Let’s admit it: Here in New Zealand, we thought Steve Irwin was kinda odd. We just didn’t really get the hoop-la. So when we were visiting family in Australia, I wasn’t exactly buzzing at the idea of visiting Australia Zoo… a few koalas and crocodiles, I thought… but I was so wrong!
I’m liking
Australia Zoo is so much more than I expected. Set over 100 acres and with over 1200 native and exotic animals, there’s something for everyone. You’ll definitely see crocs and koalas but also other native Australian animals like dingoes, snakes, wombats and parrots. The zoo is also in the process of developing ‘Africa’ and you can already get up-close and personal with animals like tigers, elephants and zebras. While we were there, my daughter patted a snake, cuddled a koala and held a lizard.
One thing that really impressed me about the zoo was the high standard of care for the animals and the environment. The grounds of the zoo were in pristine condition (pretty amazing considering that they can get up to 10 000 visitors a day), the gardens and green areas were beautifully kept, and the animals themselves were all in fabulous condition. It’s obvious that the Zoo is a labour of love for the staff and this showed in the overall presentation.
Without exception, the staff we encountered at Australia Zoo were all super-friendly and went out of their way to be helpful. Every time we looked lost, someone kindly pointed us in the right direction and the staff were always ready to stop and chat to us and our kids. The presentations by staff were all humorous, engaging, entertaining and informative and appealed to a whole range of ages. The show at the ‘Crocoseum’ was slick and professional but managed to not be over the top… you got the feeling that the staff really cared about what they did and the animals that they work with.
You’ll know, of course, that Steve Irwin died in 2006. However, he’s still very much alive and kicking in the park. The staff talk about Steve a lot and there are images of him and his family everywhere. Australia Zoo was very much Steve’s dream and the staff seem very conscious of keeping that dream alive. I’m told that Steve’s family- Terri, Bindi and Robert are still very involved in the Zoo and live onsite.
Something I really liked about the Zoo was the fact that once you’d paid your entrance fee (adults $58 AUD, children $34 AUD, family pass (2 adults, 2 children) $172 AUD), you could enjoy the park for the whole day without having to spend a single extra cent. Unlike some other tourist attractions, you’re welcome to take your own food into Australia Zoo and there are plenty of places to sit and eat if you want to. There are certainly ways to part with your cash- photos, tee-shirts etc but all of the core activities of the Zoo are free. There’s even a free bouncy castle and a merry-go-round for children. It was nice to go somewhere and not feel like you were constantly having to shell out more money! You can even ride around on the free shuttle if the kiddos (or you!) get tired.
The conclusion
Visiting Australia Zoo gave me a whole new appreciation for Australian wildlife but also for the work that Steve and the Irwin family have been doing for many years to protect animals. Australia Zoo is not just a tourist attraction; it’s an animal hospital, environmental education centre, animal awareness programme and so much more!
A day out at Australia Zoo is not cheap for a family but I honestly think that it’s well worth budgeting for if you are visiting the Sunshine Coast. You can spend the whole day without a problem and the kids will certainly get their share of animal thrills and excitement. Go- you’ll be amazed!
