Drive less than an hour from Melbourne to Lara and have a fun day out at the wildlife oasis, Serendip Sanctuary. This 250 hectare space is located at the base of the You Yangs in the Western Volcanic Plains. It’s home to 150 different species of birds, including emus, as well as mammals like wallabies and kangaroos. The best part? Entry to this place is completely free! Serendip Sanctuary is open every day from 8am to 4pm, except for Christmas Day and Good Friday.
Serendip Sanctuary
This lovely wildlife sanctuary is a great way for anyone to get out and about in nature. It’s filled with four interconnecting nature trails that are all gentle, suitable for prams and wheelchair accessible. These easy walks are no longer than 3km return each. Look out for birdlife and native wildlife, and learn all about the open grassy woodlands and wetlands of the volcanic Western Plains.
The most popular walk is the Wildlife Walk. This 1100m walk will take you close by a large variety of native wildlife. Watch the Eastern Grey Kangaroos graze, then look out for birds from special viewing areas. For something a little quieter, opt for the Wader Walk, a 3km return journey that will give you a tranquil view of the lakes.
Over 150 bird species have been recorded at the sanctuary. Keep an eye out for ducks, black swans and white-faced herons in the marshland, as well as Cape Barren Geese and Magpie Geese in the freshwater wetland. Around the trees, you might see honeyeaters or wattlebirds, while the skies above may be filled with Whistling and Black Kites. The sanctuary is also home to other native wildlife, like emus, kangaroos, wallabies, echidnas and reptiles. Most of the animals at Serendip Sanctuary are free to come and go. Feeding the wildlife is not permitted.
When you’re not admiring the animals or walking along the tracks, relax and have a picnic or a barbecue. You’ll find the picnic area near the main carpark. The area has free electric barbecues for you to use, as well as a picnic shelter with tables, drink water, and toilets with access for those with limited mobility. There aren’t any rubbish bins available, so you will need to take everything home with you.
The future
In the future, the sanctuary will also be home to a sensory garden. This garden, which is being created as part of an $11 million investment from the Victorian Government, aims to have five spaces with a focus on each of the five senses. Find vegetation with various textures in the ‘Feel’ space, edible bush foods in the ‘Taste’ space and so on. You can read more about the project here.