Recently I visited the Currumbin wildlife sanctuary on the Gold Coast, which is around and hour and a half’s drive down from Brisbane. For anyone who loves nature and animals, I really enjoyed my visit here and it definitely worth a look around.
Currumbin wildlife sanctuary is 73 years old, one of the oldest attractions on the Gold Coast. It hosts Lost Valley, one of the biggest free-flight aviaries on the Southern Hemisphere and has an animal hospital. From the outside it seems pretty small, situated in a residential area, but once inside it opens up to a large outdoor space (27 hectares) with animals from koalas, Tasmanian devils, kangaroos, plenty of bird species, a red panda, and a huge 5 metre-long croc.
There are also plenty of things for the kids, as well as adults, like animal encounters, playgrounds, a free mini railway (adults love this too!) and an amazing tree top challenge.
Top tip: get here early and spend the day. Me and my partner arrived around lunchtime and did not get to fit everything in (I NEED to go back to see the red panda haha!). Also, for those on a budget, the food and drink prices are pretty expensive inside (although you cannot take food in, perhaps your own water bottle and snacks are ok!).
Ok so here are some of the things you can see at Currumbin wildlife sanctuary…
Koalas
You definitely cannot visit an animal centre in Australia without coming across some cute, cuddly koalas. The animal that literally looks like real life teddy bear! Did you know, they are not actually ‘koala bears’, they are marsupials!
You will find these cuties in a couple of different places in the sanctuary and if you pay extra, can even have your photo taken holding one. Although they mostly sleep and eat, they can be quite amusing to watch.
Alligator/ Crocodile
There is both an alligator and a crocodile at Currumbin wildlife sanctuary. The alligator is smaller than the croc of course but you can get some great close-up photos through the glass screen! The crocodile is HUGE! The one at the park said it was 5 metres long and you can really see the difference between him and the alligator and freshwater crocodiles. The saltwater crocodile is the largest living reptile in the world.
Tasmanian Devil
Tasmanian devils or ‘tassie devils’ as the Aussies would say, are actually not quite as scary as they sound and are kind of cute. They used to live in Australia too but now you will only find them in Tasmania. They are also an endangered species. There are two places to spot these small animals in Currumbin wildlife sanctuary.
Lorikeets
Apparently, this is what Currumbin wildlife sanctuary is famous for. The lorikeet feeding, which is now at 4pm has been running for years. There are several feeding trays where the staff will lay out nectar for the birds, and the public can get their own tray of nectar for a small donation. The wild lorikeets will eventually come down to feed, perhaps even landing on your hand! There did not seem to be too many when I was there but they are wild animals so it can be a bit ‘hit and miss’ but I have been told it is usually pretty good.
Animals shows at the Currumbin wildlife sanctuary
There are several animal shows throughout the day at the sanctuary. I only had time for one, which was the WildSkies flight bird show and it was a lot better than I expected! They had a range of birds from an eagle to a pelican, an owl, and other birds of prey. They train the birds to fly over the seating area, and also through the audience, flying super close to your heads! Kinda scary but really fun to watch.
Kangaroos and wallabies
There is a large enclosure at the Currumbin wildlife sanctuary which houses both wallabies and their larger cousins the kangaroo. You can even get up close and feed them or take a kangaroo selfie! You’ll also find a large emu that walks around the enclosure.
The mini railway
The mini railway is a free small train that takes you in a loop around the park. If you do not feel like walking form one part of the park to the other, this is a great way to get around. Not just for kids either! It was nice to get a different viewpoint of the area, as well as a little sit down!
Birds
There are plenty of bird species at Currumbin and their aviaries are a great place to spot both small sweet little birds to the larger eagle and pelican. I saw the pelican at the bird flight show and it’s huge!
Reptiles
The sanctuary has 38 different reptiles to look at (reassuringly though glass!). The amphibian display includes snakes, frogs, lizards and more. There is also a reptile show to learn more about the animals.
Dingo
Dingo’s are pretty cool animals, a bit like a dog mixed with a wolf, and are actually relatives of the Asiatic wolf family. You can view these animals from a small distance or pay a bit extra to take them for a walk around the sanctuary.
Other animals
So, as I said at the start, I missed some of the displays for lack of time, but there are plenty more animals to see here. They include the red panda (super cute), wombats, cassowary, cotton-top tamarin, ring-tailed lemur, capybara, echidna, and tree kangaroos. There is also the animal hospital which also takes part in research programs. They have large glass windows so you can look in on the operating rooms, and even take a tour.
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Currumbin wildlife sanctuary is also by the beach!
If you are looking to really make the most of your time here, don’t forget to visit the nearby beach in the Coolangatta region. There are some stunning beaches stretching for miles along the coastline. It is worth going for a refreshing afternoon dip after a long day of exploring!
I hope you enjoyed the post this week. Stay tuned next Wednesday for another post. 😊 In the meantime, be sure to catch me on Instagram.
