Australia – Port Stephens Wildlife Park – Images

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.

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

Internet: Free WiFi is available at the volunteer house.

Laundry: Laundry facilities are available at the volunteer house

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: 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.

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

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.