For your next family adventure, consider a remote escape and visit Aussie Arks’s Barrington Wildlife Sanctuary. Located at Tomalla, near the Barrington Tops, this is a dedicated Tasmanian Devil and Australian Native Animal Breeding Centre where you can get up close and personal to these endangered species, learn what the Aussie Ark team are doing to help them and how you can play your part.
Experiencing firsthand how the Tasmanian Devils are thriving in this special facility is hands-down the best animal/conservation experience I’ve ever had and it was amazing to be able to share it with my kids. It’s an interesting, educational and enjoyable day out for all ages.
Devils in the Wild tours are available fortnightly for most of the year, with a brief pause during June and July for essential maintenance, and an exceptional break in January when Aussie Ark hosts its month-long Open Days.
These tours are 2 hours long and available dates, times, and reopening schedules can be found on the Aussie Ark website.
During January’s Summer Open Days, the sanctuary opens daily for a casual, family-friendly experience from 10.30am to 1pm. Entry includes a one-hour ranger-guided tour at 11am. It’s a fantastic opportunity to explore the enclosures, enjoy the sanctuary barbecue, and see Aussie Ark’s vital conservation work firsthand.
To get to Aussie Ark’s Barrington Wildlife Sanctuary, there are two routes from Newcastle to choose from – an approximately 3.5 hour drive via Muswellbrook or an approximately 3 hour drive via Gloucester.
Tip: Both routes have sections of winding road, so plan ahead and ensure you take sick bags and wipes, especially with young kids or passengers prone to car sickness.
We chose to do the loop – driving to Aussie Ark via Muswellbrook and home via Gloucester. If you choose the Muswellbrook route, head there from Newcastle via the Hunter Expressway and New England Highway. The drive is picturesque, especially past Muswellbrook where you’ll pass horse studs and tree-lined properties.
From Moonan Flat onwards most of the road is natural surface, including the last 25km to Aussie Ark along Tomalla Road. Take care at the single-lane bridges as you’ll need to give way to vehicles travelling in the opposite direction.
Download a map from the website, or use “Corner of Pheasant Creek Road and Tomalla Road” in your maps app and follow the signage (keeping in mind that mobile reception is limited after Moonan Flat or Gloucester). Drive carefully as there’s plenty of wildlife to spot, including goannas, wallabies, and wild rosellas. Adventurous families will love it.
If you choose the Gloucester route, caution and skill are required on Scone Road as it’s steep and winding in places. It’s an extremely picturesque drive through the stunning, World Heritage-listed Barrington Tops National Park. Again, there is wildlife to spot and signs directing you to Aussie Ark’s Barrington Wildlife Sanctuary.
Tip: The Barrington Tops Forest Road, on the Gloucester route, is natural surface and wet weather can cause structural damage to the road so check ahead for road closures before leaving home.
Be prepared for a substantial amount of time in the car if you intend to make the round trip in a single day. A 4WD or AWD is recommended, but not essential. Dawn, dusk or night driving in this area should be avoided.
Tip: As there is limited phone service at Tomalla, screenshot or print a map and your tickets before leaving home.
Allocating ample time for your journey will ensure prompt arrival for your tour. If you happen to arrive at Aussie Ark early, take the opportunity to explore the gift shop or acquaint yourself with the Tasmanian Devil and Aussie Ark by watching the informative video.
Alternatively, you can relax on the verandah and enjoy watching the devils in the nearby enclosure. They’re curious, unique little creatures and fascinating to watch.
The verandah also serves as the starting point for the tours. Our tour guide, Hugh, was passionate and knowledgeable. He informed us of Aussie Ark’s achievements, their conservation work and vision for the future.
Set on 400 hectares and surrounded by predator-proof fencing, the vision of Aussie Ark is to create a long-term future for Australia’s threatened wildlife.
I was surprised to learn that Tasmanian Devils prefer scavenging to hunting. Watching them argue loudly and play tug-of-war with a kangaroo leg was fascinating. With their strong jaws and powerful teeth, they swiftly devoured it, bones, fur, and all.
Fun Fact: The collective noun for Tasmanian Devils is a ‘muddle’ or ‘jubilee’.
Our fully escorted walking tour then took us down past the free-range enclosures, all designed to encourage and facilitate wild behaviours. Since its establishment in 2011, Aussie Ark has evolved to protect not only Tasmanian Devils but various other threatened Australian species including the Eastern Quoll, Long-nosed Potoroo, Rufous Bettong, Parma Wallaby and Brush-Tailed Rock Wallaby.
Aussie Ark has also stepped up to save the koala by building a crucial, disease-free population inside the Barrington Wildlife Sanctuary. Because wild koalas are heavily threatened by chlamydia, the team uses satellite tracking to monitor and protect a healthy group of these iconic animals. This special sanctuary acts as a safe haven, ensuring the species can thrive for generations to come.
The kids received an endangered wildlife checklist on entry and had fun ticking them off as they spotted each one. They were then able to return their checklist at the end of the tour to claim a small prize.
All the animals have names and the kids had a great time reading out all the funny names, like Principal Skinner and Toyota, and trying to work out which devil they belonged to.
The highlight of the tour was stepping into one of the free-range enclosures and getting a firsthand, up close encounter with the devils, standing just metres away from them as they were feeding. Having the chance to witness Aussie Ark’s conservation efforts in action was inspiring and emphasised the importance of their work.
It also provided a rare and valuable opportunity to understand the preciousness of Australia’s endangered wildlife.
A pre-paid barbecue lunch was cooked and ready for us on our return. We were able to choose from a sausage sandwich or a cheeseburger and a selection of drinks and snacks.
Tip: To assist staff in preparation, it’s best to order and pay for lunch when purchasing tour tickets.
Depending on the season, visitors may interact with devil joeys. It was impossible to keep the smiles from the kids’ faces when visitors were given the chance to interact with a baby Tasmanian Devil. Staff introduced us to two hand-raised Tasmanian Devil joeys and two hand-raised Eastern Quoll pups who stayed snugged-up in their pouches. The experience concluded a spectacular and unforgettable day.
Tasmanian Devils are no longer found in the wild on mainland Australia, and their population in Tasmania is affected by the deadly Devil Facial Tumour Disease. Aussie Ark’s Barrington Wildlife Sanctuary boasts the world’s largest disease-free insurance population of devils, safeguarding them from the brink of extinction.
Experiencing firsthand how the Tasmanian Devils are thriving in this special facility is hands-down the best animal/conservation experience I’ve ever had and it was amazing to be able to share it with my kids.
No doubt, it involved a long day of driving but, if the distance deters you, a visit to Aussie Ark’s Barrington Wildlife Sanctuary would perfectly complement a camping trip to the Barrington Tops National Park. There’s also nearby accommodation options as well as accommodation for couples, families and groups at “Quoll Cottage” or “Devil’s Retreat”, both of which support Aussie Ark.
Visit the Aussie Ark website for more information and other ways to support them including merchandise, animal adoption or donation.
Good to Know
Website: aussieark.org.au
Address: Tomalla Road, Tomalla NSW
Phone: 02 4326 5333
Email: admin@aussieark.org.au
Hours: Visit the website for 2026/2027 Devils in the Wild and Open Day dates.
Amenities: Toilets onsite.
Cost (as at July 2026): The 2 hour Devils in the Wild tour costs $150 for adults aged 16+ and $100 for children aged 3-15. Children aged 2 and under are free. Seniors discount and Family discounts are available.
What to take: Sunscreen, hat, insect repellent, clothing and footwear suitable for walking, individual first aid or medical needs, take some warm clothing (even in summer, it gets cool in the mountains), a sense of adventure!
Disclosure: Newy with Kids received complimentary admission to Aussie Ark in January 2024 for review purposes. However, all opinions are our own.
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