One place that I highly recommend you visit (even though yes it's a common attraction) is the Australia Zoo aka the Steve Irwin Zoo. Located in the town of Beerwah, the Australia Zoo is home to more than 1,000 animals who were either rescued from the wild, deemed unfit for wild release by other zoos or were born in captivity. The zoo is currently owned by Terri Irwin and has been opened since June 3, 1970 (previously owned by Steve Irwin's parents Bob and Lyn). The entire zoo spans 100 acres which means lots of room for the animals to roam around in and lots spots to explore.
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| Statue of the Irwin Family - The late Steve Irwin with wife Terri, and children Rob & Bindi |
This zoo was where all the magic happened with the late Crocodile Hunter,
Steve Irwin. If you don't know who Steve Irwin was, in summary he was an absolute legend that cared about animals and the environment around us. His shining personality captured the attention of many. He was a down to earth zookeeper, conversationalist, and television personality. This zoo is an amazing part of his legacy. It is at this zoo where audiences can view live crocodile demonstrations at the Crocoseum which is worth the watch if you have the time. You get a little education on these wild animals and see some feedings -- and these guys can jump let me tell you. Normally these animals swim in murky waters to camouflage from their prey, but here clear water is used so that the audience has an opportunity see how these predators behave.
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| Inside the Crocoseum! |
If crocs aren't your thing there are so many native Australian animals to check out! My personal favorite was seeing (and holding) koalas. They are pretty much my all time favorite animal -- too damn cute and soft. There are a few spots where you can see these animals about or you can opt for a photo in the main building that surrounds the Crocoseum. Unfortunately the photo is not free and you don't get to hold the koala for long. If you don't mind missing out on the photo you can still pet them in the Koala Walk Through zone.
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| Koala chilling out in the eucalyptus trees. |
Another highlight which you probably won't experience in an American zoo is that there are designated areas for the kangaroos and wallabies to roam around/lounge in and guess what, you can get up close and personal with them! When you enter these gated areas please be respectful of the rules and of the animals themselves. Always remember that they are still wild creatures so be aware. The roos in these parts aren't the tallest so they aren't the most intimidating -- overall it was just pretty cool and a great "casual" photo opportunity for Instagram.
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| Up close and personal with the kangaroos! |
Other native Australian animals can be found more towards the beginning of the zoo such as dingos, Tazmanian devils, and some really cool birds. As you head towards the back, you will see that Bindi Irwin is creating a legacy of her own, Bindi's Island. The area of the zoo is home to lemurs, tortoises, macaws, and more. There is a 3 story treehouse based on Irwin's show
Bindi The Jungle Girl. Finally, in beyond Bindi's Island is "Africa". This area is home to resident zebras, giraffe, and southern white rhinos. It kind of has a Lion King/Madagascar vibe if you ask me. If you want to head back there but hate the walk, you can catch shuttles around the zoo.
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| Zebra, Southern White Rhino, & Giraffe living in harmony. |
Overall, this zoo is a great stop along the Sunshine Coast. There are so many animals in such a great facility. There are so many photo opportunities and animal encounters(kangaroos, koalas, cheetahs, elephants). It really is a great spot to go to and is a fine legacy of the great Steve Irwin.
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