Flying High Bird Sanctuary, Bird sanctuary in Apple Tree Creek, Queensland, Australia

Flying High Bird Sanctuary is a free-flight aviary complex on the Bruce Highway at Apple Tree Creek, about 50 km south of Bundaberg. Its main aviary covers over 2 acres (0.81 ha), stands more than 7 m high and holds 300 m of trails through a rainforest setting with Australian, Asian and South American birds. The site also has a macaw breeding complex, separate owl housing, kangaroo and emu enclosures and an animal nursery.

John Woodall began building the sanctuary in 2001 on land where the Apple Tree Creek school once stood; its two school buildings had been moved away after the school closed in the late 1960s. It opened to the public in December 2002 as Flying High Bird Habitat with one main aviary and about 300 birds. By 2010 it held almost 3000 birds, and on 19 March 2010 it was taken over by David and Anne Tocknell with their son Matt and his wife Leisa and renamed Flying High Bird Sanctuary. Des and Cathy Watts bought it on 9 December 2015.

The sanctuary breeds and hand-raises birds for the pet trade, including harlequin and Catalina macaws, and runs captive breeding programs for native species to release into the wild. Visitors can hand-feed the birds and animals, and bottle-feed baby goats, chicks and ducklings. Alpha, the first macaw hatched for the owners in March 2016, is hand-raised and visitors may have photos taken with him.

The site is easily reached via Bruce Highway and Old Creek Road, and you should wear sturdy shoes for walking the rainforest paths. The grounds are large enough to explore for several hours, so plan for good weather and bring water.

The main aviary stands 7 meters tall and allows birds from Australia, Asia, and South America to fly freely while visitors watch from the walking trails. This setup creates a rare chance to see birds from different world regions living together in one naturalistic space.