Moore River Ranch

After spending a few days with friends in Perth, we made the relatively short drive (approximately 130km north) to Moore River Ranch. Slightly inland from our usual coastal camp sites, Moore River Ranch is a private animal sanctuary set in the bush close to Reagan’s Ford.

First and foremost, the property operates as an animal sanctuary, providing native bush setting and refuge for wild animals who have either been rescued and will be eventually released to the wild or just better conditions for animals who don’t know how to be wild any more. Lincoln and Hayden, owners of the property, are in the process of building their own animal hospital and Hayden is studying to become a vet. As a separate side offering, they open up a small area of the property to a small number of campers. We shared a huge paddocks with two other families which made for a really special experience and like we had the place (and the animals) to ourselves.

The resident animals included two young joeys who were abandoned when they were only weeks old and their mum was injured. Now 11 months old, they have pretty much grown up on the property and are super friendly. Eventually, when they have grown out of having milk each day, Lincoln is hoping to release them to join the local mob of kangaroos who are in the area. For now though, they are happy to come close to your camp and even hop by in the evening to check out the camp fire.

Then there are the goats and ‘Bob’ the wild pig! Bob is 10 years old and until two weeks ago, was a pet in a house in metro Perth! He even had his own bedroom. Clearly Bob will never be a ‘wild’ pig but he seems very happy in his new home with the goats and will still sit when it’s feeding time.

As well as feeding the animals, we enjoyed kayaking on the river and generally just being in the bush.

It was a lovely property to explore for a walk. Unfortunately we never spotted the tortoise or echidna that apparently live there but we certainly looked

Clearly it wouldn’t be a trip to the bush if the kids didn’t get a chance to ride a quad bike. Awesome when you have a big brother who knows how to ride a quad (and a very cool owner of a property who is happy to hand over the keys to a 9 year old).