Kumbartcho Sanctuary

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More than 20 years ago the local community rescued the area that was originally dedicated to a small zoo on the north bank of the South Pine River in Eatons Hill, a suburb of Brisbane. Today Kumbartcho Sanctuary protects a rare riverine rainforest and a great variety of wildlife. Knowledgeable volunteers offer their skills and abilities to propagate and sell native plants from seeds and to run the sanctuary which has plenty of indoor and outdoor activities. Kumbartcho Sanctuary is an ideal place for parents and children to spend quality time observing nature and playing, a nice place to have a picnic and a walk and a great place for wildlife spotting.

Kumbartcho Sanctuary.

Kumbartcho Sanctuary is located in the suburb of Eatons Hill, north west of Brisbane, near the South Pine River. The 6-hectare area was originally called Bunya Park Wildlife Sanctuary.

The Sanctuary was once occupied by a small zoo and the area was saved from turning into a residential place by the local people who petitioned the Council to spare the land and converted it into a centre for the community.

Since then, volunteers have cleared weeds and have revegetated the banks of the South Pine River planting 150,000 trees and still working on the revegetation project.

Today Kumbartcho Sanctuary protects an area with many trees and plants which in turn are home to wildlife. The area includes what remains of the riverine rainforest that once covered the area prior to the arrival of European settlers.

Kumbartcho Sanctuary is an active hub full of interesting activities for the community, including recreation, native plants sale, propagation of native plants and trees and environmental education. The Sanctuary is run and maintained by passionate volunteers in partnership with Moreton Bay Regional Council.

Kumbartcho Sanctuary with its trees and water streams attracts wildlife including freshwater turtles, frogs, snakes, lizards, possums and many birds.

Children and parents can spend time in the playground, taking a walk in the sanctuary or doing little projects inside the Environmental Centre. The sanctuary is excellent for children having a playground, a fairy garden, indoor activities, interactive wildlife trail, short walks, suspension bridge, explorations and wildlife spotting.

Every month the volunteers of the sanctuary organise short walks along the South Pine Rivers and morning tea; presentations about how to learn to grow plants from seeds or cuttings; workshops about learning how to care for trees; Storytime in the Forest for children.

Kumbartcho Sanctuary has a mailing list, you can subscribe to receive updates with their activities: www.kumbartcho.org.au/

The Sanctuary is open to the public from 7am to 7pm - every day of the year.



What to do in Kumbartcho Sanctuary.

Head to Kumbartcho Sanctuary for:

Short and medium lenght walks
Playground, picnic tables and free barbeque
Fairy Garden
Environmental Education Centre
Native trees nursery
Suspension Bridge
Conference Centre
Indoor and outdoor activities
Activities for families
Activities organised by volunteers
Wildlife spotting
Birding




**The Playground.
**
The playground is completely fenced off for the safety of the kids and it is provided with a child-proof gate. It has playground equipment, including slides, swings, a climbing frame, a castle and a playhouse.

There are toilet facilities, a grassed area and a covered picnic table with a free electric barbeque.

The playground is available every day of the year from dawn to dusk.





The Fairy Garden.

There are many sections to explore in Kumbartcho Sanctuary, one area, in particular, is dedicated to a fairy garden. Children and adults can be delighted and have fun watching the miniature world of gnomes, fairies, tiny houses and mushrooms.









**Kumbartcho Environmental Education Centre.
**
Inside the building there are very interesting displays, material for activities and craft. There are videos, including the videos with Irwin and Terry catching the animals at Kumbartcho Sanctuary to populate the Australian Zoo. There is also a reference library, tanks with native fish and a craft area to build many little interesting projects.

It is popular with parents and kids, where children have fun colouring, crafting objects, watching displays and videos.

There is a specific map that the parents can pick up at the Environmental Centre and follow the Interactive Wildlife Trail with their kids into the sanctuary.

Kumbartcho Environmental Educative Centre is open from 10am to 2pm Tuesday to Friday. It is closed Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Public Holidays.






**Kumbartcho Nursery.
**
The nursery was established in 1998 and it is run by volunteers with the support of trained horticulture staff.

The nursery is specialised in native plants mainly form South East Queensland, but also has a few plants from North Queensland and from Northern New South Wales.

The price starts from $2.25 for 1 plant up to 49 plants.

Customers can call the nursery on (07) 3264 3953 or eMail [email protected] to talk about the suitable plants. Volunteers can advise the customers about the size of the plants, their specific needs and the type of wildlife the plants may attract.

There are more than 300 hundred plants on sale, including Coin Spot Wattle, Acacia cincinnata, which attracts birds; Flat Stammed Wattle, Acacia complanat, which attracts birds, like pale headed rosellas, squirrel glider; Native Yam, Dioscorea tranversa, has edible tubers that can be eaten raw or cooked, attracts black and white skipper butterfly.

Call The Nursery on (07) 3264 3953 to choose the plants and check availability.

The Community Nursery opens on Tuesday to Friday between 9:00 am and 3:00 pm and Saturday and Sunday between 8:00 am and 12 Noon.


Yuraba Conference Centre.

The Conference Centre is available for hire 7 days a week to celebrate weddings, birthdays and other private functions. It can be hired also for conferences and workshops.

The Function Coordinator is available to take bookings or for more information on (07) 33253492.

Yuraba Conference Centre is at 240 Church Road, Eatons Hill.



Native Wildlife.

Kumbartcho Sanctuary is nestled in the northern suburbs of Brisbane offering a refuge to many native animals in the suburbia.

The trees of the sanctuary are home for possums and koalas; in the water there are frogs, turtles and fish; there are many birds and reptiles, including snakes.


Birding at Kumbartcho Sanctuary.

The many native trees and the streams of water attract a rich biodiversity, including birds. More than 180 species of birds have been observed in the sanctuary and for the keen photographers there are many great opportunities for the shutter to get in action.
















Directions.

Address is 15 Bunya Pine Ct, Eatons Hill QLD 4037.
From Brisbane City there are about 24 km via Old Northern Road, allow about 37 minutes, depending on the traffic.

Follow Enoggera Road, Samford Road, South Pine Road and old Northern Road; turn left onto Eatons Crossing Road and left onto Queen Elizabeth Dr. At the fifth roundabout the road becomes Bunya Crossing Road, turn right onto Draper Road and left onto Bunya Pine Ct.

There is carpark available and it is also possible park off road.



Reference.

www.kumbartcho.org.au
www.facebook.com/Environmental.Centre

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