Our favourite animal sanctuaries
Looking to donate your time or funds, learn about how farm rescues work or just bond with animals? You’ve probably already popped onto Google and searched for, “animal sanctuaries near me.”
As animal lovers, seasoned vegans and veg-curious alike often love the idea of spending time with animals, but many of us know that not everyone has the animals’ best interests in mind. Businesses that use animals for entertainment are widely known for their exploitative practices, and not all animal charities necessarily have the animals’ best interests in mind, either.
To help you out, we’ve put together a Plant Baked approved list of animal sanctuaries all over Australia that would love your support.
Queensland
Deathrow Unchained, Brisbane
Deathrow Unchained rescues all animals from death row, focusing on animals with no options. Some rescues enjoy the rest of their lives on the property, while others are fostered until they find their forever homes.
Open to visitors: Yes, on select open days
Tours: Yes, find the schedule here
How to donate: View the latest campaigns here. Deathrow Unchained often posts donation links for urgent situations on their Facebook page
How to volunteer: https://www.deathrowunchained.org/work-with-us
Farm Animal Rescue, Moreton Bay
Farm Animal Rescue rescues abused, injured, sick, abandoned and unwanted animals from factory farms, saleyards, slaughterhouses, shelters and veterinary clinics.
Open to visitors: Yes, open days are on Sundays from 10am to 2pm. Bookings essential.
Tours: Yes, during open days. View the schedule here.
How to donate: https://www.farmanimalrescue.org.au/donate/
How to volunteer: https://www.farmanimalrescue.org.au/volunteers-needed/
Happy Heifer After Sanctuary, Sunshine Coast
Happy Heifer After Sanctuary cares for farmed animals considered ‘waste products’ of the animal agriculture industry, such as male calves, baby goats, dairy cows who no longer produce milk and more.
Open to visitors: Yes, during events
Tours: Yes, occasionally
How to donate: Happily Heifer After takes sponsorships as well as donations of supplies
How to volunteer: https://www.happilyheiferafter.org/volunteer
Cranky’s Farm Animal Rescue Mission, Sunshine Coast
Cranky’s Farm Animal Rescue Mission (FARM) is a registered charity dedicated to caring for unwanted, neglected or abused farm animals.
Open to visitors: Yes, at select events, bookings essential
Tours: Yes, at select events, bookings essential
How to donate: https://crankysfarm.org.au/donate/
How to volunteer: https://crankysfarm.org.au/volunteer/
Meridan’s Menagerie, Townsville
Meridan’s Menagerie is a small, family operated animal sanctuary and rescue located just outside of Townsville. They provide short and long term direct care, rehabilitation and shelter to abused, exploited, neglected, sick and unwanted animals.
Open to visitors: No, but sometimes hosts special events
Tours: No
How to donate: https://www.maridansmenagerie.com/donate
How to volunteer: Send an email to meridansmenagerie@gmail.com
ACT
Little Oak Sanctuary, Braidwood
Just an hour outside Canberra, Little Oak sanctuary provides refuge for farmed animals who have come from abuse, neglect or abandonment.
Open to visitors: Yes, on select open days
Tours: Yes - Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 2pm. Book here
How to donate: https://donorbox.org/support-our-sanctuary
How to volunteer: https://www.littleoaksanctuary.org/volunteering
Peanuts Wellbeing Sanctuary, Windellama
Peanuts Wellbeing Sanctuary aims to break the cycle of abuse for children and animals. Rescued animals are joined with children from dysfunctional, neglected and abusive backgrounds to nurture and aid in the understanding of empathy and compassion toward others.
Open to visitors: Yes, for overnight stays.
Tours: No
How to donate: https://peanutswellbeingsanctuary.org.au/donate/
How to volunteer: Inquire via social media.
New South Wales
Moo to Ewe Farmed Animal Sanctuary, Palmdale
Located in between Sydney and Newcastle, Moo to Ewe Farmed Animal Sanctuary provides a forever home for orphaned farm animals, allowing them to live out their existence in their own unique way.
Open to visitors: Yes, bookings essential.
Tours: Yes, booked visits include tours.
How to donate: https://www.mootoewe.org/donate
How to volunteer: Inquire via social media.
The Owl & The Pussycat Farm, Byron Bay
The Owl & The Pussycat Farm provides a loving haven for neglected, starved and unwanted farmed animals on 130 acres of beautiful land.
Open to visitors: Yes
Tours: Inquire via social media.
How to donate: https://chuffed.org/project/build-them-a-barn
How to volunteer: Inquire via social media.
Contented Pig Inn Rescue Sanctuary, Lismore
Located just outside of Byron Bay, Contented Pig Inn is a non-profit rescue and rehabilitation sanctuary for abused, abandoned or neglected pigs.
Open to visitors: Yes, if arranged beforehand. Inquire via Facebook Messenger.
Tours: Inquire via Facebook Messenger.
How to donate: https://contentedpiginn.com/donations/
How to volunteer: Inquire via Facebook Messenger.
Sugarshine Farm, Lismore
Sugarshine Farm provides a peaceful, loving home for animals of all shapes, sizes and personalities where they can live their lives in freedom.
Open to visitors: Yes, if arrangements are made. Inquire via social media.
Tours: No
How to donate: https://sugarshinefarm.com.au/donate/
How to volunteer: Volunteer open days are held on the last Saturday of every month. Live-in volunteering positions are also available - inquire via social media.
Victoria
Edgar’s Mission Farm Sanctuary, Lancefield
Located just outside Melbourne, Edgar’s Mission rescues and provides sanctuary to animals in need, currently providing lifelong love and care to over 450 rescued animals.
Open to visitors: Yes via tours, which are closed for winter.
Tours: Yes, bookings essential.
How to donate: https://donate.edgarsmission.org.au/
How to volunteer: https://visit.edgarsmission.org.au/Visit/Volunteer
Lefty’s Place Farm Sanctuary, Benalla
Facebook Instagram
Lefty’s Place is a small animal refuge in the Macedon Ranges, Victoria, run by photographer Tamara Kennally.
Open to visitors: No
Tours: No
How to donate: https://www.tamarakenneallyphotography.com/leftysplacedonate/
How to volunteer: Lefty’s Placed does not currently accept volunteers.
Loki’s Lodge, Bendigo
Located about 1.5 hours away from Melbourne, Loki’s Lodge focuses on finding homes for rural animals that are surrendered due to changed life circumstances.
Open to visitors: Inquire via social media.
Tours: Inquire via social media.
How to donate: http://www.lokislodge.org/donate/
How to volunteer: https://www.lokislodge.org/main/volunteer/
Liberation Sanctuary, Gippsland
Liberation Sanctuary is Australia’s longest running dedicated sanctuary for animals freed from the exploitation and slaughter inherent to animal culture. It is Animal Liberation Victoria’s forever home for rescued animals.
Open to visitors: Inquire via social media.
Tours: Inquire via social media.
How to donate: https://www.liberation.org.au/donate/
How to volunteer: https://www.liberation.org.au/volunteer/
South Australia
Freedom Hill Sanctuary, Woodside
Freedom Hill provides a safe haven for farm animals who have been orphaned and abandoned. They promote, educate and encourage compassionate cruelty-free living.
Open to visitors: Inquire via social media.
Tours: Inquire via social media.
How to donate: https://donorbox.org/freedom-hill-sanctuary
How to volunteer: https://www.freedomhill.com.au/volunteer/
Fairview Lodge Animal Shelter, Adelaide
Fairview Lodge is an animal rescue organisation providing shelter to horses, cows, pigs, sheep, poultry and other livestock who have been rescued or surrendered from neglect or abandonment.
Open to visitors: Yes
Tours: Inquire via social media.
How to donate: Inquire via social media.
How to volunteer: Inquire via social media.
Furever Farm, Rockleigh
Furever farm is a charity rescue, sanctuary and rehoming farm for unwanted, abused and orphaned animals in South Australia.
Open to visitors: Yes, via overnight stays.
Tours: Inquire via social media.
How to donate: https://fureverfarm.org.au/donate
How to volunteer: https://fureverfarm.org.au/volunteering
Western Australia
Greener Pastures Sanctuary, Waroona
Greener Pastures Sanctuary is a family-run Sanctuary for animals who have been neglected, abandoned, mistreated, abused and rescued from slaughter. It’s a place where animals get to really live, where they’re loved just as much as any pet.
Open to visitors: Yes, via tours.
Tours: Yes, book here.
How to donate: https://www.greenerpasturessanctuary.org.au/donate
How to volunteer: https://www.greenerpasturessanctuary.org.au/volunteer
Happy Hooves Farm Sanctuary, Perth Hills
Happy Hooves farm sanctuary rescues, rehabilitates, rehomes and provides sanctuary to farm animals in need. They currently provide lots of love and care to over 200 rescued animals.
Open to visitors: Yes, via tours.
Tours: Yes, book here.
How to donate: https://www.givenow.com.au/animalactionistltd
How to volunteer: https://animalactionist.com/volunteer/
A Better Life Animal Sanctuary, Perth
Facebook Instagram
A Better Live Animal Sanctuary provides care and rehabilitation for animals without owners, especially those who are sick or injured. While they primarily provide a home for farm animals, they have also adopted native animals, dogs, rabbits and many more.
Open to visitors: Yes, via tours or farm stays.
Tours: Yes, book here.
How to donate: https://betterlifesanctuary.org.au/ways-to-help
How to volunteer: Inquire here.
Tasmania
Brightside Farm Sanctuary, Hobart
Brightside provides hundreds of abused and neglected animals with a permanent loving and secure home. They also educate, advocate and campaign for farm and companion animals, providing education sessions to students in schools and on site.
Open to visitors: Yes by appointment and on select open days.
Tours: Yes, once a month. Text 0408 658 356 to inquire.
How to donate: https://brightside.org.au/donations-and-bequests/
How to volunteer: Brightside is not taking volunteers at the moment.
Big Ears Animal Sanctuary, Launceston
Big Ears Animal Sanctuary cares for rescues from animal agriculture, as well as neglected, mistreated and abandoned animals. They provide animal education in an inclusive environment that caters for people with disabilities and minority groups.
Open to visitors: Yes, via open days and educational programs. Inquire via social media.
Tours: Yes, inquire via social media.
How to donate: https://www.bigearsanimalsanctuary.com/shop/
How to volunteer: https://www.bigearsanimalsanctuary.com/about/volunteering/
Northern Territory
Nina’s Ark Wildlife Sanctuary, Batchelor
Nina’s Ark is a refuge for orphaned or injured native animals, where they are rehabilitated and released back into the wild.
Open to visitors: Yes via tours and overnight glamping.
Tours: Yes, book here.
How to donate: https://ninasarksanctuary.com/donation
How to volunteer: https://ninasarksanctuary.com/volunteer