Cumbungi Sanctuary History

Cumbungi Sanctuary is a privately owned feral-free 25 acre haven for native Australian animals.

The first platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) was introduced into Lake Cumbungi just over a decade ago. The sanctuary and lake are named after the native reeds that surround the lake.

The platypus were re-located here from Rocky River in Flinders Chase National Park on Kangaroo Island, adjacent to Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, our sister sanctuary.

The Cumbungi platypus first bred in 1998, confirming that this environment is a successful platypus habitat. The platypus population at Cumbungi Sanctuary has continued to grow and over the past ten years these beautiful native animals have become accustomed to people observing their daily routines.

The property that is now known as Cumbungi Sanctuary was purchased by Earth Sanctuaries around fifteen years ago. At that time the property was an intensive market garden and also had a large proportion of non-native pines. John Wamsley and Pru Geddes had a vision and were the main drive in a massive project that saw this non sustainable environment turned into the feral free paradise that it is today.

In 1991 a $450,000 investment by a Japanese company in Earth Sanctuaries (the company that owned the sanctuary at the time), enabled the construction of three underwater observatories, Lake Cumbungi, adjoining ponds, the boardwalk and decking and the floating pontoon bridge.

The projects main aim was to develop an environment that would form part of a managed platypus breeding habitat. This project is an outstanding achievement in the captive breeding of platypus and remains as one of the few places in Australia able to do this.

In the year 2000 the Earth Sanctuaries foundation invested another $7,000 in the project. This money saw the construction of a cover over the observatories and a timber spiral staircase down into the living observatory. This really opened up the way that this fantastic resource could be used allowing visitors to explore the underwater environment. Visitors can now view tiny glass shrimp, yabbies and other invertebrates that all form the major diet of the platypus.

Fish species such as the locally threatened pigmy perch were also introduced into this perfect environment.

In addition to the development of the wetland environment, thousands of native trees replaced the non natives. The property was feral fenced and other endangered and threatened species were introduced to the resurrected ecosystem.

The nocturnal / twilight platypus tours are operated by Platypus Eco Tours. This new venture has been set up by land owner Melinda to share her passion for the preservation of the Australian platypus and other endangered Australian native fauna.

Come and visit Cumbungi Sanctuary and spend a couple of hours with one of our experienced interpretive guides. Watch and photograph the platypus from our extensive boardwalks and decking.

BOOK NOW for your nocturnal tour!

Please contact us if you would like some more information about the Platypus Eco Tours at Cumbungi Sanctuary at Mylor in the beautiful Adelaide Hills of South Australia.