Overview
- Features: Zoo with lots of animal encounters, shows and wildlife hospital
- Opening Times: 9am to 5pm, daily
- Best Time to Visit: Mornings
- Duration: Full day
- Transport Options: Car, train, bus
- Cost: A$59 for adults, A$35 for children (3 to 14 yrs)
- Address: Steve Irwin Way, Beerwah, Queensland, Australia
- Type: Zoo
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Summary
There are numerous things to do and see at Australia Zoo so read this post to find out the top 20 things you must see and do at Australia Zoo. Plus there’s loads of information on which animals you can see at the Zoo, which animals you can interact with, and how you can make a difference to saving an endangered species.
20 Things You Must Do and See at Australia Zoo
20 Things You Must Do and See at Australia Zoo
- Hand-feed the kangaroos in their large, naturalist home, Roo Heaven
- Pat one of the cuddly koalas in the Koala Walkthrough
- Learn about the Aldabran Tortoises, the largest species of tortoise in the world and watch the keepers hand feed them at 10:00am daily
- Look out for some of the roving animals throughout the Zoo, such as baby alligators, talking cockatoos and wombats
- Watch the small-clawed Otters come out and play as they get fed by their keepers at 10:30am or 3:30pm daily
- Enjoy a tasty breakfast or lunch at the Feeding Frenzy Foodcourt or Dingo Diner
- Learn about the incredible world of snakes, birds of prey and crocodiles at Australia Zoo Wildlife Warriors in the Crocoseum at 12:00 pm daily
- Watch the magnificent Sumatran tigers in action at the Tiger Temple
- Explore Bindi’s Bootcamp and test your skills on the wildlife challenges as seen on TV
- Meet the mighty elephants at Elephantasia, Australia’s largest elephant facility
- Learn about crocodiles and watch them being fed by the keepers at Scrappa’s Enclosure at 2:30 pm daily
- Watch a team of vets save our wildlife at the state-of-the-art Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital, Australia’s busiest wildlife hospital
- Explore the wide open plains of the African savannah and see rhinos, giraffes and zebras roam free
- Explore Bindi’s Island and take a journey to a tropical paradise where you’ll find Bindi’s incredible three-storey treehouse with views of our ring-tailed lemurs, plus macaws, alligators, turtles and more
- Watch the majestic and impressive Birds of Prey interact with their keepers at 3:00pm daily
- Learn all about Steve Irwin’s crocodile research in Croc School
- Take a morning walk with a tiger or have a very special experience with a possum on Animal Encounters
- Be a zoo keeper for a day and go behind-the-scenes to get up close and personal with the animals
- Adopt an animal at the Zoo and play an important role in the life of one of the animals
- Visit the Australia Zoo Shop and purchase cool Australia Zoo accessories, souvenirs and mementos
Australia Zoo Map
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Australia Zoo Animals
There are about 38 species and more than a hundred animals at the Australia Zoo. While Australian animals are largely showcased here, you can also see a number of endangered species, including Sumatran tigers, which is a big part of the conservation program conducted by the Zoo.
Below is a list of the 38 species of animals usually found at the Australia Zoo.
- American Alligators
- Binturongs
- Birds of Prey
- Rainforest Aviary Birds
- Wetlands Birds
- Boa Constrictor
- Brolgas
- Camels
- Cassowaries
- Freshwater Crocodiles
- Saltwater Crocodiles
- Dingoes
- Echidnas
- Elephants
- Emus
- Giraffe
- Iguana
- Jabirus
- Kangaroos and Wallabies
- Red Kangaroos
- Koalas
- Komodo Dragon
- Lemurs
- Australian Lizards
- Macaw
- Otters
- Red Pandas
- Burmese Python
- Rhinoceros
- Australian Snakes
- Tasmanian Devils
- Tigers
- Aldabran Tortoises
- Australian Turtles
- Alligator snapping Turtles
- Southern Hairy-nosed Wombats
- Common Wombats
- Zebra
Australia Zoo Showtimes
10:00 am – Tortoises LIVE
10:00 am – Kids Story Time
10:30 am – Morning Otters LIVE
12:00 pm – Australia Zoo Wildlife Warriors
1:30 pm – Koalas LIVE
2:30 pm – Afternoon Crocodiles LIVE
3:00 pm – Birds of Prey LIVE
3:30 pm – Afternoon Otters LIVE
Australia Zoo Crocodiles
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One of the most popular animals at Australia Zoo is the crocodile and for good reason. The founder of the Zoo, Steve Irwin became popular for his countless zany and daring encounters with crocs and one of his lifelong dreams was to create a croc museum at Australia Zoo. His dream came true when The Crocoseum was introduced at the Zoo in 2008. This 5,000 capacity stadium provides visitors with the opportunity to see crocodiles in clear water ponds, in an action-packed show full of discovery and adventure. Head to The Crocoseum at 12pm any day of the week and be a part of the Wildlife Warriors show.
If you want more croc action at the Zoo, head over to Scrappa’s Enclosure at 2:30pm any day of the week and learn more about crocodiles while the keepers feed them their daily dosage of meat.
You can also join the Zoo’s fight for wild crocodiles by sponsoring a croc and supporting the fight for crocodile conservation. See Sponsor a Croc for more information.
Australia Zoo Wildlife Warriors
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Australia Zoo Wildlife Warriors is a conservation program started by Steve and Terri Irwin to provide care and support for the protection of injured, threatened or endangered wildlife.
In relation to this conservation program, Australia Zoo has a Wildlife Warriors show that runs daily at midday at The Crocoseum exhibit. This 5000-capacity stadium allows visitors to watch the keepers and their animals perform daring and exciting acts while learning more about the life and world of our endangered animals. Expect to see giant snakes, colourful, soaring birds and big Saltwater crocodiles slither, swoop and jaw-snap at the Australia Zoo Wildlife Warriors show.
Australia Zoo Encounters
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While Australia Zoo encounters come at a price, this is one of the best places to get hands-on with some of your favourite animals. Ranging from $30 for close interactions with tortoises and possums, to $500 for taking a morning walk with one of the Sumatran tigers, you can see why this program is so popular with the visitors. Prior bookings are essential as places are limited. Below is a list of the Australia Zoo encounters available.
| Animal Encounter | Description | Price | Time | Age limit |
| Farmyard Fun | Pat and feed farm animals | $30 | 10:45-11:05am | Below 10 years |
| Possum Encounter | Get hands-on with a possum | $30 | 11:15-11:35pm | 6 years and over |
| Giant Giraffe Snapshot | Take a photo with a giraffe | $30 | 11:00am | NA |
| Tortoise Encounter | Get up close and personal with a tortoise | $30 | 1:00-1:20pm | NA |
| Cuddly Koalas | Cuddle a koala | $40 | 11:00am, 1:45pm | 8 years and over |
| Wombat Walk | Take a wombat out for a walk | $40 | 11:15-11:35am | 6 years and over |
| Echnida Encounter | Hold and feed an echnida | $40 | 1:45-2:05pm | 1 year and over |
| Wombat Encounter | Pat, touch and feed a wombat | $40 | 2:30-3:00pm | 6 years and over |
| Dingo Encounter | Get hands-on with a dingo | $40 | 2:45-3:05pm | 6 years and over |
| Cheeky Cheetah Snapshots | Take a photo with a cheetah | $60 | 11:30-11:45am | 15 years and over |
| Rascally Red Panda | Pat and feed a Red Panda | $80 | 8:30-8:50am | 6 years and over |
| Outback Camel Adventure | Ride a camel | $80 | 10:00-10:40am | 3 years and over |
| Zany Zebra Encounter | Pat and feed a zebra | $80 | 1:00-1:20pm | 8 years and over |
| Leapin Lemurs | Feed and get hands-on with a troop of lemurs | $80 | 1:00-1:30pm | 4 years and over |
| Utterly Outrageous Otters | Hold an otter | $80 | 1:15-1:35pm | 8 years and over |
| Ripper Rhinos | Get face-to-face with a rhino | $80 | 2:15-3:00pm | 14 years and over |
| You Beaut Binturong Encounters | Get up close with binturongs | $80 | 3:00-3:15pm | 4 years and over |
| Cheeky Cheetah Encounter | Get hands-on with a cheetah | $150 | 3:00-3:30pm | 15 years and over |
| Colossal Komodo Encounters | Get close to a komodo | $200 | 11:00-11:20am | NA |
| Tiger Photos | Take a photo with a tiger | $400 | 3:15-3:35pm | 15 years and over |
| Zoo Crew Experience Asia | Join the Asia section wildlife keepers as they go about their morning rounds | $450 | 9:15-11:45am | 15 years and over |
| Tiger Walk | Take a morning walk with a tiger | $500 | 8:30-9:00am | 15 years and over |
Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital
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Opened in 2008, the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital is the largest wildlife hospital in the world and the busiest hospital in Australia. The hospital provides sick, injured and orphaned wildlife with leading-edge treatment and rehabilitation before eventual release back to the wild. The hospital team at Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital is made up of a large number of volunteers who are part of work experience programs for school or university or those seeking to progress their careers.
For an extra fee, visitors to Australia Zoo can visit the nearby Wildlife Hospital and watch a team of experienced vets save the lives of our wildlife.
Australia Zoo Keeper for a Day
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Set up for kids between the ages of 7 and 15, Australia Zoo Keeper for a Day is a great educational program for kids, especially during school holidays. With programs set up for each age group, kids will not only go behind-the-scene for the day, they will also learn a lot about what it takes to be a zoo keeper as well as get up close and personal with certain animals. Australia Zoo changes the program every season so that kids learn something different each time. As part of being a zoo keeper for a day, kids could interact with a rhino, giraffe, binturong or Aldabran tortoises. In addition, they also get lunch while they watch the Australia Zoo Wildlife Warriors show in the Crocoseum at midday.
Australia Zoo Shop
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The Australia Zoo Shop is a great place to get a huge variety of wildlife accessories, souvenirs and mementos to remember your visit to the Zoo.
Some of the popular products sold at the Shop include clothing and accessories branded by Steve Irwin, Terri Irwin and Bindi Irwin. Want to look like an Irwin? Buy clothes and accessories from the lines of Bindi Wear International, Steve Lives Surfwear or Terri’s Cougar Collection or look like a zoo keeper by buying Australia Zoo clothing and hats. In addition, you can also buy Bindi Irwin DVDs, CRIKEY! Magazine, Wildlife Warriors souvenirs and more. So before you leave the Zoo, drop into the Shop and pick out a souvenir or gift as a token of your trip to Australia Zoo.
Australia Zoo Prices
| Entry | Cost (A$) | Valid From | Inclusions |
| Adult | $59 | 1 April 2013 – 31 March 2015 | One day admission |
| Adult | $87 | 1 April 2013 – 31 March 2015 | Two day admission |
| Child | $35 | 1 April 2013 – 31 March 2015 | Children under the age of three are free of charge, one day admission. |
| Concession | $47 | 1 April 2013 – 31 March 2015 | Pensioners and students, one day admission. Must show identification card |
| Concession | $69 | 1 April 2013 – 31 March 2015 | Pensioners and students, Two Day Wild Pass. Must show identification card |
Australia Zoo Family Pass
| Entry | Cost (A$) | Valid From | Inclusions |
| Family | $172 | 1 April 2013 – 31 March 2015 | Two adults and two children (3 to 14 years), one day admission |
| Family | $189 | 1 April 2013 – 31 March 2015 | Two adults and three children (3 to 14 years), one day admission |
Australia Zoo Annual Pass Price
| Entry | Cost (A$) | Valid Till | Inclusions |
| Adult | $99 | 1 July 2016 | Daily entry |
| Child | $59 | 1 July 2016 | Daily entry |
Australia Zoo Tickets
Australia Zoo tickets can be purchased online at Australia Zoo.
Australia Zoo Discount Tickets
Occasionally, Groupon has Australia Zoo discount tickets for sale. Check Groupon for current deals.
Australia Zoo Opening Hours
Daily: 9am to 5pm
Anzac Day: 1:30pm to 5:30pm
Closed: Christmas Day
Where is Australia Zoo Located?
Australia Zoo is located in a small town called Beerwah in the Sunshine Coast of Queensland, Eastern Australia. In terms of distance, it is 76 km north of Brisbane and 160 km north of Gold Coast.
How to get to Australia Zoo?
Australia Zoo is situated on Steve Irwin Way, Beerwah in the Sunshine Coast.
Apart from driving to Australia Zoo yourself, there are several other ways to reach here – by rail, Greyhound bus, coach transfers, Australia Zoo’s courtesy bus or on a day tour.
The nearest airport to Australia Zoo is the Sunshine Coast Airport which is open 24 hours a day and located on Friendship Avenue, Marcoola in the heart of the Sunshine Coast.
Train to Beerwah Railway Station
The QR Citytrain has a seven-day service that operates between the Gold Coast, Brisbane and Beerwah. The Australia Zoo courtesy coach meets most trains at the Beerwah Rail Station to transfer passengers to and from the Zoo. If the bus is not at the station, simply call the Zoo on 07 5436 2000 and a bus will be sent out during opening hours for your convenience.
For more information or to book tickets, see Translink (www.translink.com.au).
Greyhound Australia Zoo
Greyhound has a number of great Australia Zoo travel and entry options. Greyhound operates regular bus services from Brisbane and Gold Coast to Australia Zoo.
For more information on package deals for transport and entry tickets to Australia Zoo, see Greyhound Australia.
Australia Zoo Bus
Australia Zoo operates a free courtesy bus from 8am, with pickups at Noosa, Coolum, Maroochy, Caloundra and the Beerwah train station, arriving at the zoo at 10:25am. The return bus leaves for Noosa at 4pm.
Bookings are essential.
Australia Zoo Tours
Australian Day Tours
With return hotel transfers seven days a week, the Croc Express is a fantastic way to get to Australia Zoo in safety and comfort from the Gold Coast or Brisbane city. This friendly service allows you to relax in an air-conditioned luxury coach or coaster while learning about all the regional sights, history and highlights of a day at Australia Zoo, along the way.
The tour departs the Gold Coast at approximately 7.30am, and departs Brisbane Transit Centre (Roma Street) in Brisbane at approximately 9:00am. The bus arrives at Australia Zoo around 10.15am in time for all the wildlife action. The day is then yours to spend exploring the Zoo at your leisure, before departing at 4.00pm. Phone Australian Day Tours on 1300 781 362 for more information.
Brisbane to Australia Zoo
Brisbane’s main international airport is about an hour’s drive from Australia Zoo which is situated on Steve Irwin Way, Beerwah in the Sunshine Coast.
The Sunshine Coast can be reached from Brisbane via the Bruce Highway; it takes approximately 60 minutes driving time.
Sunshine Coast to Australia Zoo
Sunbus services run to Australia Zoo from Maroochydore’s Sunshine Plaza shopping centre, Chancellor Park at Mooloolaba, and Landsborough railway station. Take bus no. 615.
Australia Zoo Address
1638 Steve Irwin Way
Beerwah
QLD 4519
AUSTRALIA
Australia Zoo Contact
07 5436 2000
Australia Zoo Website
www.australiazoo.com.au
Tell us what you think. What animal(s) are you most looking forward to seeing? If you’ve been here before, what was your favourite experience of the day?
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