Australia Zoo is one of the most famous zoos in all of Australia - not least because of the fame of the Australian zookeeper, conservationist, and TV personality Steve Irwin. This zoo is home to animals from all over the world and not only from Australia. Its reptile section is particularly impressive and offers a perfect family day out.
Australia has a lot to offer every visitor as it is an incredibly diverse country and truly ancient land. Continue up the coast of the state of Queensland and one will find one of the oldest rainforests in the world in Daintree National Park. Just off the coast of Queensland, one will find one of the ocean's greatest marvels, the awe-inspiring Great Barrier Reef - easily the largest reef system in the world.
Steve Irwin - The Crocodile Hunter
Steve Irwin (aka Stevo, aka The Crocodile Hunter) wowed audiences around the world with his documentary shows exhibiting wildlife around the world. He was famous for catching venomous snakes on camera and rescuing crocodiles.
His documentaries offered the greatest contrast to the passive nature documentaries of the BBC's David Attenborough anyone could hope to find. Steve Irwin was a conservationist and often sought to rescue animals from dangerous habitats and rehabilitate them into new ones.
- Born: February 22, 1962, in Upper Ferntree Gully, Victoria
He and his wife Terri worked tirelessly to improve the family wildlife park (now called Australia Zoo). They benefited from the success of the series The Crocodile Hunter.
Tragically in 2006, Steve Irwin died in a freak accident while filming a new documentary in Australia's Great Barrier Reef. He passed away after being pierced in the chest by a short-tail stingray. Today his wife and children continue to operate Australia Zoo in Queensland and is a wildlife park that anyone in Brisbane should visit.
The Animals Of Australia Zoo
Australia Zoo is not the largest zoo in the country but is home to many of the most iconic animals of the world. It is home to most of Australia's strange assortment of wildlife. Some of the more notable birds include cassowaries, emus, macaws, kookaburras, cockatoos, and Andean condors.
They boast many mammals the children will love like giraffes, cheetahs, Sumatran elephants, kangaroos, lemurs, rhinos, tigers, zebras, wombats, and koalas to name a few.
Notable reptiles include many pythons, boa constrictors, scores and scores of venomous and non-venomous snakes, saltwater and freshwater crocodiles, American alligators, Komodo dragons, Aldabra giant tortoise, anacondas, and many more.
Tiger Walk
Ever wanted to touch, pet, and walk with a real-life tiger? Australia Zoo offers visitors the chance to pet this the largest of the cats. On the Tiger Walk, one will join their beautiful Sumatran tigers and their trained keepers on one of their daily walks.
This is an experience of a lifetime and one will be amazed at the sheer size of these kitties and the haunting intensity of their eyes. Help the zoo with its conservation efforts to protect this critically endangered type of tiger.
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- Time: 8:30am
- Price: $399.00 AUD ($285 USD) (Up to two people)
- Sumatran Tiger Status: Critically Endangered In The Wild
- Age Limit: Must Be 15 Years Or Older
Note: No Khaki Colors, Short Shorts, Skirts, or Dresses are Permitted, Shoes Must Be Enclosed
Colossal Komodo Encounter
This is the only zoo in the state where one can get up close with the legendary Komodo dragon. The Komodo dragon is the largest species of lizard alive today and grows to over 3 meters or 9 feet long. One doesn't need to go all the way to remote islands in Indonesia to see these stunning creatures.
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- Time: 09:30 am (Saturdays & Tuesdays only)
- Price: $119.00 AUD ($85 USD) Per Person
- Age Limit: 12 Or Over
Guided Tour of Australia Zoo
If one would like a guided tour of Australia Zoo and get the most out of the experience, then consider their Caddie Tour. Hop on the caddie with a 5-star service tour and listen as one's knowledgeable tour guide chauffeurs one around the zoo in a customized journey.
See the feeding of the kangaroos, be rewarded with a special keepsake, and see all the jaw-snapping, death-rolling action in the Wildlife Warriors show. One will have reserved seating in their world-famous Crocoseum.
- Cost: $499 AUD ($355 USD)
- Tour duration: Five hours
- No. of people: Maximum 5
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Australia Zoo has many other shows and specials for people to choose from. These run throughout the day so there is always something on. See tortoise shows, parrot demonstrations, koala presentations, and birds of prey shows.
Their main show is the Australia Zoo Wildlife Warriors Show at 1.15 pm where one can see some serious wildlife action. Learn about conservation issues and how to protect the animal kingdom.