Australia Zoo

Australia Zoo is a world-famous zoo on the Sunshine Coast of Queensland, near Brisbane.

It was opened by Bob and Lyn Irwin in 1970 as Beerwah Reptile Park. When their son Steve took over its running, he changed its name, and his later documentary television series The Crocodile Hunter made him, and the zoo, famous throughout the world, and raised vital funds for conservation work and extra exhibits. Steve Irwin tragically died in 2006 while filming an underwater documentary series, and the zoo is now owned by his widow, Terri.

Australia Zoo features many reptiles, birds and mammals from Australia and beyond. They include camels, cheetahs, dingoes, echidnas, elephants, kangaroos, koalas, pandas, tigers, parrots, raptors and zebras. There are also Komodo dragons, crocodiles, iguana, and snakes such as the taipan, boa, and Eastern brown snake.
A number of animal shows take place throughout the day at the zoo. These include Elephants Live, Afternoon Crocs Live – which features a question time with the zoo’s crocodile experts, en elephants hands-on, and a bird of prey show.

The zoo is also involved in a number of important conservation projects, which help animals including cheetahs, crocodiles, elephants, Tasmanian Devils and tigers.

A number of special events take place throughout the year at Australia Zoo. They include Steve Irwin Day, on November 15, an annual event to celebrate the life of the Crocodile Hunter. Events on the day feature a Sausage Sizzle brekkie, possum box making, face painting, prize draws and colouring-in competitions.