Coffs Coast Wildlife Sanctuary

12/06/2026

Did you know? 🐬🦭

We're one of the few places where you can regularly see dolphins and sea lions interacting and playing together!

This mixed-species play is a fascinating behaviour that provides important welfare benefits, including mental stimulation, enrichment, and opportunities for social engagement. It's something we often discuss during our daily talks as we share how we care for the animals in our sanctuary.

Have you witnessed these playful interactions during your visit?

We'd love to hear your thoughts and favourite memories of seeing our dolphins and sea lions together! 💙

11/06/2026

🚒💚 A huge thank you to Coffs Harbour Fire Brigade for their generous donation of old fire hoses to the Coffs Coast Wildlife Sanctuary!

These hoses are being put to great use by our TAFE students, who are transforming them into enrichment devices for the animals in our care.

Just like Ozzie here 🦭, sea lions naturally chew, tug, pull and tear at their food in the wild. To safely replicate these important natural behaviours in a managed environment, we create enrichment toys from recycled fire hose that they can chew, grip, pull and rip apart.

These enrichment devices help keep our animals mentally stimulated, physically active and engaged, while encouraging species-specific behaviours that are important for their overall wellbeing.

It's a fantastic example of sustainability, community partnerships and education coming together to make a real difference for wildlife.

Thank you again to the Coffs Harbour Fire Brigade for supporting wildlife conservation and helping our students gain valuable hands-on experience. 🙌🐢🌿

11/06/2026

🦔 A Second Chance for This Little Echidna 🦔

Thanks to the dedicated care of the CCWS veterinary team, this rescued echidna received the treatment it needed and is now on the road to recovery.

Every wildlife rescue story like this reminds us why we do what we do—and why we want to do even more.

With your support, we can launch our Wildlife Triage Vet Trailer, allowing our vets and rescuers to reach and treat more native wildlife in need, wherever they are. From echidnas to birds, possums, kangaroos and more, this mobile facility will help save countless lives.

💚 Please consider making a donation through our website today. Every contribution brings us one step closer to getting the trailer on the road and helping more wildlife just like this little echidna.

A huge shout-out to the incredible WIRES volunteers who work tirelessly on the front line of wildlife rescue and rehabilitation. Your dedication, compassion and countless hours of hard work make stories like this possible.

👉 Donate via our website and help us make a bigger difference for Australia's wildlife.

FOR TIGA TO DOWNLOAD

10/06/2026

Welfare Wednesday 🦭

This week’s enrichment item is an old boat buoy, which has found a new purpose with one of our Australia sea lions!

We can hide fish inside the buoy, encouraging her to use her natural curiosity and problem-solving skills to work out how to get the tasty reward. Enrichment activities like this help keep our animals mentally stimulated, active, and engaged while providing opportunities to explore and investigate their environment.

It’s always amazing to watch her figure out the puzzle and celebrate her success when she discovers the fish inside! 💙

09/06/2026

🌿 Want to get involved at the Coffs Coast Wildlife Sanctuary? 🌿

This is your chance to build skills, gain experience, and be part of an amazing conservation story 🐢💚

The Coffs Coast Wildlife Sanctuary, in partnership with TAFE NSW, is offering a Certificate in Tourism that will help you learn practical skills such as:

✨ Tourism and visitor services
✨ Presenting information about the Coffs Coast
✨ Guest services and bookings
✨ Computer and administration skills

👉 No prerequisites or prior education needed – anyone can enrol!

Even better, this course includes weekly placement at the Wildlife Sanctuary, giving you real-world experience while being part of the sanctuary team.

📅 The course starts on Tuesday 21 July and runs until Wednesday 2 December.
💻 Tuesdays are delivered virtually.
🎓 Wednesdays are a mix of on-campus and virtual delivery.

If you're passionate about wildlife, tourism, and helping visitors have a great experience, this is for you 🙌

📚 Enrol now:
Certificate III in Tourism

Get involved. Learn new skills. Be part of conservation on the Coffs Coast. 🌊🐬🐢

09/06/2026

🎓🐬 Supporting the Next Generation — From Marine Care to Media Careers!

At Coffs Coast Wildlife Sanctuary, we’re proud to support students like Kira Long as they build experience in their university studies and future careers.

While many people know us for our work in veterinary science, vet nursing, animal care, and marine conservation, we also recognise the importance of helping students in other fields gain valuable real-world experience too.

With the sanctuary often featured in news stories and community projects, it was wonderful to give Kira — a journalism student from the University of the Sunshine Coast — the opportunity to learn firsthand from professionals and gain practical interview experience while covering Zippy’s recovery story.

We love seeing students bring their passion, curiosity, and fresh perspectives into the sanctuary, and we’re always happy to help inspire the next generation of professionals across many industries 🐬📰

08/06/2026

🤔 Have you noticed something new around town?

Keep your eyes peeled... the new brown tourism signs are officially rolling out!

It's the end of an era and the beginning of a new chapter as the old signs make way for a fresh new generation, helping visitors discover everything that makes the Coffs Coast so special.

Have you seen them yet? 👀

Drop a comment below and tell us where you've spotted one!

07/06/2026

🌊💙 World Ocean Day 💙🌊

Today we celebrate the oceans that connect us all and the incredible marine life that depends on them.

Every turtle rescued, every student educated, and every conservation action taken helps protect our blue planet for future generations.

Together, we can make waves of change. 🌎🐢🐬

💙🌊