Wildlife Tourism Australia Conference 2026

“Wildlife Tourism Fighting Extinction”

Healesville Sanctuary and Moonlit Sanctuary 27-30 October 2026

(Registration and welcome function 27th, presentations 28-30th, excursion 29th)

Tasmanian devil at Healesville Sanctuary Photo: Zoos Victoria

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* Click here for Registration *

Click for preliminary program

Keynote speakers

Accommodation options

Wildlife tourism of the wrong sort can harm wildlife and their habitats

Responsible, ecologically-sustainable wildlife tourism which values biodiversity conservation, animal welfare and high-quality nature interpretation (both in wild and captive situations) has the potential to assist wildlife conservation

Help make this a really special and productive event. Sponsorship prospectus

At the conference:

Endangered orange-bellied parrots, which are being successfully bred at Moonlit Sanctuary and their progeny released into the wild.

Explore two long-established wildlife sanctuaries breeding endangered species and offering great public education

Tell us about your own efforts to assist biodiversity conservation through your zoo, wildlife park, ecolodge or tour company, or about your research on the topic

Learn what those in the tourism industry are doing to really help the fight against species extinctions (not just greenwashing) and discuss the most effective ways to do so in the future

.Stay in a beautiful mountainous and forested part of Australia with plenty of birdlife throughout the conference.

Why should wildlife tourism operations help fight extinction?

There are economic, ecological and social responsibility reasons.

Photo: Zoos Victoria
  • Wildlife and wild places are diminishing as human populations grow, and increasing umbers of tourists want to travel to see wildlife. Wildlife tourism (whether safaris, ecolodges, national parks, zoos, sanctuaries etc.) can’t happen without wildlife, so we have both a moral responsibility to protect the animals that form the cases of our operations, and the habitats they depend on..
  • Wildlife and wildlife habitat and in peril throughout the world
  • Some of these species and habitats (rhinos, gorillas, rainforests, coral reefs …) are well known tourist drawcards
  • Others are less well-known but could become famous and draw tourists (numbats, greater gliders, estuaries …)
  • Tourism always has some impact while making money from wildlife and wild places, and with that comes a responsibility to always minimise damage and where possible contribute to protection and restoration
  • Many travellers are now far more sophisticated and knowledgeable about conservation issues compared to what was true a few decades ago, and are more likely to choose operations that support and assist conservation

Wildlife tourism can assist by:

  • Minimising our own impacts on species and habitats
  • Preserving and restoring habitat
  • Captive breeding and release
  • Supporting anti-poaching
  • Supporting conservation-related research
  • Educating travellers and locals (including governments)
  • Donating to conservation projects
  • Assisting conservation-related research (directly or indirectly)
  • Networking amongst practitioners (and between practitioners and researchers) to discuss effective methods for communication of conservation problems and actions to wildlife tourists

Our main venue: Healesville Sanctuary

Platypus at Healesville Sanctuary. Photo: Zoos Victoria

Opened in 1934, Healesville Sanctuary is set in native Australian bushland amidst beautiful mountain scenery just a one hour journey from Melbourne.

The first successful captive breeding of platypus was accomplished there in 1943 under supervision of David Fleay. This year (2025) a new Australian Platypus Conservation Centre has been completed, to enhance the rehabilitation and release of injured or sick platypuses.

Healesville Sanctuary is connected to multiple conservation programs and recovery groups, and is home to 13 of Zoos Victoria’s 27 local threatened species, Including the Alpine She-oak Skink, Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby, Giant Burrowing Frog, Guthega Skink, Helmeted Honeyeater, Leadbeater’s Possum, Mountain Pygmy-possum, Northern and Southern Corroboree Frog, Orange-bellied Parrot, Regent Honeyeater, Spotted Tree Frog and Swift Parrot.

For further details on Healesville Sanctuary:

Our host for the mid-conference tour and dinner: Moonlit Sanctuary

Moonlit Sanctuary, a longterm member of WTA, also breeds threatened species for release into the wild (including southern bettong (aka eastern bettong), eastern quoll, Julia Creek dunnart, fluffy glider (yellow-bellied glider), squirrel glider, helmeted honeyeater and the critically endangered orange-bellied parrots, and are celebrating their 25th anniversary in 2026.

Discover the magic of Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park, where conservation and unforgettable wildlife encounters come together. For 25 years, Moonlit Sanctuary has been dedicated to protecting Australia’s rare and endangered species, playing a vital role in recovery programs for the critically endangered orange-bellied parrot, pookilas, and other threatened species. As a longstanding member of Wildlife Tourism Australia (WTA), we are proud to connect visitors with nature while supporting meaningful conservation outcomes.

Your experience begins with a daytime visit, exploring bushland and coming face-to-face with kangaroos, wallabies, and over 60 species of Australian wildlife. Learn how our sanctuary cares for native animals and discover the stories behind our most important breeding and conservation projects.

After a delicious dinner overlooking the wetlands, the adventure continues as the sun sets. Join our lantern-lit night tour and step into a world alive with nocturnal creatures. Watch species such as Tassie devils, bettongs, and echidnas emerge from the shadows, and hear the unique calls of owls and frogmouths beneath the stars.

Moe information about Moonlit Sanctuary:

Pre and post conference tours for delegates.

Special discount on Wildlife Coast Cruises: seals, penguins, whales …

Wildlife Coast Cruises, an WTA member, operates advanced eco-certified boat tours showcasing the spectacular marine landscapes of Phillip Island and Wilsons Promontory. Their cruises offer unforgettable encounters with seals, dolphins and migrating whales, while exploring some of Victoria’s most dramatic and beautiful coastlines.

Guests can choose from whale watching adventures, visits to Australia’s largest breeding fur seal colony, sunset cruises or journeys into Wilsons Promontory Marine National Park. Onboard 20-metre catamarans, you’ll enjoy indoor and outdoor seating, a licensed bar, and passionate staff sharing insights into the wildlife, habitats and conservation of the region.

Experience our Phillp Island Seal Cruise, daily from the Cowes Jetty on Phillip Island, and take 50% off for all conference attendees, contact Wildlife Coast Cruises to book.

https://wildlifecoastcruises.com.au/

More details later