New nature playground for Byron Bay Wildlife Sanctuary

BYRON Bay Wildlife Sanctuary is building a state-of-the-art nature playground to help it become more sustainable.

The Knockrow attraction – previously known as Macadamia Castle – has partnered with Queensland company Wearthy to design the playground. It will be built with natural and sustainable materials, including recycled trees and wood from the site, and will feature a waterplay area.

Byron Bay Wildlife Sanctuary general manager Amanda Gorvin said she hoped the new attraction would be open in time for the spring school holidays in late September or early October.

“We’re working very hard to make sure it’s not a typical council-built playground,.

“There will be a deck and a meeting place in the family precinct that can be used for yarning circles and playgroups, as well as for adult gatherings.”

The previous playground was damaged in the 2022 floods, and the tree it centered around had to be removed. The Sanctuary suffered another setback in April when it flooded again after a storm, and animals had to be removed from their enclosures.

“They were back in a week later, but we lost about four weeks’ worth of revenue because we had to close parts of the venue,” Ms Gorvin said.

The new nature playground was made possible through the generosity of an anonymous donor after the Sanctuary became a tax-deductible DGR (Deductible Gift Recipient) charity, but it is still seeking further funding.

The attraction also houses Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital, which provides free veterinary care for injured, orphaned, diseased, and displaced native animals, and has ambitious plans to upgrade its enclosures and redevelop park facilities, including a Reptile House, Nocturnal House, and Rainforest Walk.

A new membership program offers locals the chance to take advantage of facilities such as its mini golf course and revamped café, Gather at the Sanctuary.

Along with its weekly playgroups and school holiday programs, it has also introduced a new Puggles program at 10am every second Saturday, in which parents can drop their kids off for three hours to enjoy a pancake breakfast, engage in art activities, and meet the animals.