A wildlife morning away from the beach
Serendip Sanctuary is a Parks Victoria reserve at Lara, on the flat grassy plains below the You Yangs. It's wetlands, bird hides and open paddocks where kangaroos, wallabies and emus live. Entry's free, the walks are short and flat, and it's a good morning out for kids who like animals more than another beach.
It's on Wadawurrung Country, at 100 Windermere Road, Lara. From the house it's about 50 minutes and 40 km: up the Surf Coast Highway, round the Geelong Ring Road, then the Princes Freeway towards Melbourne and off at Lara. You don't need to go through central Geelong.
No dogs, apart from assistance dogs. If your dog's on holiday with you, someone will need to stay back, because dogs can't be left alone inside the house.
Before you go
It's open 8am to 4pm every day except Christmas Day and Good Friday. There are no bins, so take your rubbish home. The paths are wide, flat compacted gravel, fine for prams and wheelchairs.
Parks Victoria is doing building works until the end of October 2026. While they're on, the car park, main entrance and most walks are open, but the Nature Walk (also called the Wildlife Walk) is closed. So are the barbecues and the new toilet block. There are portable toilets near the Sensory Garden entrance, and some picnic tables are still available. Check the Parks Victoria page before you go, in case the dates change.
Walks and what you might see
There are four walks, none longer than 2 km return, all starting near the information centre: the Nature Walk, the Wader Walk, the Wetland Walk and the Farm Dam for Wildlife Walk. The Nature Walk goes through a predator-proof fence, which keeps out foxes and cats so birds can nest. Bird hides look out over the water. You can't touch or feed the animals.
More than 150 bird species have been recorded here. Look for Cape Barren geese and magpie geese in the shallow freshwater wetland, black swans, herons and grebes around the marsh, and pelicans, cormorants, spoonbills and ibis on the open water of the North Arm. Whistling kites hunt overhead. Late spring's when the Cape Barren geese have young. Eastern grey kangaroos and black wallabies graze in the open, and there are emus about too.
The Sensory Garden opened in early 2026: five accessible garden spaces with artwork by Wadawurrung artist Jenna Oldaker. It's a good stop with little kids, especially while the Nature Walk's shut.
How the wetlands got here
This was once volcanic-plains grassland and wetland. It was farmed from the 1880s, the grasslands went and most of the wildlife left with them. The land became public in the 1950s, and from 1959 the habitats were rebuilt. Parks Victoria says the number of animal species went from about 40 to more than 150, with over 60 now breeding here.
That's why it looks managed, with fences, hides and channels. The water isn't one lake but several. The shallow freshwater wetland dries out every two or three years, while the North Arm holds water all year, which is why the fishing birds are easier to find there.
Fitting it into your stay
The gates shut at 4pm, so it's a morning trip in the middle of your stay rather than one for arrival day. Allow a couple of hours for the walks, then have a picnic, grab lunch in Lara or head back to the house. Bring water, hats and binoculars, and something to carry your rubbish home in. The birds are busiest early, so the closer you are to the 8am opening, the more you're likely to see.
The You Yangs are next door if you want a barbecue or a climb, and our mountain biking guide has the trails there. If it's raining, Geelong's waterfront is closer and has more under cover.
Serendip Sanctuary FAQ
How long is the drive from Torquay?
About 50 minutes and 40 km, via the Surf Coast Highway, the Geelong Ring Road and the Princes Freeway. The address is 100 Windermere Road, Lara.
What are the hours?
8am to 4pm every day, except Christmas Day and Good Friday.
Is there an entry fee?
No. School programs are booked and paid for separately.
Can I bring my dog?
No. Pets aren't allowed, only assistance dogs.
Are the walks open?
Until the end of October 2026 the Nature (Wildlife) Walk is closed for upgrades. The other walks are open. Each one is 2 km return or less.
Can I have a barbecue?
Not while the works are on. Parks Victoria suggests the You Yangs next door. Some picnic tables are still open.
How long should we allow?
A couple of hours covers the open walks and the Sensory Garden, plus about 50 minutes' drive each way.
Is it pram and wheelchair friendly?
Yes. The paths are wide, flat compacted gravel.
Will we see kangaroos?
Usually. Eastern grey kangaroos and black wallabies live in the open grassland, and they're easiest to spot early in the day. Emus are about too. They're wild animals, though, so there's no guarantee.
What's the Sensory Garden?
A new garden that opened in early 2026, with five accessible spaces to see, touch, smell and hear, and artwork by Wadawurrung artist Jenna Oldaker. It's near the entrance and an easy first stop with small children.
The You Yangs trails are in the mountain biking guide. For a family stay built around the beach as well, see family holidays in Torquay. Geelong is the Geelong waterfront guide, and more wet-day ideas are in rainy days in Torquay. To book the house, check dates and send an enquiry.
Sources
Facts on this page were checked against these sources on 19 October 2026. Opening hours, patrols, rules and closures change — check with the source before you go.
- Serendip Sanctuary — Parks Victoria
- Walks at Serendip Sanctuary — Parks Victoria
- Sensory Garden at Serendip Sanctuary — Parks Victoria
- You Yangs and Serendip Sanctuary upgrades — Parks Victoria