Kumbartcho Sanctuary & Fairytale Village

Kumbartcho Sanctuary is a northside Brisbane haven for native flora and fauna, featuring a fairytale village hidden within the six hectare property at Eatons Hill.

Kids will delight in looking out for the fairy post box, tooth fairy school, gnome hollow and to catch Wally the Wombat asleep in his den.

The name, Kumbartcho is the local Aboriginal word for Hoop Pine and over the past 20 years, a team of volunteers have revegetated the area, planting over 140 000 native trees.

Pathways wind around Kumbartcho Lake and along the banks of South Pine River where it is possible to spot abundant native bird life, koalas, possums, turtles, lizards, ducks and maybe even a green sedge frog within frog hollow.

Kumbartcho Environment Centre has an interactive "touch and feel" corner as well as educational materials (crafts, books, puzzles, crosswords etc.) to keep the kids engaged.

There is also a handy children's playground, including barbecue facilities, swings, climbing equipment and a colonial cubbyhouse.

In A Nutshell - Flora and fauna sanctuary with a miniature fairytale village hidden amongst the gum trees.

Nice to know - Kumbartcho Community Nursery cultivates and sells a wide selection of native plants such as lillipilli, banksia, acacia and lemon myrtle. The nursery is open Tue-Fri 9-3 and Sat-Sun 9-12.

Need to know - Parking available onsite at Kumbartcho Sanctuary. the sanctuary itself is open daily from dawn to dusk. Environmental centre is open Tue-Fri 10-2.

By Lucy Hordern