Kumbartcho Sanctuary and Nursery

Kumbartcho Sanctuary & Nursery is a must-visit for children who enjoy the outdoors and look for magic in the everyday. Located in the suburb of Eatons Hill, this 6-hectare venue offers:

• an environmental education centre
• conference room
• wetlands with walking trails
• fenced playground
• native nursery

The Kumbartcho Environmental Centre offers interactive activity stations (including a light-up nocturnal room), displays and informational boards. This is a great place to start your tour. The friendly staff will provide you with a printed map of the walking trails and recommend "must see" attractions for your particular group.

Kumbartcho Sanctuary

The wetland rejuvenation area boasts an extensive network of walking trails. Most of these are concrete pathways or wooden boardwalks that are pram and wheelchair friendly. Visitors of all ages will enjoy the sights, including a dam, dam spillway, koala viewing platform, butterfly garden, frog hollow and fairy trail. Of particular interest is a suspension bridge that crosses over the gorge, near the mouth of the adjoining Pine River.

Kumbartcho Sanctuary Fairy Trail

One of its lesser-known features is an interactive fairy village that will surely impress younger children.

Signage for the fairy village is provided along the main walking track. It is visible from the path but best appreciated by accessing the smaller trails that wind through the village. Children can immerse themselves in a magical space adorned with fairy and gnome figures, animal statues and a great collection of handmade fairy houses. Throughout the village, there are small signs, artificial flowers and the occasional gemstone, provide evidence of recent fairy visits.

My children loved opening the doors of the fairy houses. They shrieked with joy as the navigated handles, latches and the occasional key. Some fairy houses were empty, whilst others contained little figurines or notes.

A thoughtful inclusion was a large fairy letterbox for children to post drawings and letters to these mystical creatures (stationery was provided nearby for children who wanted to join in the fun).

Unfortunately, this section is not wheelchair accessible.