Healesville Sanctuary Day Trip From Melbourne: Wildlife Without the Flight

Fri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Healesville Sanctuary is the easy answer to the question ‘where do I see Australian wildlife on a day trip from Melbourne’. It’s 65km north-east of the CBD, focuses entirely on Australian native species, and was opened in 1934 - one of the oldest dedicated native wildlife sanctuaries in the country, run by Zoos Victoria. This is the day-trip plan with realistic timing.

Getting There

Drive: 75-90 minutes from the CBD via the Eastern Freeway and Maroondah Highway. Public transport: train to Lilydale, then bus 685 to Healesville (combined journey 2 hours). Designated tour: $130-$160 from CBD pickup. Self-drive is the most flexible. Parking at the sanctuary is free.

Native Animals on MELBZ

Healesville Sanctuary Day Trip From Melbourne: Wildlife Without the Flight

Getting There