Jirrahlinga Dingo Conservation & Wildlife Education Centre - BASED IN CHEWTON VICTORIA
đ Chewton, VIC
Jirrahlinga in Chewton houses 128 dingoes alongside koalas, kangaroos, wombats, reptiles, and birds. Up-close animal encounters led by knowledgeable staff make this a standout conservation visit, 40 minutes north of Daylesford.
Best experience of our trip so far! All of the staff were great and welcoming! Rohan was very knowledgeable and made all of the animal encounters a great experience! While they don't have huge selection of animals to see, you get a very close encounter with all that they have. We were very lucky to be 3 of the 8 visitors at the time, which meant plenty of time with each animal.
đ Family Action Verdict
Best for families who want genuine wildlife encounters rather than a zoo format. Knowledgeable staff like Rohan lead close-contact sessions that children and adults find equally memorable. The compact grounds suit younger children without being overwhelming, and the conservation mission gives older kids real context for what they're seeing.
âšī¸ What to Know Before You Go
đŦ What Families Are Saying
View all reviews â823 Google reviews
G â748â W
a year ago
âBest experience of our trip so far! All of the staff were great and welcoming! Rohan was very knowledgeable and made all of the animal encounters a great experience! While they don't have huge selection of animals to see, you get a very close encounter with all that they have. We were very lucky to be 3 of the 8 visitors at the time, which meant plenty of time with each animal.â
Rebecca Keel
6 months ago
âWe had a fantastic time on Sunday, they put on a fair, with product stalls, face painting and music, the staff do an amazing job looking after all the animals, all the animals looked happy and healthy. Secure and safe enough for kids to run around in. highly recommend a visit and take a picnic with you.â
Y H
8 months ago
âIncredible experience and informative visit! Big shout out to the lovely people here. Appreciate to all their hard work and care for these animals. Will definitely be back and recommend families and friends visiting the area.â
Michelle Downie
5 months ago
âFabulous experience with up close encounters with wombats, dingos, koala and emu. The staff were very welcoming and friendly also. Enjoyed our chats with Fred the parrot as well. Throughly recommend visiting!â
Reviews from Google
Overview
Jirrahlinga is a working conservation sanctuary focused on Australia's dingo population â the largest collection in the country at 128 animals. Beyond dingoes, the site holds around 200 native animals including koalas, kangaroos, wombats, emus, and reptiles. Staff-led presentations cover individual species in depth. The sanctuary periodically runs community fairs with face painting, music, and stalls. Animals are well cared for and the grounds are secure enough for children to move freely.
