Australia Zoo
The Crocodile Hunter's legacy
Founded by croc-wrestling conservationist Steve Irwin, the world’s biggest wildlife conservation park will easily fill up a whole day. To date, its Wildlife Hospital has saved over 90,000 animals from across Australia, including many injured in devastating bushfires.
You can take a tour of the hospital, one of several highlights that also include Australia’s largest elephant enclosure, an Angor Wat-inspired Tiger Temple (complete with underwater viewing area) and the zoo’s famous Crocoseum. The latter hosts the highly entertaining Wildlife Warriors Show, featuring critters you probably wouldn’t want to meet in the bush.
1638 Steve Irwin Way, Beerwah
Opening hours: Daily 9am-5pm
Admission: Adult/child from $59/35
australiazoo.com.au
How to get there
Australia Zoo lies 74km north of Brisbane and 70km south of Noosa.
Car: From Brisbane or the Gold Coast, head north on Pacific Mwy/Bruce Hwy (M1) and take the Sunshine Coast Hinterland/Beerburrum/Landsborough/Maleny exit. From Noosa, head south on the Bruce Hwy (M1) and take the Landsborough/Steve Irwin Way exit.
Train: Trains run from Gold Coast and Brisbane to Beerwah, from where a free zoo shuttle bus departs the station.