CARRINGTON WILDLIFE FIELD GUIDE
Face the Flying‑Foxes: Inside Carrington’s Bat Hospital
A focused, 60–80 minute wildlife encounter on the Atherton Tablelands where visitors meet rescued bats, hear a bat talk and watch them feed and interact.
Face the Flying‑Foxes: Inside Carrington’s Bat Hospital.
On the Atherton Tablelands, the Bat Hospital Visitor Centre runs a multi‑award winning wildlife experience that puts you close to Australia’s bats: from eye‑level encounters with flying‑foxes to the high‑frequency clicks of microbats picked up on a detector. The program combines short films, an on‑site bat talk and guided wandering through the hospital’s facilities to meet different resident bats and learn about their role in the landscape and the work of the hospital.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Meet rescued bats up close
Visitors move through world‑class facilities to meet different bats, enjoy an interpretive bat talk and observe how individual animals behave and interact.
Films and field listening
The experience begins with two short videos (an 8‑minute film about the hospital’s work and a 2‑minute film featuring Little Red flying foxes) and can include the sounds of microbats on a bat detector during the bat talk.
A leading, accredited bat tourism facility
The centre holds advanced ecotourism accreditation, has won multiple tourism accolades and is recognised in national and international guides for its conservation and visitor program.
What the day feels like
What to expect on the ground
The tour flows from two short introductory films into a guided bat talk as you wander the hospital’s facilities to meet different species. Along the way staff explain bat biology and conservation, demonstrate bat detection for microbats, and allow time to watch bats feed and interact before the visit concludes—often with the option to browse a bat‑themed souvenir shop.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this experience suits—and who should take care.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
Allow 60 to 80 minutes. Start times vary seasonally depending on when the bats come down from their 6‑metre high cage to feed.
No special gear is required; visitors should be prepared for an outdoor/indoor wander through the facilities. Note that handling or touching bats is not permitted.
The site is not fully wheelchair‑accessible but has appropriate bathroom facilities and access to most areas.
A minimum of four adults is required for the tour to run. If numbers are insufficient the operator will contact the first booking and will confirm or cancel by email, with a full refund if the tour is cancelled.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long does the Bat‑tastic Tour last?
Allow 60 to 80 minutes for the full experience.
Is the site wheelchair accessible?
The centre is not fully wheelchair‑accessible but has appropriate bathroom facilities and provides access to most areas.
Can visitors touch or handle the bats?
No; the operator cannot allow people to handle or touch the bats.
What are the booking minimums and cancellation terms?
The tour requires a minimum of four adults to run. If you are the first to book, the operator will contact you if the tour may not run; final confirmation or cancellation is sent by email and a full refund is provided if the operator cancels.
Are very young children suitable for this tour?
The experience is not very suitable for children aged 3 years and under.
What happens at the start of the visit?
The visit begins with two short videos—an 8‑minute film about the hospital’s work and a 2‑minute film featuring Little Red flying foxes—followed by the bat talk and facility visit.