Location: 1638 Steve Irwin Way, Beerwah, QLD
There are few wildlife parks in the country more famous than the Sunshine Coast's iconic Australia Zoo, given a worldwide spotlight in large part due to the efforts of late, great Aussie icon Steve Irwin and carried on by the continued passionate efforts of the Irwin family.
As such, it's an attraction that isn't just an essential stop on any Sunshine Coast itinerary – in many cases, it's the main reason for families making the trip to the Sunshine Coast in the first place. While it's become more and more commercialised throughout the years, it's never lost touch with the its original messages and core values of conservation and respect for the animal world that were established from the beginning, and this is obvious throughout the facility from staff enthusiasm through to animal care and welfare.
Australia Zoo boasts an incredibly diverse array of animals from all parts of both the animal kingdom and the globe – all the typical Aussie favourites such as kangaroos, koalas, wombats and, of course, crocodiles are here in full, but it's the likes of the massive and comprehensive African exhibit that truly make this feel like a world-class wildlife attraction.
It's also continually growing, with its massive grounds still featuring plenty of opportunity for expansion, and it's due in large part to this scale of grounds that the animals are treated to large and spacious enclosures that give them enough freedom to enjoy their lives while still offering quality viewing angles for visitors. The animal's habitats are also impeccably clean, and all the animals look both happy and well taken care of – a testament to the efforts of the staff and management.
There are few wildlife parks in the country more famous than the Sunshine Coast's iconic Australia Zoo, given a worldwide spotlight due to the efforts of late, great Aussie icon Steve Irwin and carried on by the continued passionate efforts of the Irwin family.
Given the scale of the zoo, the number of shows and presentations, and the sheer variety on offer, Australia Zoo is a place that can be properly considered an all-day attraction rather than just a few hours, which means despite the price you end up getting considerable “bang for your buck”. The zoo's crocodile show is one of its most iconic daily presentations, and it's got a well-deserved reputation as the experienced staff aren't shy about getting up close to feed these massive reptiles.
Other interesting shows provide an emphasis on individual animals – koalas, otters, tortoises and the impressive birds of prey are all given their own moment to shine, and help round out the day as well as providing the chance to rest your legs from walking through the large grounds of the zoo. For those feeling a little worn out, the zoo also offers a shuttle bus to travel from one major section to the next, which is a nice touch.
As far as design and facilities go, Australia Zoo also scores high marks here; it's got a huge sheltered food court with a great variety of food – this isn't your typical small attraction's cafe. In addition, the zoo's open and wide design makes visiting in crowded time periods of the year less of a hassle than other similar facilities, and there's also ample parking that can help reduce the typical headaches associated with finding a spot.
There are also plenty of optional extras – such as animal encounters with otters, zebras, giraffes and more – as well as feeding, photos and tours which are all enjoyable and only limited by how deep you're willing to reach into your wallet.
There's a reason Australia Zoo has such a strong reputation on both the global and international stages - as one of Australia's premier wildlife facilities, there's no reason a first-timer to the Sunshine Coast should miss visiting here unless they have absolutely no interest in wildlife. A definite Sunshine Coast must for all ages.
