lyell deer sanctuary curious deer looking at the camera

Located amongst the rolling green hills that surround the picturesque Samford Valley, less than 40 kilometres from Brisbane’s CBD, rests a wonderful little treasure of a place called Lyell Deer Sanctuary.

For over thirty years, Lyell Deer Sanctuary has been a peaceful refuge for rescued deer, dedicated to deer welfare and appreciation.

There is an energy about a place filled with rescued animals who are thriving in their environment that instantly ignites gratitude and happiness in your heart when visiting, and Lyell Deer Sanctuary with its beautiful, gentle residents is sure to do just that.

What to Expect at Lyell Deer Sanctuary

Lyell Deer Sanctuary is a beautiful hideaway set amongst stunning countryside at the foot of the eastern slopes of the D’Aguilar Range, just north of Samford Village.

The sanctuary is a small, family-run establishment, so come with expectations of a couple of paddocks of beautiful deer and other animas on a residential acreage property, not an all-bells-and-whistles large-scale commercial zoo.

The sanctuary is a wonderful spot to visit and enjoy hand-feeding, petting and chilling out with the resident herd of deer. You can expect a lovely warm welcome from the family owners, as well as a wealth of insider knowledge about the fascinating animals that call the sanctuary home.

All visitors receive a bag of deer pellets to feed the hungry mouths through the fence, then you can wander amongst the animals to get up close and personal with these majestic creatures.

Other rescue animals are usually available to visit on-site too. When we were there, we saw ducks and chickens roaming around, an impressive peacock display and the children loved having the opportunity to snuggle some guinea pigs.

Animals at Lyell Deer Sanctuary

Lyell Deer Sanctuary is home to a collection of red, rusa and fallow deer and several other rescued animals including ducks, chickens, cows, goats, guinea pigs and peacocks.

With each animal comes its own story of past hardship or ongoing needs, and the heartwarming reality of now being safely and lovingly cared for as part of an amazing family.

Our Favourite Parts About Lyell Deer Sanctuary

While we loved the whole experience at Lyell Deer Sanctuary, we were particularly thrilled to see a male peacock showing off his full tail display to the entire car park when we arrived.

We all loved being able to wander freely with the deer and there was a particularly mystical air on the day we visited thanks to some rain, which created a magical atmosphere.

Our 10 year old loved interacting with a newly rescued 1 month old deer who was residing near the entrance desk and stayed around the picnic area. Our 7 year old’s highlight was having the opportunity to feed, hold and pat the resident guinea pigs.

Facilities at Lyell Deer Sanctuary

Lyell Deer Sanctuary is only a small operation but has a number of helpful facilities to make your visit comfortable. These include:

An undercover, open-air area with a small cafe and tables and chairs
Uncovered picnic tables for BYO picnics
Cold drinks and ice blocks for sale
A simple play area for children with toys and books
A gift shop with locally made and deer-themed merchandise
Hand-washing facilities for after feeding and petting the animals
Rubbish bins (especially for plastic litter as this is lethal if ingested by deer)
Toilets (not wheelchair accessible)
Off-road parking for a number of vehicles, and plenty of street parking

Education at Lyell Deer Sanctuary

The wonderful owners at Lyell Deer Sanctuary are keen to share their vast knowledge of their beautiful animals with visitors. While local councils consider them feral, introduced pests, they lovingly cherish their “new Australians” and provide them with rescue and rehabilitation into this haven where they can live in care and safety.

The opportunity to see these gentle animals up close provides a wonderful opportunity for Brisbane Kids to learn not just about deer, but a variety of animals and it opened up discussions about introduced species, conservation and rescuing animals with our children.

A table covered with antlers makes for a great interactive educational area for curious little minds, learning about how antlers grow and are shed. Visitors young and old will leave with a new sense of appreciation for these amazing creatures.

Admission Details

The sanctuary is open on Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 4pm (drop-ins) and is often open additional days over school holidays, though we suggest you visit Lyell Deer Sanctuary for up to date details.

The owners are careful about the volume of visitors, so you may need to wait for a short time if there are too many at the venue.

Accessibility and safety

The covered and uncovered seating areas are accessible to wheelchairs and pushchairs, as is the area for feeding the deer and other animals through the fences. However, the paddocks themselves are sloped and may not be accessible and it’s advised to leave prams near the entrance and carry infants and toddlers.

During wet weather, entrance to some areas may not be permitted.

All animals, especially those rescued from the wild, should be treated with care and respect. It is important to listen to and follow any safety information given on entry and to be careful to read the body language of animals so as not to overstep their personal boundaries.

In addition, it is vital to ensure no litter is left anywhere on the property. Even a tiny wrapper can blow into the paddock and be deadly to the animals, so vigilant care is needed.

How You Can Help

Visiting the sanctuary is a great way to help the beautiful creatures which call Lyell Deer Sanctuary home.

The sanctuary has many overheads including feed, hay, vet care, fencing and even water deliveries when the tanks are empty. As such the owners rely heavily on entry fees and contributions from the public to help them rescue as many deer as possible.

You can take part in the ‘Deerest Friends’ sponsorship program and sponsor a deer or animal of your choice. This package also gives you many perks, such as discounted admission to the sanctuary, gifts, and personal communication about your sponsored animal.

While You Are in the Area

While in the area, you may also enjoy visiting the quaint country town of Samford Village where you can visit the Harry Potter shop, play at John Scott Park or cool off in Cedar Creek.

For another wonderful animal experience nearby, be sure to check out Trevena Glen Farm at 1100 Winn Road, Mount Samson.