Information
Landmark: Currumbin Wildlife SanctuaryCity: Gold Coast
Country: Australia
Continent: Australia
Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Gold Coast, Australia, Australia
Overview
Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, a famous wildlife park on Queensland’s Gold Coast, greets visitors with the sound of lorikeets chattering in the trees.The sanctuary is famous for its wide range of native Australian animals, from kangaroos grazing in the sun to koalas dozing in gum trees, and for its dedication to conservation, education, and hands-on wildlife encounters.Visitors can stand just a few feet from a kangaroo or hear a kookaburra’s sharp call, all while helping protect Australia’s most treasured wildlife.Number one.Back in 1947, local entrepreneur Alex Griffiths opened Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, giving visitors the chance to see kangaroos, koalas, and other native Australian animals in their natural surroundings.Over the years, the sanctuary has blossomed into one of the region’s favorite wildlife parks, where the chatter of parrots greets hundreds of thousands of visitors annually.Tucked away in the coastal suburb of Currumbin, the sanctuary sits only minutes from the Gold Coast’s wide, golden beaches.Covering more than 27 hectares, it offers the animals a mix of wild spaces, from shady groves to open grassy fields.Number two.Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary houses more than 1,000 native Australian animals, from koalas dozing in the gum trees to rare species fighting for survival.The sanctuary is split into sections, where visitors can watch bright-feathered birds flit through the trees, discover how each species lives, and learn what it takes to keep them safe.Among the sanctuary’s biggest draws are the koalas-soft-furred, eucalyptus-munching icons of Australia that visitors can’t wait to see.In the photo zones, visitors can cuddle a sleepy koala and hear how it feeds on eucalyptus leaves, moves through the trees, and what’s being done to protect it.At the sanctuary, you’ll find both freshwater and saltwater crocodiles, some basking in the sun with their jaws slightly open.Visitors can get close enough to watch these powerful predators lock eyes, then discover how they hunt, behave in the wild, and fit into the balance of the ecosystem.Tasmanian devils, now endangered by a contagious facial tumor disease, play a vital role in Currumbin’s conservation work, where their sharp growls echo through the sanctuary at dusk.The sanctuary runs breeding programs to keep this rare marsupial from disappearing, carefully raising joeys no bigger than a thumb.Emus: Australia’s towering, flightless bird draws crowds, its dark eyes watching as visitors snap photos.In the sanctuary, wide, open enclosures let the birds wander at will, their wings brushing against sunlit branches.Wallabies and Kangaroos: Stroll through wide, grassy paddocks where wallabies and kangaroos hop past at arm’s length, sometimes pausing to nibble clover in the quiet, open air.At the sanctuary, guests can hand-feed these iconic marsupials, feeling the soft brush of fur as they nibble gently in a calm, welcoming space.Birds of Prey: The sanctuary shelters a wide range of raptors-majestic eagles, sharp-eyed hawks, and silent, night-hunting owls.The free-flight bird show steals the spotlight, with hawks and eagles swooping overhead in a breathtaking display of speed and precision.Step inside the reptile exhibits to meet gliding lizards, coiled snakes, and other scaly residents, and discover how they shape Australia’s ecosystems and adapt to life under the harsh outback sun.Number three.At Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, you can step right into the action with a variety of animal encounters-feed a rainbow lorikeet from your hand, meet the wildlife up close, and take part in hands‑on activities that bring you face‑to‑face with nature.Among the top experiences is getting your picture taken while holding a warm, drowsy koala, one of Currumbin’s biggest draws.Visitors can stand just a few feet from a sleepy koala, then discover how conservation efforts help protect these treasured Australian animals.Lorikeet Feeding: At Currumbin, thousands of rainbow-bright lorikeets swoop into the sanctuary at dawn and again near sunset, their wings a blur as they crowd in for a noisy, sugar-water feast.Visitors can step right in and feed the lorikeets by hand, watching flashes of green and red flutter inches from their faces.If you love photography, Currumbin offers special wildlife sessions where you can learn to frame a kangaroo mid-leap or catch the soft glint in a koala’s eye, all in their natural surroundings.At the sanctuary, you can get up close to dingoes, echidnas, reptiles, and other creatures, even feeling the dry heat of a lizard’s scales in your hand.These encounters let you get close enough to see the whiskers twitch, while guides share insights about each animal’s habits, what they eat, and the conservation efforts keeping them safe.Animal Keeper for a Day: At Currumbin, you can join their hands-on “Keeper for a Day” program and spend hours feeding kangaroos or helping the staff care for the animals.Through hands-on work, you’ll learn how to feed and care for animals-measuring out seed for a parrot or cleaning a koala’s enclosure-while also gaining a close-up look at the conservation work that helps safeguard Australia’s wildlife.Number four.At the sanctuary, you can catch lively shows and join hands-on programs that share the story of Australia’s wildlife-from the rustle of a koala in the gum trees to the urgent call for conservation.One of the sanctuary’s biggest draws is the Free Flight Bird Show, where hawks and eagles sweep low over the crowd in a breathtaking display.The show lets you watch hawks slice through the air with razor-sharp turns while learning why these birds matter so much in the wild.At the sanctuary’s wildlife shows, you can watch colorful parrots swoop overhead while learning about Currumbin’s many species, the places they call home, and the sanctuary’s hands-on role in protecting them.These shows are fun and full of fascinating facts, giving you the chance to watch crocodiles snap, snakes coil, and dingo pups tumble and play.All day long, keepers share stories and put on demonstrations, showing how they care for the sanctuary’s animals-like the gentle way they brush a horse’s mane.In these sessions, you might meet a curious kangaroo, a sleepy koala, or even a smooth-scaled reptile, and get the chance to learn more about each species.Number five stood alone, like a quiet note in the middle of a song.At Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, the Conservation and Research team works tirelessly to protect endangered species, study their habitats, and keep their future alive-right down to the rustle of leaves in a safe enclosure.The sanctuary teams up with conservation groups and takes part in breeding and rehabilitation programs to help threatened species, from tiny tree frogs to wide-eyed owls.One key effort is koala conservation: the sanctuary runs research and breeding programs to protect this iconic Australian animal, now at risk from shrinking forests, illness, and other environmental pressures.Currumbin takes part in the Tasmanian Devil breeding program, working to keep this rare marsupial alive as a fast-spreading disease threatens to wipe it out.At the sanctuary, caretakers nurse injured and orphaned animals back to health, splinting broken wings and feeding tiny paws until they’re ready to return to the wild.
