Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary began in 1947, when the beekeeper and flower grower Alex Griffiths started feeding the local rainbow lorikeets to draw them away from his crops. The site opened to visitors as the Currumbin Bird Sanctuary, and Griffiths later gifted it to the National Trust of Queensland in 1976. Today it is a not-for-profit attraction covering bushland and creek frontage on both sides of the Gold Coast Highway, and it is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register.

The lorikeet feeding remains the best-known sight. Wild lorikeets descend at 8am and 4pm every day, and this session is free, with no ticket or booking needed. Inside the paid sanctuary you can see koalas and other native animals, a reptile and nocturnal species den, aviaries and the Lost Valley precinct, opened in 2017, which brings together animals such as red pandas and binturongs. A miniature railway, running since 1964, links parts of the grounds and is popular with younger children.

For older children and adults, the TreeTop Challenge has more than 100 aerial obstacles in the canopy and is included with the Experience Pass. Paid encounters, such as Breakfast with Koalas and Koalas by Twilight, give closer access to the animals, and the Croc Wetlands area houses crocodiles and alligators. Astra Lumina, an illuminated night walk through the bushland, offers a reason to come back after dark. The site also includes the Currumbin Wildlife Hospital, which treats injured and sick native animals.

The sanctuary suits families above all, but it is also a good choice for overseas visitors wanting to see Australian wildlife in a setting that feels less like a theme park. Allow at least half a day. Arriving for the 8am lorikeet feeding and then going in when the gates open at 9am makes an efficient morning. Wear comfortable shoes, bring a hat and water in summer, and check the shows schedule on the website when you arrive.

The sanctuary is open from 9am to 4pm daily, with last admission at 3:30pm, and it closes on Anzac Day and Christmas Day. The sanctuary is on Tomewin Street in Currumbin, and the heritage-listed grounds include a 1972 octagonal kiosk with a mural by the artist Hugh Sawrey. In 2020 its frog-breeding facility became the first to breed the critically endangered Kroombit tinker frog in captivity.