IF you’re looking to swap city noise for pristine bushland and rare wildlife, Paruna Wildlife Sanctuary in Gidgegannup is ready for its long-awaited seasonal return.

Paruna forms an important wildlife corridor along the Avon River, between Walyunga and Avon Valley National Parks.

The property supports a rich diversity of habitats, and has been the site of several successful mammal reintroductions, including the black-flanked rock-wallaby and the tammar wallaby.

Paruna sanctuary is in the Darling Range and sits on the western margin of the Yilgarn Block, an ancient granite landform that formed more than 2.5 billion years ago.

The scenic Avon Valley, where Paruna is located, was carved out by the Avon River over thousands of years.

The sanctuary itself is characterised by extremely steep slopes, numerous streams and creeklines, and areas of exposed granite. The 2000ha property predominantly follows the southern banks of the Avon River.

Paruna is open to the public by appointment only and features a series of walking trails that allow the community to enjoy this stunning natural environment.

The vegetation of Paruna sanctuary is a complex mosaic of woodland, shrubland and heathland associated with a diverse geology and topography.

Around 400 species of plants are likely to occur on Paruna, including a number of priority species, and a field herbarium has been established with a collection of more than 240 plants.
Paruna Sanctuary is an important site for conservation in the Avon-Wheatbelt Bioregion both in its own right and because it forms a wildlife corridor between two national parks.

The sanctuary is home to a number of significant species including the threatened chuditch (western quoll), Carnaby’s black cockatoo, and small mammals such as the honey possum which lives in Paruna’s diverse heathlands, and the Western pygmy possum.

Severe damage to Paruna Wildlife Sanctuary’s trail network in 2025 led to the sanctuary’s early closure.

Trail restoration is underway, and the 2.3km Possum Loop is currently the only trail open at the sanctuary.

Online bookings are available until Sunday, November 1, 2026 via their website at australianwild life.org/sanctuaries/paruna-wild life-sanctuary