Friday 26 April 2013

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary - Gold Coast

Location - 28 Tomewin St, Currumbin Queensland, 4223

Entry PriceAdults $49.00AUD Children (4-14) $33.00AUD Pensioner $40.00AUD

Opening Hours8.00am to 5.00pm every day except Christmas day and open from 1.30 pm to 5.00 pm ANZAC day (25th April) 
Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary web page  
 



Layout

Entry is directly off the street via a gift shop into the front plaza where you can feed lorikeets, have a coffee at the Sanctuary Cafe or purchase entry tickets into the park.  Enter the park via another gift shop where you will find Main Station, one of four train stations that are located around the park. This location is also where you will find the Australian Green Cauldron – home to fish and reptiles. Koala, Tasmanian Devil and Wallaby enclosures are also located in the immediate area.

A short stroll, or train trip through a tunnel, gets you to the main part of the park where you can catch different shows and explore Wild Island – a great interactive children’s play area. Nearby you can feed Emus and Kangaroos and see a large variety of Australian animals up close.


The park is well signed, has good rest room facilities throughout and is also serviced by a good range of cafes and drinking fountains.  There is also easy access by local public tansport.

  
Map of park

 
Extra Activities

The park is host to several different shows including bird shows, Crocodile presentations and Aboriginal dance demonstrations, all included in your entry fee. These shows are scheduled throughout the day so please check web page for details.


Other activities for an extra charge include Koala Photos, Segway Safaris and The Green Challenge Adventure Park.  There is also a unique opportunity to see animals being examined by the park’s vets at the hospital precinct.


Bird feeding in the front plaza takes place throughout the day for the price of the bird feed.


Entrance to Wild Island

Breeding Programs

The main breeding programs are Koalas and Tasmanian Devils, however the park also assists with local wildlife rescues. (Click the link to see the important work that Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is doing to save the Tasmanian Devil.



Stu’s Favourite Bit

I love Koalas and the Koala Enclosures at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary did not disappoint – The Koalas were very active, even during the middle of the day, giving tourists great photo opportunities. You can also get your photo holding a Koala. I also really love that you can get up close to most of the animals across the park.

  
Go HERE to see a very active Koala and other animals found at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary at Stu @ the zoo TV.

 


Stu’s review and tips  

What is the difference between a zoo and a wildlife sanctuary?  A zoo is where you will find a large range of animals from around the world – generally in artificial enclosures which mimic their natural habitats. A wildlife sanctuary generally focuses on indigenous animals allowing for more natural, larger enclosures. The term ‘sanctuary’, alludes to their work in local wildlife rescue work as well.  The work of both is equally important to animal conservation.


Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary has an impressive collection of Australian animals. The enclosures allow visitors to get up close to most of the animals, including the opportunity to mingle with and feed Emus and Kangaroos in their large free range enclosure – the ultimate petting zoo. Locals get as excited as international visitors when it comes to feeding the wildlife.

 
Stu with a close encounter with an emu

 
The staff and many volunteers, are extremely friendly and happy to part with valuable information about all the exhibits. Wild Island is a fantastic playground where children can learn about all sorts of animals while playing on the interactive equipment – you can also feed eels and pelicans.


The trains are fantastic and create a fun atmosphere throughout. They go past most attractions giving you an opportunity to see the park and jump off at your leisure.

 
One of the trains at the park

 
If you are looking for a manicured botanical garden style park to explore, this is not it. However there are some great displays of public art and the central lake is very pretty, having said that the place does look a little tired and in sections were in disrepair the day I reviewed.


I noticed that we walked a lot without seeing any animals – not because they were hiding, but simply because there just weren’t many enclosures. This made some parts of the park a little boring. At the time of reviewing this park there was a lot of small construction works being done all over the park.


The one real thing I like about this park is the ability to get up and close to the animals, and for this it is an ideal park for visitors looking for the quintessential interactive Australian animal experience. 
 
Must See Animals 
 
Koala 
Emu 
Kangaroo 
Cassowary 
Tree Kangaroo 
Crocodile
Snakes 
Birds 
 
 
 
© April 2013-Stuatthezoo.blogspot.com.au

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