving to Wildlife Wonders from further away than Apollo Bay, we suggest you aim to arrive at least 20 minutes before the start of your tour. The Great Ocean Road is often busy, and your trip can take longer than you anticipate.
By caravan
Please know there is ample parking and a turning circle for cars with caravans or campervans on the Wildlife Wonders parking lot.
By small group tour
Join our friends at Great Private Tours and enjoy a private guided Wildlife Wonders walk and lunch with your small tour group. This is just part of their bespoke Great Ocean Road itinerary. You can learn more or book your tour here.
By public transport
Apollo Bay can be reached via the V-Line bus from either Geelong or Colac, where it meets some V-Line train services from Melbourne. Busses connect with the Melbourne – Warrnambool train line at:
- Geelong Train Station and travel along the Great Ocean Road through Torquay, Anglesea, Lorne and other coastal towns
- Colac Train Station (Wednesday and weekends only) and travel via the hinterland through Forrest, Barramunga, Tanybryn and Skenes Creek
For train and bus information and timetables visit: ptv.vic.gov.au or call 1800 800 007
Once in Apollo Bay, the Visitor Information Centre can arrange transport for you to Wildlife Wonders.
You can join us in this important work!
Book now – book a tour at Wildlife Wonders to learn more about the wild Otways.
Keep in touch – sign up to our newsletter to learn more about the magnificent lands and waters of the Otways and the plants and animals that live here.
Make a donation – a single donation or a regular monthly gift supports conservation.
Volunteer – join our volunteer network to help in all sorts of ways.