Jim & Barbara Burton Travel: Australia Zoo

Australia Zoo – CRIKEY!!!!

Australia Zoo is a marvelous place created by the late Steve Irwin of the “Crocodile Hunter” fame and now carried on by his widow Terri and his two children Bindi and Robert. This is not just a zoo but, primarily a rescue, research, breeding and protection facility for injured and endangered animals both native and around the world. They have around one hundred Koalas. Many marsupials that meet their demise in road accidents still have living Joey’s in their pouches, which are rescued and saved by facilities like this all around the country. Australia Zoo has a state of the art Wildlife Hospital. The Wildlife Hospital is the busiest in the country with a team of vets saving the precious lives. Koalas, without help, could be extinct in twenty years due to disease, road accidents and loss of habitat.

We started our adventure after a two-hour drive from Burleigh Heads and as we started walking through, we noticed this long-necked turtle trying to escape. After alerting a staff member we watched as they captured him and returned him to his rightful place, two enclosures over, after managing to avoid the large feet of the Aldabra tortoises.

After fighting off the large saltwater croc, we made our way to the Crocoseum for an enlightening experience with various animals kept at the park. The programme started with an introduction to a very large python, followed by all kinds of birds flying into the stadium. There were black cockatoos, lorikeets, parrots, birds of prey and a Jabiru. It was quite amazing as they flew right past our faces. After all the preliminaries, out came this enormous salt-water crocodile. After learning about the habitat and characteristics of these amazing creatures and how to avoid becoming their breakfast, lunch or dinner I went down to feed one………… “Just Kidding.” The handlers then demonstrated how animals venturing to the waters edge easily fall prey to these enormous and very fast moving creatures. It was out of the water in a flash and swallowed a whole dead chicken in one gulp - CRIKEY!!!!!!!! WHAT A BLOKE!

After leaving the Crocoseum, more like a football stadium with a very large pool instead of a pitch, we ventured forth to see the rest of the Zoo. Although there were tigers, cheetahs, elephant, red pandas etc., we concentrated for the most part on the animals, reptiles and birds indigenous to this part of the world. We saw lots of Koalas and petted some of them. The rainforest birds were amazing, such vibrant colours. The snakes were unbelievable both in colouration and camouflage and most you definitely wouldn’t want to meet on a dark night. We also saw Kangaroos, Wallabies and Wombats to name a few. Most of the enclosures, which are huge, you can roam freely. Feed the Roos, the birds fly all around you and the Koala’s although they have their feeding stations are free to nestle in the trees nearby. The Wombats are a different kettle of fish as they can be very aggressive.

At the end of our day and our feet nearly separating from our ankles we walked past the Crocoseum one more time and heard talking over a microphone. We peeked inside to see Robert, Terri and Bindi addressing the staff before they left for the day. Robert was talking about his new book and then handed the microphone to his mother Terri, who informed all of them of their upcoming schedule. What a thrill to see this amazing place and then get a glimpse of the Irwin family as well.

Time to leave. We didn’t have time to see the hospital as it was now closing time and we had to make our two-hour journey back to Burleigh Heads………………