An eco-cabin in the bush with the animals
A little luxury, in the bush with the wild things
Hire your own private cabin (or gather your friends to join you, we have 5 cabins). Includes your entry tickets for all-day entry to the wildlife sanctuary too.
Unlike the sleep-out experiences at most other animal places, you are welcome to explore the sanctuary and visit the animals at night without a guide.
| Guests sharing cabin | Price |
|---|---|
| cabin + 1 adult | $240 |
| extra adult 18+ | +$80 |
| extra child 0-17 | +$60 |
- Maximum 4 people sharing (or 5 if small children happy to share a bed)
- We do NOT have a minimum age for children (as many ‘zoo snooze’ programs do), but you do pay for infants
Inclusions:
- your own private cabin
- overnight access to explore the sanctuary after dark to see what the animals get up to
- check-in 3pm-4pm, check-out 9am-10am
- entry tickets 9:30am-5pm so you can visit the animals before check-in and after check-out
Optional add-ons (not included as standard):
- Add-on Experiences
Optional add-ons (not included as standard):
- add a 2-hour ranger-led evening tour – click here for info and prices
- add a day-time private ranger guide – click here for info and prices
- add a day-time animal encounter or speed date – click here for info and prices
- be a “ranger for a day” (age 13 up) – click here for info and pricing
| Optional Hire | Hiring Fee |
|---|---|
| torch (flashlight) | $10 each |
| Arriving Late/Early | Price |
|---|---|
| late checkout 1:30pm | $50 per cabin |
| early check-in 12pm | $50 per cabin |
| late check-in 4pm-8pm | $50 per vehicle |
Not included, please bring your own:
- food for your meals
- personal toiletries (shampoo and soap)
Available to purchase 9.30am-4.30pm (usually):
- fresh-ground coffee with fresh-frothed milk from our barista machine
- chocolates, chips, ice-creams and cold drinks
- selection of Aussie pies (may be a delay so we advise pre-ordering)
- bottled water
- headache tablets, sunscreen, insect repellent
- rain ponchos
- toys, games and souvenirs
Suggested packing list:
- torch / flashlight and spare batteries or charger – or hire from us
- dinner, breakfast, snacks
- toiletries and personal medications
- camera and spare batteries or charger
- mobile phone charger
- closed comfortable walking shoes or boots
- sunscreen
- insect repellent
- warm jacket
- wet weather rain jacket (this is an all-weather adventure, and it can rain at any time of the year)
Cabin – A Wild sleep Out
Do you love the idea of a night in the Australian bush, but you don’t want to sleep rough? How about a cottage with all the comforts of home nestled in the bush alive with friendly wildlife? Your own private haven with everything you need, and the animals right outside your window. Each cabin is a single open plan room including equipped kitchenette, plus your own en suite shower/toilet. Your cabin includes a comfortable bed, hotel quality linen and towels, ceiling fan and oil fin heater, 4-person table and chairs, sofa and TV. Wake to the sound of the kookaburras laughing in the trees outside, and don’t be surprised if there is a kangaroo on your veranda and an emu at the window.
Spotlighting, a night with the animals
The Australian bush puts on an entrancing display of wild nature after dark. Bring a torch (flashlight) so you can explore the tracks at night to discover what the animals get up to in the evening and after dark. Meet Walkabout Wildlife Sanctuary’s furry and scaly and spiky residents in the trees and undergrowth.
We will give you a safety briefing and information about how to be considerate towards the animals (and other guests) who appreciate the tranquillity of the bush at night.
We encourage guests to explore the sanctuary after dark, heeding the safety information given to you when you check in, using a flashlight so you don’t stand on small animals, and staying on the tracks.
You can add a ranger-led evening tour if you want to, but it is great fun to explore on your own.
If you have booked a ranger-led tour, your ranger will collect you from the veranda of the Visitor Centre (where you checked in) 5 minutes before your tour is due to start. Start time is usually an hour before sunset. You will be advised of the start time when you check in.
Campfire
Campfire is NOT included unless you have booked a ranger-led evening tour.
WiFi and Lights
There is WiFi in your cabin
There are no lights along paths – bring a flashlight
Planning your meals
Guests do self-cater. Your cabin has a fully equipped kitchenette, with cooking utensils, cutlery and crockery, so all you need to bring is your food.
We do NOT have a restaurant at Walkabout Park, and entry gates are locked between 5pm and 8am so going to a local restaurant in the evening is not an option.
Although we do usually serve hot pies during the day at the visitor centre, this is only “while stocks last” and only between 10:30am and 4pm.
You do have to carry your own gear
We recommend that you bring as little gear as you can.
It would be too dangerous for the animals to let people drive their cars inside the sanctuary where the animals roam free. Be ready for a short walk carrying your own gear (approximately 300 meters).
Wheeled cases are not recommended because the ground is compressed earth and pretty bumpy or soft in parts.
Walkabout does not have porters to carry guest’s luggage, and our rangers are usually busy caring for the animals so may not be around to help you. We may have a trolley for you to borrow to move your gear. Please ask at reception when you check in.
Room service
We do not provide room service, so please bring what you need.
About your eco-cabin:
All cabins are open-plan (studio style)
Please note that your cabin is a small cosy single open-plan room incorporating the bedroom/ lounge/ kitchen/ dining room).
Everyone sleeps in the one room.
All cabins include
- beds for 4 people – if you have a small child and want to have 5 people in your cabin (sharing the 4 beds), you can contact us to add the extra child
- kitchenette (open plan with sleeping area) and ensuite shower/toilet
- wifi
- hotel-quality linen and towels
- oil fin heater and ceiling fan (there is no air-conditioning)
- television ‘free-to-air’ TV
- dining table and chairs
- small veranda with patio furniture
- kitchenette with microwave, stove, toaster, kettle, fridge, crockery, cutlery, pots
- salt, pepper, spray-n-cook
- tea, Nescafe coffee, sugar, 2% milk for coffee
- dishwashing liquid, washing and drying cloths, broom
5 cabins, with different bed configurations
Golden Wattle Cottage – wheelchair accessible
- Queen sized bed
- Pull-out double sofa-bed
- Wheelchair accessible with accessible shower and kitchen facilities
- Kitchen/bedroom area is slightly smaller as more space has been allocated to the ensuite bathroom, but includes all the same facilities as the other cottages
Tea Tree Cottage
- Queen sized bed
- Two single beds
Heath Banksia Cottage
- Queen sized bed
- Pull-out double sofa-bed
Sydney Peppermint Cottage
- Queen sized bed
- Two single beds
Scribbly Gum Cottage
- Queen sized bed
- Pull-out double sofa-bed
Arriving at Walkabout
Check-in
Usual check-in time is between 3pm and 4pm, unless you have booked an early or late check-in.
At check-in time, take your luggage to reception. You will get a map of the sanctuary with a schedule of day-time activities, as well as a page answering frequently asked questions. Most importantly, you will be given easy-to-follow safety information about the animals. This animal safety information is vital as you will be sleeping in, and walking through, the animals’ world.
Once you have been given your safety briefing, you can take your luggage to your cabin and settle in. After that, you are free to wander around and start meeting the animals.
Early arrival (without early check-in)
You are welcome to arrive early if you want to visit the animals before your cabin is ready for you. Leave your gear in the car until check-in time.
Planning your day-time experience
You are welcome to spend both days in the sanctuary. However, if you are planning to spend only one day in the sanctuary and you’re not sure if this should be your first (arrival) day or your second (check-out) day, we recommend the second day. Part of the magic of a Wild Sleep Out is first meeting the animals in the late afternoon, exploring their world overnight, then spending the next day getting to know the animals you met the previous night.
Late check-in
If you have pre-booked a late check-in after the gates are locked for the night (to keep the animals safe), we will have someone on site to let you in when you arrive. However, you will need to phone us on 02 43751100 so we know that you are at the gate.
Rules
Children
Adults must supervise the children in their care at all times and ensure children behave considerately towards people and animals, follow the directions of the rangers, and comply with all Walkabout rules.
Alcohol
Only very limited alcohol consumption is allowed, and only inside your cabin. You are welcome to bring along wine or a beer to enjoy responsibly with your meal, on condition that this does not interfere in any way with other guests, the rangers or the animals. Please enjoy your drink discretely in your cabin, and do not walk about with it. We must make sure not only that everyone is safe, but also that no-one feels uncomfortable about someone else’s behaviour. Walkabout reserves the right to limit or prohibit the consumption of alcohol at any time, solely at the ranger on duty’s discretion. Anyone engaging in dangerous or inconsiderate behaviour will be required to leave immediately and at their own cost, even if this requires a taxi, in which case there will be no refund!
Booking and Payment
Bookings are essential, and may be made online, or by email or telephone (02) 4375 1100. Full payment must be made at the time of booking.
Terms & Conditions
We don’t refund if you change your mind. However, if you give us at least 1 week’s notice, we can change the date of your booking on payment of a $25 rebooking fee.
Optional extras may be added at any time but are subject to availability, so it is best to add these at time of booking to avoid disappointment.
A current credit card plus photo ID must be produced on check-in.
Security deposit
You will need to pay a $200 security deposit in case of damage including breakages, extraordinary cleaning or losses. The deposit is fully refunded when you check out providing that there are no damages. Although refunds are processed on the day you check out, there may be a delay before your bank shows the money is back in your account.
Cancellation by Walkabout
This is an all-weather event so we usually go ahead in the rain. However, if Walkabout believes the weather or other conditions may be unsafe for people or animals, we will cancel a booking. Whenever possible, you will be contacted in advance so it is important that you give us contact details that we can use to reach you right up until the time of your arrival. If we cancel your booking you will be given the option of either rescheduling to another date, or receiving a full refund. In the event of bad weather and if you have not heard from us, please call (02) 4375 1100 before 11am on the day of your booking to find out whether the program is going ahead. Note, cancellation due to weather is extremely unlikely as this is an all-weather event, so bring your rain gear as the rain just adds another dimension of fun to the experience.