Byron Bay Wildlife Sanctuary unveils nature playground

THE second—and final—stage of the new nature playground at Byron Bay Wildlife Sanctuary has officially opened.

Building on the existing features like the messy play kitchen and tables — where children can interact with water, sand, seeds and nuts — and a large cubby house, the expanded playground now includes a multi-level climbing structure designed for children of all ages and abilities.

“There’s a rock-climbing section and a section that has a ladder, a slide to exit and a rope pulley that you can go down on,” the sanctuary’s marketing and commercial manager Cat Gerke said.

The upgraded playground proved popular during its opening weekend, with children from three birthday parties putting it to the test and giving it their enthusiastic approval.

“All of the kids who have been up what we call the ‘cockatoo lookout’ have really had that wow and awe,” Gerke said.

The Knockrow-based attraction collaborated with Queensland company Wearthy to design the new play area using natural and sustainable materials.

“The old playground that people would remember from the Macadamia Castle days was built around an old tree that was rotting and was no longer safe, so we had to demolish it,” Gerke said.

“The need for a new playground was obvious to all and as everything we do here is based around the environment we really wanted it to be natural and that’s what we’ve achieved.”

The $500,000 project was made possible by a generous anonymous donor, following the Sanctuary’s registration as a tax-deductible DGR (Deductible Gift Recipient) charity.

The attraction is also home to the Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital, which provides free veterinary care for injured, orphaned, diseased and displaced native animals.

Plans are also in place to further upgrade the sanctuary’s facilities, including enhancements to animal enclosures, the reptile house and nocturnal house, and renovations to the permanent marquee to include a deck.