Located on the Australia’s Sunshine Coast, only an hour’s drive from Brisbane, the Australia Zoo is a favorite destination with families and fans of the Crocodile Hunter television program. The Zoo has remained in operation since Irwin’s death, and continues to draw people from all over the world. The zoo offers something for everyone, and to many visitors’ surprise, is not just a home for crocodiles. The zoo has several large cats, including five tigers, elephants, kangaroos, and many other furry critters.
Since there is so much to see and do, it is advisable to plan your day ahead of time. Take a look at the show times posted on the website to determine what you want to see. You might also consider signing up for one of the many guided tours, or even the Platinum Adventure, which includes VIP treatment and behind-the-scenes interaction with the animals and their handlers. The Animal Encounters program allows visitors to get up close and personal with their favorite animals, including tigers, dingoes, tortoises, wombats and more. Be sure to book ahead. The zoo is also home to many events throughout the year including music festivals and Halloween celebrations, which is another great reason for carefully planning your visit.
The main areas to visit are the Tiger Temple and the Crocoseum, a 5000 seat arena where most of the zoo’s shows, including the crocodile feedings, take place. Steve and Terri’s daughter, Bindi, also performs here in shows that are very popular with the younger crowd. Many visitors also enjoy the daily elephant feedings and feeding the kangaroos. Children may feel especially comfortable at the Kids Zoo, where baby animals are housed and fed. The zoo’s amenities include a food court and several restaurants, however they also encourage guests to bring their own lunch and picnic in the park.
Located in Queensland, close to the border of New South Wales, and only one hundred kilometers south of Brisbane is the remarkable area of Springbrook. With lush rainforests and incredible waterfalls, it is a beautiful place for photographers and nature lovers.
Springbrook National Park is almost 3000 hectares and is divided into three sections – Springbrook Plateau, Mount Cougal, and Natural Bridge. Walking tracks in the park are generally of an easier nature, allowing all visitors, including children, to enjoy the rich scenery. Do supervise children closely as there are sheer dropoffs, particularly near waterfalls and lookouts. The waterfall at the Goomoolahra picnic grounds in the Springbook Plateau provides an excellent backdrop for lunch, and there are two excellent lookouts here as well. The Tallanbana picnic area also has a short walk to the spectacular Twin Falls. The Purlingbroke Falls are famous for their one hundred meter drop into a pool surrounded by ferns and lilies, so be sure to stop at the lookouts here, or take the walking tracks that lead down to the Waringa rock pool, a popular swimming hole.
The Natural Bridge is a unique rock formation where water falls through the roof of a basalt cave. The walk to the bridge is an easy trek through beautiful rainforest filled with birds. Natural Bridge is most famous for its glow-worm colony and luminescent funghi. Walking unattended at night is not recommended, so join one of many local nocturnal tours that take visitors to see the glow-worms up close. Orchid walks and bush tours are also available. Also in the area is the Springbrook Homestead, home to the local observatory. Evening tours can be arranged for viewing of the moon and stars, and astrophotographers are warmly encouraged to visit the centre.
With the world becoming more and more environmentally aware, travelers are also becoming more interested in seeing how other countries tackle the difficult challenges that come with finding ways to be more environmentally sensitive. New South Wales’ second largest city is proudly taking a leadership role in developing ways for their citizens’ to lessen their ecological footprint.
Futureworld Eco-Technology Centre is a pioneer in sustainable technologies. The organization has a six-and-a-half hectare site that houses their Eco-Technology Exhibition Centre. Exhibits focus on renewable energy and greenhouse gas reduction, water conservation, and waste reduction, and exhibits are fully interactive. Highlights include full-scale wind turbine blades and a power generation unit, a water wave tank demonstrating wave energy, a model of a solar powered ferry, a waste minimization and recycling facility and a miniature eco-house demonstrating ways to make your home more environmentally friendly. The exhibits are located both indoors and out.
In addition to being so environmentally progressive, Wollongong has much to offer tourists. While in the area, you might be interested in stopping by the Wollongong Science Centre and Planetarium. Here, families can enjoy star and laser shows in the planetarium and view the sky in the observatory. Popular exhibits focus on archaeology, energy, and Antarctica, and the centre also runs several science themed shows at their theatre.
As would be expected in such an environmentally friendly city, Wollongong is home to many parks. MacCabe Park is located inside the city, and features a playground, war memorial, and amphitheatre. Greenhouse Park was formerly a waste dump, but since 1992 has been under restoration to create a green corridor within the city. Sitting next to the wetlands of Tom Thumb Lagoon, the park is a great example of land reclamation.
