Set on 27 hectares of coastal rainforest, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is a completely immersive experience. You can walk amongst the roaming emus and kangaroos and feed them pellets. You can watch majestic birds of prey in flight, feed rainbow lorikeets as they clamber all over your head and arms, cuddle a koala, or learn how to care for sick and injured wildlife.
Photo Credit: All photos are the copyright of the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary.
It all started in 1947 when beekeeper and flower grower Alex Griffiths began feeding the wild lorikeets to stop them from ravaging his prized flowers. The feeding grew from a local curiosity to a tourist attraction and in 1976 it was donated to the National Trust of Queensland.
The Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is dedicated to preserving Queensland’s wildlife and operates on a not-for-profit basis, with all revenue reinvested back into conservation-based research, caring for sick and injured wildlife and public education.
COST: $49 adults. $35 kids. (Price also includes admission to nearby Surf World)
Here are a few higlights.
Tree Top Challenge
11 Ziplines and 30 treetops! On this challenge you’ll swoop over saltwater crocodiles and other daring feats. The ticket price is a steal. $60 for an adult, $50 for a child or $195 for a family of four includes admission to the Sanctuary. That’s only an additional $11 for an adult on top of the regular admission price. I think that’s a bargain!
Wildlife Encounters and Photo Packages
At certain times throughout the day you have the opportunity to interact with the wildlife, cuddling koalas, echidnas, possums, tasmanian devils, hand-raised dingoes and more. It’s constantly changing so check their website.
It is worth noting that this is not a zoo of captive animals. This is a sanctuary. The animals have either been rescued and rehabilitated, or raised in captivity as part of a necessary breeding program. Animal encounters are limited to very few people each day in respect of the animal’s comfort so there is an additional fee.
COST: Around $25
Performances
At certain times of the day and as part of your admission you can enjoy majestic birds of prey in flight, Aboriginal dance, sheep shearing, and crocodile feeding and behaviour.
Courses
Learn how to care for sick, injured and orphaned wildlife, care for and raise birds in an aviary, and raise reptiles and amphibians in captivity. Courses are weekend intensive or spread over several weeks and start at $299.
More Information
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