The Australia Zoo is an amazing place. The employees are very helpful and obviously enjoy their jobs – the main message of the zoo is conservation. There’s a lot of opportunities to get close to the animals with showtimes, photo sessions, wandering wildlife (with a keeper), and the main show at the Crocoseum.

We arrived at the zoo at 9 (when they opened) and spent the whole day wandering around until we left at 4:15 p.m. (they close at 4:30)

Our first goal was to get my photo with a koala, so we went to the wildlife photo area after checking out the croc pens. I got to cuddle “Ash” – a 2 year old male koala and he was so soft and cuddly. Can you tell I really enjoyed the experience? I wanted to smuggle him home but the keepers were watching too carefully.

While we were waiting for the photo session to start, we spotted this

reticulated python in a pen nearby – she’s 7 metres long and weighs 150 kg. and she hasn’t finished growing yet.

After the photo, we checked out a few more of the enclosures and then headed to the Crocoseum for a fun-filled, informative show called the Wildlife Warriors Show. There were birds (flying and swimming), snakes, elephants and,

of course, a crocodile. John got too close to one of the crocs

– luckily he managed to escape. Actually we did get close to one croc – it was a baby that was being shown around by the staff – we had a photo taken but it’s in print form so you’ll have to wait to see it.

We finally found the wombats – one of the keepers was “exercising” one of them by playing tag.

He was so cute (the wombat in case you’re wondering which he I was talking about). The next animal we really wanted to see were the echidnas – and they didn’t disappoint. They kind of waddle when they walk (I took a lot of video with my camera but can’t post them because they’re too big).

Just before we left, we headed for the Cassowary enclosure again – they had been hiding in the back when we were there at the beginning of the day. We could spot one of them moving around so we waited (along with another couple who were from Sudbury, Ontario) and our patience was rewarded.

He came right up to the feeding bucket in front of us.

It was a great day and definitely a place to visit if you’re in the area.

Temperature: 21 C – sunny with cloudy periods