Home of Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin (deceased), Australia’s biggest and best wildlife park is here, housing popular Australian species such as dingoes and Tasmanian devils as well as African Savanna and Southeast Asia exhibits.
Arrive early for shows and demonstrations as these can become extremely crowded later in the day. Enjoy dining at either Crikey Cafe (which seats 1,500), or one of the numerous food vending kiosks located throughout the zoo.
Table of Contents
What to See
The 110-acre Zoo covers every path leading up to it and awaits every visitor with exciting animal encounters. Here you can see native wildlife housed in exhibits that mimic their natural environments, nocturnal animals at the Nocturnal House or stroll through its subtropical Aviary that replicates Queensland rainforest.
Australia Zoo is the largest animal park in Southeast Queensland, located an hour’s drive north of Brisbane. Established by Steve Irwin with an interactive conservation destination where visitors could feed adorable kangaroos and cuddle koalas as part of its vision, Australia Zoo attracts over 1.5 million visitors every year.
At the zoo you can enter the world’s busiest wildlife hospital and witness vets treating injured kangaroos and koalas. Additionally, behind-the-scene tours offer insight into how vets prepare crocodile enclosures for performances by large reptiles.
Crocodiles
One of the main attractions at Australia Zoo is to see crocodiles. These powerful predators use murkiness of water as cover to ambush, hide from and kill their prey – something most other animals simply cannot do. Crocs are highly intelligent creatures; they remember things for weeks at a time – such as watching herds of kangaroos coming for drinks in one spot every day until they relax before striking for their next meal!
Crocodiles are the star attraction at Australia Zoo, which was founded by Steve Irwin – better known as “Crocodile Hunter”. Steve dedicated his life to wildlife conservation, especially that of dangerous reptiles like crocs. Additionally, Asia and Africa animals reside here too!
Wildlife Warriors Show
The Wildlife Warriors Show at Australia Zoo is one of the biggest draws. Set within Mount Franklin Crocoseum stadium, this show showcases saltwater crocodiles, birds, and snakes for visitors of all ages to witness. You won’t want to miss it! Don’t miss it – visit Australia Zoo today and be amazed!
Purchase a bag of ‘roo food’ for just a few coins at either the information desk or gift shop and feed kangaroos and wallabies! Indulge in cuddling with cuddly koalas or snakes as you have your photo taken for a small fee – as well as patting an adorable koala and/or having their photo taken!
Wildlife Hospital at the zoo provides care to injured and orphaned animals with the goal of returning them back into their natural environments. Come watch these dedicated veterinarians work, while learning more about why protecting native wildlife is so essential.
Wildlife Hospital
Everyday, wildlife injuries are brought into the hospital – from snakes and fruit bats to birds, reptiles and marsupials. Wildlife technicians, Support Centre staff and volunteers care for injured animals with the goal of returning them back into regional woodlands or estuaries as soon as possible.
Australia Zoo can be found in Beerwah on Steve Irwin Way and is within an easy 60-minute drive from Brisbane. Furthermore, Sunshine Coast Airport (Maroochydore) provides direct flights year-round from Sydney Melbourne Adelaide Cairns as well as seasonally from Auckland New Zealand.
Australia Zoo stands out from traditional zoos by providing up-close animal encounters like Koala cuddles, Aussie sheepdog exhibits and sheering, bird of prey exhibitions and more. Visitors are encouraged to donate towards animal encounters that help treat and rehabilitate local animals.
Laughing Frog Waterpark
Picnicking can be a cost-cutting and hassle-reducing option at the zoo, as well as helping avoid crowds, but they do also have several food outlets such as Crikey! Shop and Laughing Frog Lolly Shop offering palm oil-free lollies.
At 2:00pm each day, visit Tiger Temple to witness Sumatran and Bengal tigers perform their natural behaviors – be amazed as these big cats demonstrate speed, agility and confidence on land or water!
If you’re feeling generous, purchase souvenirs from gift shops knowing that a portion of their proceeds go toward conservation projects. Or adopt an animal at the zoo; closing time at 5 PM but key enclosures close as early as 4:30 to go into hibernation mode for the night.