Overview
- Features: Tropical zoo showcasing native Australian animals
- Opening Times: 8:30am to 4pm, daily
- Best Time to Visit: Mornings
- Duration: Half a day
- Transport Options: Car, charter
- Cost: Adults A$34, children (aged 4 to 15) A$17, family A$85
- Address: Captain Cook Highway, Cairns, Queensland, Australia
- Type: Zoo
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Summary
The Cairns Tropical Zoo is one of the must see attractions while visiting Cairns, especially if you’re an animal lover and even more so if you have kids. If you’re planning on visiting the Cairns Tropical Zoo, read this article to find the top things to do at the Zoo so you can have the best experience there.
Top Things to Do at the Cairns Tropical Zoo
The Cairns Tropical Zoo is one of the must see attractions while visiting Cairns, especially if you’re an animal lover and even more so if you have kids. Queensland has some of the best wildlife parks in Australia and the Cairns Tropical Zoo is among the best. The Zoo has some of your favourite Aussie wildlife on show including koalas, snakes, saltwater crocodiles, lorikeets, kangaroos, emus, cassowaries, dingoes and native birds in a walk-through aviary. So if you’re planning on visiting the Cairns Tropical Zoo, continue reading to find the top things to do at the Zoo so you can have the best experience there.
1. Get Up Close & Personal with the Wildlife
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Ever wanted to cuddle a koala or hold a snake? Well, at Cairns Tropical Zoo you can. In addition to watching wildlife shows or hearing zoo keepers talk about the animals, you can get up close and personal with some of the wildlife at the Zoo for a small charge. You can also hand-feed the kangaroos which roam around the zoo (A$1 a bag of feed). Queensland is one of the few states in Australia that allow visitors to touch and hold wildlife so make the most of this opportunity while you can.
2. Take a Photo with a Koala, Boa, or Baby Croc
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The next best thing to cuddling a koala or holding a baby croc is to take a photo of you doing just that. A photo of yourself cuddling a koala or holding a snake is one of the best mementos you can take away from your visit to the Cairns Tropical Zoo. Have your photo taken for an extra charge and show it to your friends and family.
3. Visit the Zoo’s Star Resident, Sarge
Wondering who Sarge is and why he’s the Zoo’s star residence? Sarge is a 17-foot, 660-pound centenarian croc and you’ll have to see him in the flesh to understand why he’s the star residence of the Cairns Tropical Zoo. Head over to the saltwater crocodile enclosures during the feeding session and be mesmerised by the sheer size and power of these gigantic prehistoric creatures.
4. Breakfast with the Birds
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One of the highlights of the Cairns Tropical Zoo and my favourite experience at the Zoo is a special daily event called ‘Breakfast with the Birds’. Enjoy a hot, cooked breakfast at the aviary and choose to share some of your food with the birds. Sometimes you don’t have a choice in the matter as some will attempt to steal food straight out of your plate. It’s fun either way and you get to see the birds before other visitors arrive at the Zoo.
5. Cairns Night Zoo Tour
The park also runs a nocturnal tour, during which you can see many of the more elusive creatures on show. The Cairns Night Zoo is a different way to experience the wonders of zoo life. This 3-hour tour includes a wildlife spotlighting walk, during which you can pat a koala and a possum and feed kangaroos; a stargazing interlude; a barbecue dinner with beer and wine, billy tea, and damper; and dancing to an Aussie bush band.
To take the park’s Cairns Night Zoo tour, book by 4pm on the same day (Mon–Thurs and Sat), earlier if you want transfers. The evening starts at 7pm.
Cairns Zoo Prices
Below are the prices for Cairns Tropical Zoo and Cairns Night Zoo as at July 2015.
Cairns Tropical Zoo Prices
Adults – A$34
Children (aged 4–15) – A$17 (valid for 3 days)
Family – A$85
Combination tickets with Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures are A$64 adults, A$32 children and A$160 family.
Cairns Night Zoo Prices
Adults – A$105
Children (aged 4–15) – A$52.50
Extra charges apply if you want transfers from Cairns or Port Douglas.
Tell us what you think. Are you planning a visit to the Cairns Tropical Zoo and/or the Cairns Night Zoo? If you’ve been before, what were your favourite moments at the Zoo?
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