Cabin Bookings
We have two cabins available for bookings via AirBnB or make a cabin booking via email:
stay@hansonbay.com.au
To book via AirBnB click the CABIN link below:
Welcome to Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, a privately-owned conservancy focused on providing habitat for native animals to live in the wild.
Since 1997 the Sanctuary has worked to conserve and protect the natural resources within its boundaries, especially the native Australian flora and fauna.
The bushfires of January 2020 ravaged the Sanctuary We are open but now can only be visited by prebooked guided tour. Please see the Tours page for more information. Our cabins are listed on AirBNB or you can email (see cabins page). We hope to see you soon.
Hanson Bay in 2018: A wild place on the edge of the earth
On 3 January, 2020 the bushfire that started in the Ravine area of Flinders Chase National Park roared through the Sanctuary.
The flames consumed most the buildings and much of the habitat in the Sanctuary and also burned down to the coast and destroyed 4 of 6 Hanson Bay Cabins. Many native animals were lost in the fire. Injured animals were sent to veterinary triage in the early days post fire.
After the fires, HBWS took the unprecedented step of partnering with Cleland Wildlife Park in the Adelaide Hills and sent 28 koalas to Cleland as an insurance colony against another catastrophic event. Even after sending the koalas to Cleland, there are still 40+ healthy, wild koalas living in and around the Sanctuary.
The Sanctuary has moved past the Recovery phase. Come and visit to understand the regenerative effects of fire on the landscape. Everything you see has either survived the fire or descended from a fire survivor!
The wildlife is amazingly resilient and at the Sanctuary we believe the story of the fire – destruction and regeneration – is compelling. Fire is often a part of the Australian environment’s life cycle. The rebirth of the Australian Bush is a fascinating thing to witness, and we hope to share it with you soon.
Before the Covid-19 travel restrictions, several groups of volunteers spent time at the Sanctuary helping with the cleanup. We are so appreciative of support.
The 2,000 hectare (5,000 acres) Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary is situated on the western end of Kangaroo Island, between the Kelly Hill Caves Conservation Park and the Flinders Chase National Park.
It is bordered by thousands of hectares of protected wilderness lands as well as the Great Southern Ocean. It is the gateway to one of South Australia's most iconic wilderness areas and is connected to the Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail which provides walking access to Remarkable Rocks. Pristine beaches, spectacular coastline, old growth maritime bush land and forest plus abundant wildlife combine to make this area one of Australia's most awe-inspiring places.
Kangaroo Island’s Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary is famous for its abundant native bird and animal wildlife.
Australian wildlife is predominantly nocturnal so it is most active between dusk and dawn. Recent visitors to the Sanctuary have encountered Australian native animals such as Koalas, Kangaroos, Tammar Wallabies, Possums, Echidnas, the Rosenburg Goanna, and the Bush Stone Curlew. The Sanctuary has also been known as a bird watchers paradise with regular viewings of Blue Wrens, Scarlet Robins, Lorikeets, Crimson Rosellas, Black Cockatoos, Scrub Wrens, Bush Stone-Curlews, Crescent Honey-eaters, Banded Plovers, and Cape Barren Geese. Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary is recognised as a diverse and pristine ecosystem. Over 190 native plant species have been recorded on the property.
Please share your details with us and we will keep you updated on our progress.
Recent Reviews
August 2024
Best experience in Australia
This Tour was simply the Highlight of 3 weeks in Australia! Walking around in the park with a very competent guide with a lot of valuable information, we saw so many animals - and very close up with the most beautiful Koalas. This is how a Tour in the Wild should be done - we where honored guests in the animal kingdom of Kangaroo Island - Galapagos of Australia.5/5
Thorbjorn S, Aarhus Denmark
Source: TripAdvisor
June 2023
Wildlife Extravaganza
My friend and I booked a nocturnal tour of Hanson Bay on the 3rd night of our recent trip to Kangaroo Island. We had already seen quite a bit of wildlife but nothing prepared us for just how abundant the wildlife here would be. When we arrived we were met by Josh, who was a fantastic guide. He put us at ease and seemed really enthusiastic about the wildlife. We saw a number of Koala's included a large male (we named him Big Kev) and quite a few females as well as a baby. Josh then took us for a drive with and we saw literally hundreds of Kangaroos and Wallabies, a wildlife extravaganza!
Its so hard to believe just how much this area was impacted by fires a few years ago.
A great place to visit, we definitely recommend it!
Thank you Josh!
Ana & Petrina
Source: Google
June 2021
Jim (owner) was an absolute rockstar
We turned up early without a booking, and Jim kindly let us in and took us on the 'extended' tour- including scoping out the day's koalas. He was so knowledgeable, kind, and generous with his time. It felt like we were visiting extended family. In an intimate tour, we learnt about the impact of the fires, the reaction of flora and fauna and the comradery of volunteers during difficult times. Absolutely 100% recommend visiting.
Sarah Yancey
Source: Google
August 2024
Beautiful experience
We booked a guided walking tour of the reserve. The experience was beautiful. Sincere and real. The tour is structured to see animals in their natural habitat and unlike many other Australian "reserves" the animals are not in enclosures, but free. We saw koalas and wallabies and kangaroos. We must be able to appreciate the authenticity of the experience which for us was the most exciting of all those done with animals so far. Almost everything was burned in the 2020 fire, the animals that are there today are the survivors, nature is growing back and the refuge is rebuilding their structures. I recommend this sanctuary, which seriously preserves the lives of its guests. We thank you for the time spent together and the beautiful and exciting experience.
Source: Google
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