At a glance
- Open
- 9:30am to 4:00pm daily, closed Christmas Day only; last entry 3:00pm
- Day entry
- Adult (18+) $37; child (4 to 17) $19; under 4 free; concession $34; pensioner $30; family (2 adults and 2 children) $99 (as of 9 November 2026)
- Night tour
- Adult $75; child (4 to 17) $44; child under 4 $27; bookings essential; about 1.5 hours
- Where
- 550 Tyabb-Tooradin Road, Pearcedale, about 50 minutes south-east of the Melbourne CBD
- Parking
- Free on-site parking
- Public transport
- The sanctuary says it is not easily accessible by public transport: bus 776 from Frankston or bus 792 from Cranbourne to Pearcedale, then a 2.5 km walk without pavements
- Who it’s for
- Families and visitors planning a wildlife day on the Mornington Peninsula or on the way to Phillip Island
- What to do now
- The sanctuary says bookings are essential in peak periods including school and public holidays, and it prefers bookings for admission at other times
- Last checked
- Monday 9 November 2026, against the Moonlit Sanctuary website (hours and pricing, getting here, FAQs, accessibility, bird flu and conditions of entry pages)
- Not yet confirmed
- Bus times: the sanctuary gives frequencies, not timetables, and says some Cranbourne services do not run through to Pearcedale
Moonlit Sanctuary in Pearcedale is open from 9:30am to 4:00pm every day except Christmas Day, with adult day entry at $37 and free parking on site. The sanctuary says it is not easily accessible by public transport. This guide uses the Moonlit Sanctuary website, read on 9 November 2026.
How much does Moonlit Sanctuary cost?
Prices are per person for daytime admission, 9:30am to 4:00pm, with last entry at 3:00pm. Children under 4 are free.
| Ticket | Day admission | Annual membership |
|---|---|---|
| Adult (18+) | $37 | $95 |
| Child (4 to 17) | $19 | $48 |
| Concession (seniors, students, Healthcare Card holders) | $34 | $85 |
| Pensioner (Australian Pension Card holder) | $30 | $75 |
| Family (2 adults and 2 children) | $99 | $248 |
| Additional child on a family pass | $13 | $29 |
The FAQs say members get free admission for 12 months, 20% off gift shop purchases and the cost of day admission off a night tour ticket. Pensioners with a Companion Card get free entry for a carer or worker, and DVA cardholders are offered concession entry. Cash is accepted.
Do I need to book?
The sanctuary says bookings are essential during peak periods including school and public holidays. At other times it recommends and prefers bookings for admission. You do not need to tell the sanctuary you are running late for a day admission session, unless you have also booked an encounter or tour and will arrive less than 10 minutes before it starts. Keeper talks are included with general admission and need no booking. Members only need to book for encounters, non-member companions and night tours.
For encounters, the FAQs say to arrive 20 minutes before the first one to check in. They say cancellation is free with 24 hours notice, and a fee may apply with less. The sanctuary encourages booking encounters, though a small number may be sold on arrival.
Where do I park?
The FAQs say free parking is available on site, and the accessibility page lists accessible car parking. The conditions of entry say you must not drive or park a vehicle anywhere except designated parking areas. The sanctuary is at 550 Tyabb-Tooradin Road, Pearcedale. By car, it gives the route from the Melbourne CBD as the Monash Freeway (M1) then the Westernport Highway (M780), and from the southern Peninsula and Great Ocean Road as the Mornington Peninsula Freeway.
Can I get there by train and bus?
The sanctuary says it is currently not easily accessible by public transport. Regular suburban trains run from Melbourne CBD stations to Frankston and Cranbourne, about 70 minutes on either line depending on the train. Buses then run to Pearcedale:
| From | Bus | Frequency | Travel time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cranbourne Station | 792 | 10 times a day on weekdays, 9 on Saturday, 8 on Sunday; some additional services do not run through to Pearcedale | About 30 minutes |
| Frankston Station | 776 | 7 times a day on weekdays, 3 on Saturday; no Sunday or public holiday service | About 30 minutes |
The sanctuary is a 2.5 km, 30-minute walk from Pearcedale. It says Pearcedale is a small village with no taxis, and that the roads from Pearcedale to the sanctuary have no pavements and may have heavy traffic. It recommends a taxi or Uber from the train station rather than buses and walking. Taxis can be hailed at the Frankston Station taxi rank, and the trip takes about 20 minutes. There is no taxi rank at Cranbourne Station. The sanctuary’s taxi and rideshare pick-up point is at the Visitor Centre exit beside the ramp, and it recommends arranging your return journey in advance.
What is a night tour?
The night tours are guided, lantern-lit evening tours of the sanctuary after dark. They are ticketed separately from day admission, and bookings are essential because places are limited. The FAQs say tours run for approximately 1.5 hours, that no torch is needed because visitors are given low-light lanterns, and that flash photography is not permitted. Tours generally proceed in rain; in severe weather they may be rescheduled or refunded.
| Night tour | Price per person |
|---|---|
| Adult (18+) | $75 |
| Child (4 to 17) | $44 |
| Child under 4 | $27 |
| Concession | $68 |
| Pensioner | $59 |
| Family (2 adults and 2 children) | $203 |
| City pick-up (minimum 2 people, includes the evening tour) | $205 per person; single supplement $99 |
| Private evening tour | $434 for 1 to 2 people, plus $100 for each additional person |
The sanctuary says it can arrange evening tour transfers from Federation Square, returning you to your city hotel, with at least 24 hours notice and additional charges.
What facilities are there?
- Wetlands Café: open 9:30am to 3:00pm daily, serving burgers, hot chips, toasties, sandwiches and salads, with gluten-free and vegetarian options. It is only accessible to visitors with admission tickets.
- Picnic tables: you can bring your own food; picnic tables cannot be reserved. A BBQ can be hired for $10 an hour (book when pre-booking admission); portable BBQs are not allowed.
- Wheelchairs: two are available free of charge at admissions on presentation of a current licence or passport; prams are not available for hire.
- Paths: flat to undulating compressed gravel paths link all exhibit areas, with ramps and wide doors, and accessible toilets and baby change in the café and gift shop building.
- Time needed: the sanctuary says 2 hours is average.
Is anything restricted right now?
The sanctuary has a bird flu page asking visitors to take precautions to protect its birds and wildlife: do not feed or interact with wild birds around the sanctuary, arrive with clean footwear (especially after visiting beaches, wetlands, parks or farms), wash or sanitise your hands during the visit, and wear clean clothing for animal encounters if you have pets, poultry or birds at home. Food sold on site is only for kangaroos and wallabies. Suspected cases of avian influenza must be reported to the 24-hour Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.
The conditions of entry also say you may not bring in animals other than guide and assistance dogs, which are allowed in select areas only, or bring balloons, drones, bikes, scooters, portable BBQs or food and drinks not bought on the property into the café or on the café deck. Assistance animals are not permitted at the Wallaby Walk, the walk-in aviaries, the right-hand side of the sanctuary from the eagle enclosure onward, the show arena and close-up encounters.
What has not been confirmed?
- Bus times: the sanctuary gives how many services run, not the times; the timetable is on the Public Transport Victoria website.
- Later changes: the conditions of entry say the sanctuary may change trading times, and the prices of encounters and special events, without notification.
- The price of each encounter: this guide has not read the encounter pages and gives no figure.
Sources
- Moonlit Sanctuary — Hours and Pricing (hours, day prices, memberships, night tours; checked 9 November 2026)
- Moonlit Sanctuary — Getting Here (address, driving, buses, taxis, city transfers; checked 9 November 2026)
- Moonlit Sanctuary — Frequently Asked Questions (parking, booking, café, BBQ, night tours; checked 9 November 2026)
- Accessibility, Bird Flu, Dining Options and Conditions of Entry (checked 9 November 2026)
Featured image: the entrance to Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park (photo: OhanaUnited / CC BY-SA 4.0) (text added)
OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with Moonlit Sanctuary or Public Transport Victoria. Prices and hours can change; check the Moonlit Sanctuary website before you go.