Moonlit Sanctuary is a small private animal sanctuary and zoo on the Mornington Peninsula and a great place to get up close to Australian wildlife and to learn about our native environment.
We are invited to visit and it is the highlight of our stay in the Mornington Peninsula. Hence my very positive Moonlit Sanctuary review!
The sanctuary’s name ‘Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park‘ is somewhat deceptive – it’s not just open at night (and it’s often mistaken for ‘Moonlight Sanctuary’ or ‘Moonlite Sanctuary’). They do run lantern-lit night-time tours where you can meet the nocturnal animals, but there’s still plenty to see during the daytime.
The Moonlit animal sanctuary site totals 10 hectares of bushland but the area containing the main enclosures is not very big. You should be able to fit in a full visit within 2-3 hours while stopping for the included keeper presentations.
As you enter make sure you buy a bag of food ($2) for the ducks and wallabies. They are very placid and tame and the kids will love hand-feeding the animals.
Baby 2.0 enjoys patting the koala as part of the koala encounter ($15 per person) but Lady AB refuses to go in. The koala pretty much sits still and munches eucalyptus leaves so you can pat its surprisingly soft fur.
Other close-up encounters that you need to book include dingo pup adventure, python holding, barn owl encounter with “Hootie”, hand-feeding a tawny frogmouth and the behind-the-scenes tour. Prices start from $5 per person.
I highly recommend the behind-the-scenes Moonlit Sanctuary tour, which costs $150 for 1 hour for 5 people. It’s a personal, close encounters tour of some of the Moonlit Sanctuary wildlife and the only opportunity you get to go inside the enclosures and feed the animals (other than the koala photo opportunity).
We are regular frequenters of zoos and animal sanctuaries in Melbourne and the experience is something special and memorable for adults and kids alike.
The kids vary in their fright levels – Baby 2.0 is happy to pat a snake but freaks out inside the noisy aviary, whereas Lady AB loves feeding nectar to the birds and the sugar glider and making a grass ball for the wombat.
The cafe is nothing special and with the plethora of gourmet options on the Mornington Peninsula, I think you’ll be better off dining at family-friendly locations like Green Olive at Red Hill, Red Hill Epicurean or Main Ridge Dairy.
Moonlit Sanctuary Pearcedale is a great destination if you’ve got overseas visitors who are fascinated with our native wildlife or just little kids who love to get up close with animals. The Pearcedale animal sanctuary is a family-friendly animal encounter experience in a natural bush setting that young and old will enjoy.
I think Moonlit Sanctuary tickets are reasonably priced, even with a few add-on paid encounters. If you can, make the most of the visit with a behind-the-scenes tour of the Pearcedale zoo – it’s an unforgettable experience!
Click here for more places to go things to do in the Mornington Peninsula with kids
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Best Zoo livestreams and webcams
Tips for Pearcedale Moonlit Sanctuary:
- Moonlit Sanctuary is approx 1-hour drive from Melbourne;
- Nearest train station is Frankston + bus or taxi ride;
- plan 2-3 hours for a visit and check what keeper presentations are happening to make the most of your visit;
- You can buy Moonlit Sanctuary tickets in advance or at the door, but encounters must be booked at the ticket office;
- Sometimes you may be able to find Moonlit Sanctuary discount tickets online ahead of time;
- Wheelchairs, walking stick and umbrellas available for loan free of charge;
- Free parking onsite;
- You can BYO food to the Pearcedale sanctuary or eat off site;
- All of the attractions are outdoors so I wouldn’t recommend going in wet weather;
- Paths are flat or undulating compressed gravel so it’s easy to get around with a pram; and
- Cafe has high chairs and change facilities.
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