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Australia – Port Stephens Wildlife Park – Images

Fast Facts

Please Note: This program is temporarily unavailable. Check out our alternative programs in Australia or schedule a one-on-one call with one of our expert volunteer advisors.

Volunteer with rescued, orphaned and endangered species at a wildlife park near Newcastle, Australia. Participants will assist the local park staff in their endeavours to educate the community on wildlife conservation matters as well as to continue its conservation efforts.

Program Highlights

Be surrounded by free roaming kangaroos all day!
Work closely with Australian wildlife such as koalas, dingos and wombats
Ethical wildlife volunteer tasks
Encounter non-native species such as lemurs, water buffalo and alligators
Learn about campaigns for the preservation of endangered species
Participate in enrichment activities with many of the animals
Work closely with staff at the park
Spend the weekend exploring Newcastle or book yourself a trip to Sydney

Your Schedule at a Glance: (Minimum one-week duration):

Arrival Day, Sunday: Arrive at Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD). The local team will be waiting to pick you up and transfer you to your accommodations in Newcastle. Meet and greet your fellow volunteers.

Day 1, Monday: Volunteers will receive an introduction to the wildlife park, along with training before beginning volunteer tasks.

Days 2-5, Tuesday- Friday: Join the staff in their daily tasks of animal enrichment activities, food preparation and animal feeding, park maintenance and visitor interactions.

Days 6-7, Saturday and Sunday: Volunteers staying for only one week will depart on Saturday. Volunteers who are extending their stay can spend the weekend resting or exploring Newcastle and its surrounds.

Remaining Weeks: The remaining weeks will follow the schedule of volunteering Monday-Friday and having weekends free.

Check out what our past volunteers had to say!

Location of the Project: Port Stephens, Australia

Project length: Min 1 week – Max 4 weeks

Arrival Airport: Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD)

Volunteer Work: Animal care and park maintenance

Age: 18-65. Participants aged 16 and 17 may apply with parental consent and participants above 65 may apply with medical clearance.

Number of Volunteers: Up to 20 international volunteers

What’s Included

Accommodations: Shared dormitory-style accommodation

Food: Food is provided for three, self-catered meals per day during the week and two on weekends.

Airport Transfers:

Orientation: All participants will receive the required training upon arrival.Training may be ongoing as new tasks arise.

Support: Comprehensive and professional pre-departure travel guidance, 24/7 GoEco emergency hotline, experienced local field team.

What’s not Included

Flights, visas (if required), travel health insurance, airport drop-off on departure day, lunches on weekends, personal expenses.

Location

This wildlife park is located just north of Newcastle, in Port Stephens. The accommodations are in Newcastle, which is Australia’s second oldest city. Newcastle is a lively and cultural residential area and a three-hour train ride to downtown Sydney.

Volunteer Work

Volunteers will work at a family owned and operated park, that strives to provide a fun, safe and educational experience for the public, while promoting a variety of animal conservation and preservation campaigns. This is an active park that participates in catch-and-release and research projects, as well as fundraising activities. By participating in this project, you will contribute to a wildlife park that provides a safe haven for endangered animals as well as a variety of farm animals.

Some of your tasks may include:

Helping staff with general animal care
Maintaining a refuge for injured and orphaned animals
Enclosure and park maintenance
Light construction work
Mending fences from damage done by the free-range wildlife
Food preparation and animal feeding
Wildlife enrichment initiatives

Living Arrangements

Internet icon Internet: Free WiFi is available at the volunteer house.

Laundry icon Laundry: Laundry facilities are available at the volunteer house

Accommodations icon Accommodations: Volunteers will stay in shared, same-gender, dormitory-style rooms in a volunteer house in the outskirts of Newcastle. There are four to six volunteers per shared room. There is a large kitchen and a smaller kitchen, as well as a living room and large backyard. The volunteer house is a 15-minute walk from the train station, and a nearly three-hour train ride to downtown Sydney.

Food icon Food: Food will be provided for volunteers to prepare their own breakfast and dinner. A packed lunch will be provided on weekdays. During weekends, all meals are self-served from the pantry and fridge stocks.

Requirements

Please take note of this project’s minimum requirements:

Participants below 18 should have parental consent and participants above 65 should have medical clearance to take part in this program
Must be willing to do light construction work
Must not be afraid of wild animals and insects
High level of physical fitness
Interest in wildlife conservation
Basic level of English
Police clearance

Travel Highlights

Explore Newcastle, Australia’s second oldest city, and enjoy its lively cultural events, delicious cuisine and nearby wineries. Newcastle is also known for its beautiful harbor and white sandy beaches.

You can also take the weekend to travel down to Sydney and enjoy Australia’s most populous city. The places of interest and activities which you can enjoy during your free time include heritage sites, beaches, city centers, museums, walking tours and many more. Some of the interesting sites are as follows:

Hyde Park
This one’s for the nature lover! Take a stroll through Sydney’s oldest public park and admire the mixture of fig, palm and other types of trees that line the beautiful gardens.

Sydney Opera House
Visit one of Australia’s most iconic places! Whether you just want to enjoy the architecture or actually want to see one of the theater’s forty shows per week, this landmark is a promising tourist destination.

Bondi Beach
Soak up the sun at one of Australia’s most popular beach destinations! This beach is a hot spot for any volunteers who are looking to relax in the sand or surf the waves in their free time.