Macadamia Castle / Byron Bay Wildlife Sanctuary

We have just returned from the BEST day out with the whole family at Byron Bay Wildlife Sanctuary. As we were celebrating a birthday we chose the VIP experience. Joshua was our wonderful keeper for the day, who met us at the gate, showed us around the park and taught us so many wonderful new things about wildlife.
The park is intimate, but it is so clean and the animals and their enclosures were extremely clean and well-maintained. It was a joy to see.
Every staff member from the cafe to the shop and front of the house was friendly and nothing was too much bother.
Every keeper was happy and spent time during all the shows answering the questions of the children as well as the big kids like me.
The admission price was very reasonable and the encounters were so well priced we will be back. We took the VIP experience package as it worked out cheaper for the whole family to come and have admission, a Barn Owl encounter, a Tawny frog mouth encounter, 2 lovely Snakes and a Blue tongue lizard encounter, we got to cuddle rabbits and guinea pigs, have fun with the sugar gliders as well as getting a welcoming coffee on arrival, pancakes for morning tea, a chose of lunch and beverage and to end the day a packet of nuts and a gin and tonic!
I would recommend this VIP pass to everyone. To have Joshua with us all the time we we were in the park we got a one-on-one with each of the animals. Our private tutor. Saw the back of the house and was explained all about the workings of the sanctuary and mobile hospital as well as met the amazing animals. It was a wonderful day and we will be returning. Thank you to all the staff at Byron Bay Wildlife Sanctuary for making our day perfect.

Can 110% recommend. We had a great time and stayed longer than expected, good value for money (family $90). The park is very small but is making up for its size by great extras like splash pad, mini golf and talks. Staff is great and knowledge and the talks are small enough to get up close with the animals and ask questions. Enjoyed it more than the bigger more commercial parks.

This was great for kids when owned by previous owners and called Macadamia castle, but sadly it is a shadow of its former glory,
New owner direction is clearly not as exciting for kids, many animals, birds have been removed, attractions gone like the kids train ride, play tree house and slide removed.
Food access through window into park gone.
Seems the owners are not concerned with the reason the park was established and that was mixture of animals and entertainment.
The park area is run down and needing maintenance.l saw very few staff in attendence.
Drop in and buy a drink or charge your car, don't waste your money on the park area not unless you have never seen a animal before.
Hope the owners listen if not then there will be a opening for a new sanctuary in the future.

Tesla charging works well. We have used twice now. Both times the castle was either closed or mostly closed. We got there at 230, Cafe already closed but could still look around at least. The other time at 5pm it was completely closed, no toilet available either when closed. 5 stars for the chargers, 2 stars for their limited opening hours.

Went here in school hols on a road trip and arrived at 2.40pm ready to look around and eat. We were told cafe closed at 2.30 and we could buy some nuts. (Expensive flavoured nuts)
Then went to toilets and told they were closed for cleaning.
Absolutely bizarre that this place shuts down at 2.30 in the middle of the busy period. There were HEAPS of people coming in wanting food and coffees but there was just nothing available, not even vending machines.
Can’t believe we couldn’t get a basic coffee here this time of the afternoon.

Great Tesla supercharger- 6 bays, but also very busy. Only had to wait 5 mins but very constant coming and going, with so many people here we are just flabbergasted that there’s no food or drinks available!

Great place, my son loved it. Staff were friendly and helpful. Bring swimmers for the kids

Liked it was small. Although somewhat rundown. Staff seem to have 0 fs given. Bought ticket and then was told that’s the entry… ok thanks mate so helpful. Went to cafe staff member swearing his head off. F this, F that. Purchased a toy koala that was handed to staff to scan, was given back the toy reeking of cigarette and coffee like they dipped their hand in a latte and an ashtray beforehand.
Rest of the park is a little sad looking with some attractions closed or no animals in the enclosure. Some enclosures also look like children put them together. I’d go if your anxious of people because there isn’t many people that go. So seeing some wildlife without a million kids running around was probably the best thing about going here.

Pretty sad place. Completely underwhelming and overpriced. Lower your. Prices or lift your game.

Have always loved this place since I was a child. Best pancakes in NSW. Not sure if we are allowed but we could have our dogs in the outdoor dining area - or at least staff didn’t tell us off.

Fun for all the family

A fabulous rainy day out with the kids (2,9)
Native Animals, get playground/treehouse, train ride, putt putt golf and exceptional macadamia products to enjoy! Well worth a family day out

Average. Train ride not worth money, should be free. Couldn't see kangaroos or frogs. Many enclosures empty. No where to sit when watched reptile and showed 3 animals quickly. Mini golf was good, water park (small) would be good for toddlers and babies when warm.

We visited this week with our grandchildren and found it overpriced and very run down and needed urgent cleaning and painting. Display windows need cleaning, and all exterior areas need painting. Very disappointing and presentation needs greatly improved even down to the staff uniforms looking very unprofessional.

Absolutely annoyed that we bothered to take the drive, staff not so great and friendly, price was an abomination for what we got to do. Hardly any animals, we got to feed 3 goats and pat a rabbit and kangaroo, the chick doing the kangaroo talk said nothing and looked like she Absolutely hated her job, we have been here in the past and it was great but today was an absolute disappointment only smiling staff member was the landscaper who walked past us as a few times, either shut down all together or bring life back to your park! My recommendation don't bother wasting your time or money!

The blonde tall guy who does the reptile talk as so informative and wonderful but the place is a little run down and a bit shabby.

I don't recommend this place. The staff is not kid Friendly. The installation is not look after. Everything looks old and dirty. They have a few animals not much to see. Not worth to pay to come here.

I went about 7 yrs ago with my 3 yr old at the time then I recently went back with my current 3 yr old son plus about 5 other kids under the age of 7 and I thought it was very out dated needs a revamp the staff seem like woofers or hippies from Byron I thought they weren't suited for those particular roles. The Cafe I went to order lunch and there was only a cpl of people seated and the guy said it would be a half an hr wait on a bowl of chips. The kids loved the bird area as did I we walked for aged to the kangaroo feeding area and all there was was one lonely kangaroo and an emu. Not very impressed considering its one of only a few attractions in our local area and could offer alot more

I attended with my children recently however I was met with verbal abuse from the Asian masked male working in the cafe. Not only was I mortified and felt threatened by this staff member, my children were wide eyed and clearly frightened when he was yelling at me. This is a family venue and for a staff member to conduct himself in such an aggressive way in front of CHILDREN, I find unacceptable! This male needs to remember he works in customer service, not a communist dictatorship. He takes tyranny too seriously and if he is that way inclined he shouldn’t be working around children.

Despite my children experiencing trauma from the Asian in the cafe, we enjoyed patting the animals.

I might add we didn’t see any wallabies, kangaroos or emus as they were over the ridge? For the money it’s a bit pricey, as a lot of animals were hidden away or simply not there.

Essentially we patted 3 goats, and a bunny but were hurried out when patting the bunny as only one family were allowed in at a time.

Disappointing experience we won’t be returning.

Very expensive entry, not much here, really cant understand peoples positive reviews, everything is rundown, needs fixing, painting, not a kangaroo in sight no emu. Wont be back, considered asking for refund and money back. $100 for mum dad and 3 kids.

It's just what you do when you drive through Ballina, drop in to the Macadamia Castle for a coffee.

I have been here previously and was not impressed. BUT they have improved the burgers were great and the coffee really hit the spot.
The staff are excellent and very attentive. I will be back.