FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Feathered Friends is located at 3105 Remembrance Driveway, Bargo NSW 2574, Australia.
As you drive along Remembrance Drive, look for the sign for the Australian Wildlife Sanctuary and Dingo Sanctuary. Next to this sign, you’ll see a driveway with a brown fence — turn in and park there.
Please wait by the gate closest to the driveway until the time of your booked show.
As you drive along Remembrance Drive, look for the sign for the Australian Wildlife Sanctuary and Dingo Sanctuary. Next to this sign, you’ll see a driveway with a brown fence — turn in and park there.
Please wait by the gate closest to the driveway until the time of your booked show.
Make sure you’ve entered the driveway closest to the Australian Wildlife Sanctuary sign.
• If you’re coming from the south, the entrance is in front of the sign, on your right.
• If you’re coming from the north, the entrance is behind the sign, on your left.
Please do not enter through the staff gate, which is the first entrance you’ll see when coming from the north.
Park near the gate closest to that entrance. If you’ve gone too far, you may have reached the Dingo Sanctuary gate instead.
We are no longer located at Orchard Hills and cannot offer any experiences at that location anymore.
• If you’re coming from the south, the entrance is in front of the sign, on your right.
• If you’re coming from the north, the entrance is behind the sign, on your left.
Please do not enter through the staff gate, which is the first entrance you’ll see when coming from the north.
Park near the gate closest to that entrance. If you’ve gone too far, you may have reached the Dingo Sanctuary gate instead.
We are no longer located at Orchard Hills and cannot offer any experiences at that location anymore.
You can book your Experience by clicking BOOK NOW throughout the website.
Yes — as long as reasonable notice is given, we’ll do our best to accommodate changes. Please get in touch with us if you need to move your booking to a more suitable date, and we’ll do everything we can to assist.
CONTACT US
Please allow up to 10 days to change bookings. Feathered Friends is staffed almost entirely by volunteers and receives no government funding, so we kindly ask for your patience as we get back to you.
CONTACT US
Please allow up to 10 days to change bookings. Feathered Friends is staffed almost entirely by volunteers and receives no government funding, so we kindly ask for your patience as we get back to you.
Feel free to reach out through any of the following:
Email: info@featheredfriends.com.au
Phone: 0490 701 157
Mailing address: PO Box 167, Kemps Creek NSW 2178
Instagram: @featheredfriendsbirdsanctuary
Please allow up to 10 days to change bookings. Feathered Friends is staffed almost entirely by volunteers and receives no government funding, so we kindly ask for your patience as we get back to you.
Email: info@featheredfriends.com.au
Phone: 0490 701 157
Mailing address: PO Box 167, Kemps Creek NSW 2178
Instagram: @featheredfriendsbirdsanctuary
Please allow up to 10 days to change bookings. Feathered Friends is staffed almost entirely by volunteers and receives no government funding, so we kindly ask for your patience as we get back to you.
Feathered Friends operates entirely around online bookings. We do not currently offer walk-in experiences or tours. Please ensure you have booked an experience on our website before arriving.
Can I request a specific bird or experience?
The experiences currently available are the ones described on our website. As the birds at Feathered Friends participate in experiences voluntarily, we cannot guarantee the inclusion of any birds in particular.
Only under the Handler’s guidance and approval. Some of the birds do not enjoy touches and some do quite a lot. At the end of your Experience, when appropriate, the Handler will demonstrate how to interact with the birds.
Can I bring a friend to watch?
Due to the nature of our Experiences all guests that step foot in the Sanctuary flying zones are automatically participants. We cannot predict who the bird will favour on the day! And so all guests must be paid participants and will be glove trained if handling birds of prey.
Yes! We encourage guests to take plenty of photos and the Handler may also be able to capture moments for you.
If you wish to bring large camera gear with you, please use under the discretion of the Handler for yours and the birds safety.
When you upload your photos onto social media please be sure to tag Feathered Friends and use the hashtag #featheredfriendsbirdsanctuary
If you wish to bring large camera gear with you, please use under the discretion of the Handler for yours and the birds safety.
When you upload your photos onto social media please be sure to tag Feathered Friends and use the hashtag #featheredfriendsbirdsanctuary
What happens to my booking in the event of bad weather?
In the event of bad weather, guests will be contacted prior to their booking with weather updates and explain it may be rescheduled onto another date, and that there are no refunds. Up to 2 hours before your booking your Experience can be rescheduled.
How does Feathered Friends help conservation?
Feathered Friends’ ethos has always been “Conservation through preservation”. To that end, we run multiple Black Cockatoo breeding programs, and we are working to establish insurance population of various Black Cockatoos.
Alongside this, we place a strong emphasis on education and community outreach, helping to inspire others to care for and protect these incredible birds and their habitats.
Alongside this, we place a strong emphasis on education and community outreach, helping to inspire others to care for and protect these incredible birds and their habitats.
Feathered Friends is always in need of passionate people looking to make a difference. As part of our selection criteria, we do require you to be available 2-3 days a week especially in holiday periods.
We are primarily looking for committed people who are wanting to be apart of the sanctuary for the long term. This is because the birds can grow attached to their keepers, and get unsettled if you disappear or only appear intermittently.
If you’re interested, please contact us via email and tell us who you are and what you can offer! Please note that due to a high volume of applications, we may not be able to get back to everyone.
We are primarily looking for committed people who are wanting to be apart of the sanctuary for the long term. This is because the birds can grow attached to their keepers, and get unsettled if you disappear or only appear intermittently.
If you’re interested, please contact us via email and tell us who you are and what you can offer! Please note that due to a high volume of applications, we may not be able to get back to everyone.
How do I become a Sponsor or Partner?
Please visit our Get Involved page to learn how to support the Feathered Friends mission!
What will happen at my experience?
When you arrive, please wait at the gates of the Australian Wildlife Sanctuary. Shortly before your scheduled start time, one of our team members will greet you and check in all participants. Once everyone is accounted for, the gates will be opened and you’ll be invited into the sanctuary.
As you walk to the experience area, our presenters will be there to greet you. You’ll have the chance to take a seat on the provided chairs or picnic rugs within the birds’ habitat. Once everyone is settled, the presentation will begin.
During the experience, our presenter will introduce a range of birds, many of which will fly over the audience and even land on guests. You’ll witness an incredible variety of natural behaviours and displays from many different species.
At the end, you’ll have time to ask questions, chat with the presenter, and explore further ways to support the sanctuary as you head toward the exit.
As you walk to the experience area, our presenters will be there to greet you. You’ll have the chance to take a seat on the provided chairs or picnic rugs within the birds’ habitat. Once everyone is settled, the presentation will begin.
During the experience, our presenter will introduce a range of birds, many of which will fly over the audience and even land on guests. You’ll witness an incredible variety of natural behaviours and displays from many different species.
At the end, you’ll have time to ask questions, chat with the presenter, and explore further ways to support the sanctuary as you head toward the exit.
Should I bring anything with me?
Please make sure you bring water, sunscreen, and a hat. We also recommend bringing your own seating, such as collapsible chairs, although seating will be available if you don’t have any.
Feel free to bring your camera — we love seeing your photos! Don’t forget to tag us on social media if you’d like to share your experience.
We do ask that you finish eating any food before entering the sanctuary, as the birds will try to take it. Please also avoid excessive jewellery, hair accessories, or other shiny or dangling items, as some birds may be attracted to them.
Feel free to bring your camera — we love seeing your photos! Don’t forget to tag us on social media if you’d like to share your experience.
We do ask that you finish eating any food before entering the sanctuary, as the birds will try to take it. Please also avoid excessive jewellery, hair accessories, or other shiny or dangling items, as some birds may be attracted to them.
How many people will be at my experience?
Group sizes vary depending on bookings, but you can generally expect around 80–100 guests at each experience. We limit numbers and session lengths to ensure the birds are not overwhelmed by large crowds or prolonged interactions.
Can I bring my baby or toddler?
Absolutely — we welcome visitors of all ages into our community and sanctuary. Children under three can enter free of charge when accompanied by a parent or guardian with a valid ticket.
We do ask that parents take responsibility for their child’s safety and wellbeing during the experience. As you’ll be entering the birds’ habitat, birds may fly close to or land near your child, so please be prepared to support and reassure them. If needed, there is space available to step aside from the main area at any time.
We do ask that parents take responsibility for their child’s safety and wellbeing during the experience. As you’ll be entering the birds’ habitat, birds may fly close to or land near your child, so please be prepared to support and reassure them. If needed, there is space available to step aside from the main area at any time.
Why aren’t I getting a response from you?
If you’ve been trying to reach us and haven’t received a reply, we sincerely apologise. Feathered Friends receives no government funding and is run largely by volunteers, which means we must prioritise the welfare of our birds above all else.
Our phone line is primarily reserved for guests with bookings on the day, in case any urgent issues arise. For all other enquiries, email is the best way to contact us, and these messages are usually answered after hours. All bookings must be made through our Redzy booking platform.
These systems are in place to ensure our team can dedicate as much time as possible to caring for the birds.
Our phone line is primarily reserved for guests with bookings on the day, in case any urgent issues arise. For all other enquiries, email is the best way to contact us, and these messages are usually answered after hours. All bookings must be made through our Redzy booking platform.
These systems are in place to ensure our team can dedicate as much time as possible to caring for the birds.
Do you still offer one-on-one experiences?
Based on feedback from our community, we are no longer offering one-on-one experiences for the time being. If you still hold a voucher or have a booking for a one-on-one or any other discontinued experience, please contact us as soon as possible and we will do our best to accommodate you.
What makes you different to other zoos?
Feathered Friends is not a traditional zoo. Our focus has always been on connecting people and animals for the purpose of conservation. To prioritize the welfare of the birds, we open only a few days each week, allowing us to dedicate most of our time to conservation programs and minimize stress on the birds.
All of our experiences take place in open habitats, allowing our guests to experience the beauty of birds without a cage in between them. We see our sanctuary as a special place where our community can experience harmony with the birds, appreciating them up close as guests in their natural environment.
All of our experiences take place in open habitats, allowing our guests to experience the beauty of birds without a cage in between them. We see our sanctuary as a special place where our community can experience harmony with the birds, appreciating them up close as guests in their natural environment.
I want to surrender a bird, will you take them?
We understand that deciding to surrender a bird can be difficult, and we want to ensure every bird is given the best possible care. Please note that we cannot accept every bird — decisions are made on a case-by-case basis to achieve the best outcome for all parties.
When contacting us, please provide as much information as possible, along with multiple photos from different angles. Helpful details include the bird’s age, sex, species, any previous training, and any injuries or health issues. This helps us make the most informed decision and provide the best care for each bird we accept.
When contacting us, please provide as much information as possible, along with multiple photos from different angles. Helpful details include the bird’s age, sex, species, any previous training, and any injuries or health issues. This helps us make the most informed decision and provide the best care for each bird we accept.
