What it is
The park opened in 1970 as the Beerwah Reptile Park and grew into one of Australia's largest zoos, still run by the Irwin family. Alongside crocodiles it keeps koalas, kangaroos, wombats and cassowaries, as well as animals from Africa and Asia. The Crocoseum stadium hosts the daily wildlife show with free-flying birds and crocodile demonstrations.
The Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital nearby treats thousands of sick and injured native animals each year.
Getting there by bus
Route 615 between Maroochydore and Landsborough stops at Australia Zoo, directly at the entrance on the Steve Irwin Way; on some days route 649, a rail replacement bus between Caboolture and Nambour, also calls here. Trains on the Sunshine Coast line stop at nearby Beerwah and Landsborough stations.
Route 615 runs less often than the coastal routes, so it is worth checking the return times before the visit.
