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Waratah Park Earth Sanctuary is a landmark
site in Sydney, situated about 30 minutes
drive north of the Harbour Bridge in the
Ku-Ring-Gai National Park at Terrey Hills.
Waratah Park is a nocturnal sanctuary open
from 4pm until late, offering visitors the
opportunity to see free roaming Australian
animals and other native wildlife in a mini
ecosystem, returned to its former natural
state circa 1788.
Species of rare and endangered animals
once native to the Ku-Ring-Gai Chase region
are being re-introduced - species seldom
recognised by most Australians including
pademelons, bettongs, bandicoots and potoroos.
Originally famous as the home of "Skippy
the Bush Kangaroo" after the TV series
filmed there during the 1960’s, the
previously mismanaged wildlife park was
closed in February 2003. Earth Sanctuaries
Ltd (ESL) then purchased the lease with
the sole aim of rejuvenating the site as
a centre for conservation. The bushland
area and nature reserve has now been properly
restored and the park re-opened to the public
as an Earth Sanctuary in 2003, the first
of its type in Sydney.
There are other established Earth Sanctuaries
at Warrawong (near Adelaide), Hanson Bay
(Kangaroo Island) and Little River (near
Melbourne). Given its proximity to the city,
Waratah Park Earth Sanctuary is well positioned
to attract tourists and will provide a unique
eco-tourism offering for those visiting
Sydney.
The major objective for Waratah Park Earth
Sanctuary is to restore the balance of native
flora and fauna that existed prior to European
settlement of the area. It is being hailed
as the 1788 sanctuary! This has been achieved
by feral-proof fencing the entire sanctuary,
eradicating all feral animals, restoring
appropriate native vegetation, landscaping
and planting indigenous trees, shrubs and
grasses.
In the evening, enjoy an Aussie BBQ over
some story telling and relax as the sun
sets over Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Parks
and the stars over Sydney light up the evening
sky. Visitors then experience a '”Wildlife
Watch” walk through the evening, seeing
native animals in their now natural habitat
wild.
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