The wildlife sanctuary
The Wildlife Sanctuary is a special place. An ark, that nurtures, protects and celebrates the incredible flora and fauna of the Mornington Peninsula.
The Wildlife Sanctuary is an ark – a place which nurtures, protects and celebrates the unique flora and fauna of the peninsula, now rare but not lost. You may encounter animals including koalas, emus, kangaroos and echidnas. Into the future, animals and plants which are currently locally extinct will be re-introduced here – brought back to their home on the peninsula.
Our animals move around the sanctuary, and their behaviour changes depending on the weather, time of day and season. Please feel welcome to chat to our friendly Briars team about the animals in the sanctuary and discover what’s been spotted by other visitors
We also have special programs that take place during the school holidays like our After-dark Wildlife Walks – the best time to see Aussie nocturnal animals!
Briars Ark Conservation Plan
The wildlife sanctuary is an integral part of the Briars Ark Conservation Plan
Its purpose is to inspire and nurture the conservationists of tomorrow to care for wildlife, wild places, and community.
The project is a bold, collaborative, and science led plan for the conservation of the Peninsula’s most threatened species, with a vision to protect the future of our unique biodiversity.
You can find out more about the plan here Briars Ark Conservation Plan(PDF, 3MB)
Briars Macropod Management Update(PDF, 3MB)
The Sanctuary is open 9.00am - 4.30pm every day except Christmas Day, days of Total Fire Ban and days when a severe weather warning is issued. Closures are listed on our Instagram and Facebook accounts.
Walking Trails
The walking trails in the Briars Wildlife Sanctuary are popular for walkers and families alike. There are two trails you can do, our Wetland walk and Woodland Walk.
Discover the Ken McArthur Wetlands, woodlands, bird hides and a scenic lookout along walking trails that begin near the Visitor Centre.
For more information on the different walking trials follow this link -Walking Trails at The Briars
Download: (PDF, 823KB)Walking map and park notes(PDF, 823KB)
Safety in the Sanctuary
- Stay on the paths to avoid disturbing wildlife (including snakes, who will leave you alone if you give them space).
- On days of strong winds, especially following heavy rain, the Sanctuary may close for visitor safety.
Keep up to date
Follow us on socials to be the first to know of any events and updates we have!
@BriarsMtMartha
@briarsmtmartha