ZOOS AND WILDLIFE PARKS

Unfortunately, your opportunities to view many of our wonderful and strange native animals in the wild are limited. Some, such as the magnificent cassowary, are quite elusive and timid. Others, like the tree kangaroo, are nocturnal. And others.... well, there are others that are best viewed in the safety of a zoo or wildlife park. I think you know what we mean. Luckily for you, Tropical North Queensland is brimming with world class wildlfie parks, where you can rub shoulders with all manner of our furry, scaly, and feathered friends.

ZOOS AND WILDLIFE PARKS ARE A GOOD WAY FOR EVERYBODY IN THE FAMILY TO DISCOVER AUSTRALIA'S FAUNA. SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THE MANY OPTIONS TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND OFFERS.

BILLABONG SANCTUARY
Bruce Highway , Townsville
Phone (07) 4778 8344 / Fax (07) 4780 4569

www.billabongsanctuary.com.au

Billabong Sanctuary is one of Australia's best interactive animal sanctuaries. Set on ten hectares of bushland, wetland and native eucalypt habitat, it offers a great opportunity to interact with native animals that inhabit this wildlife reserve.

Cuddle a koala, hug a wombat, observe a crocodile and wrap a python around your neck, you will never live another experience like it. And visit the 1.6 hectares billabong (aboriginal word for waterhole) if you want to get an insight of how waterbirds raise their young around the billabong.

CAIRNS TROPICAL ZOO
Captain Cook Highway, Palm Cove
Phone (07) 4055 3669 / Fax (07) 4059 1160

www.cairnstropicalzoo.com

It's the natural thing to do!

A visit to the tropical north wouldn't be complete without seeing some of Australia's fantastic wildlife up close. Just 20 minutes north of the city at Palm Cove, Cairns Tropical Zoo has exciting daily presentations featuring fabulous free flight birds, giant saltwater crocodiles, stunning snakes, adorable red pandas and so much more - including a mob of tame kangaroos just waiting to be hand fed. Souvenir cuddly koala photos are available for an extra cost. There are numerous opportunities during the day to get close, touch, feel, and make some new animal friends.

Cairns Tropical Zoo is now open every day from 8:30am to 4:00pm, so why not plan your visit to include breakfast or lunch. 'Breakfast Time at the Zoo' commences every day from 8.30am for groups and 9:00am for self drive visitors. Whilst enjoying your bacon and eggs or scrumptious Belgian Waffles, enjoy some very up close and personal animal time with one of the zoo's keepers.

CAIRNS NIGHT ZOO
Captain Cook Highway, Palm Cove
Phone (07) 4055 3669 / Fax (07) 4059 1160

www.cairnsnightzoo.com

A Great Australian Night Out!

Whatever your age or nationality, Cairns Night Zoo is a 'must do' for any holiday itinerary. Operating 7.00pm to 10.00pm five nights per week, (Monday to Thursday and Saturday nights), this dinner with a difference features a big dose of Aussie hospitality.

Dinner includes the famous Australian BBQ, salads, delicious desserts, and complimentary beers, wines, champagne and soft drinks. Enjoy live music provided by the resident musician, then it's off on the spotlighting tour. See crocodiles, koalas, birds, a possum or two, and some surprises. Enjoy Billy Tea & Damper with our Swaggie (an original Australian bushman), and meet some friendly kangaroos before heading back for more entertainment and some 'Hokey Pokey' - that's a dance! This is a night filled with good food, good folk, and good fun!

GRANITE GORGE
11 Harrigan Road, Mareeba (MAP)
12 kilometres from Mareeba
Phone (07) 4093 2259, a/h (07) 4093 2174

www.granitegorge.com.au

Looking into the future, but holding onto the past

For those who are fascinated by natural marvels, the privately owned Granite Gorge Nature Park is an unforgettable spectacle.

At Granite Gorge you can truly experience Australia's northern savannah wilderness. Like no other place in the world this awesome landscape stretches as far as the eye can see. Volcanic activity has forced up huge weird boulders shaped into animals. The sheer size of some of these boulders is overwhelming. The rocks form a breath-taking sight stretching out for over a kilometre. There are three walks of 1km each and smaller circuits that will stay in your memory forever.

Some of the activities include hand feed wallabies, birdwatching both during the day and during the night, and swimming in any of the numerous safe swimming holes that you will find at Granite Gorge.

AUSTRALIAN VENOM ZOO 8 Coondoo Street, Kuranda Phone (07) 4093 8905 Australian Venom Zoo has a great collection of animals here from the world's most venomous spider, to Australia's 5 most venomous snakes, to a variety if scorpions, centipedes, reptiles and insects. BATREACH Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre Coondoo Street, Kuranda (at start of Jungle Walk) Phone (07) 4093 8858 Open Tuesdays to Fridays and Sundays, from 10:30am to 2:30pm BatReach is a 'hospital' for injured and sick bats. Come and learn many more things about Flying Foxes and help the organisation keep on doing their excellent job taking care of them. BIRDWORLD KURANDA Rob Vievers Drive, Kuranda Phone (07) 4093 9188 Home to more than 75 different species of birds from all over the world, Birdworld Kuranda can proudly admit being Australia's largest collection of free flying birds. Some of the diverse Australian species include bright regent bowebirds, stilts and, of course, the endangered Cassowary. CAIRNS WILDLIFE SAFARI RESERVE PO Box 598, Kuranda Phone (07) 4093 7771 Set amidst 200 acres of dry Savannah and where the rainforest meets the Outback of Australia, Cairns Wildlife Safari Reserve has the largest lion pride in Australasia. The zoo offers a wide array of experiences for adults and kids alike, including an African night. CAIRNS WILDLIFE DOME 35-41 Wharf Street, Cairns Phone (07) 4031 7250 / Fax (07) 4031 5265 Cairns Wildlife Dome isn't a typical zoo or a wildlife park as such, but a spectacular all-weather wildlife exhibit enclosed by a 20 metre high glass dome. You'll be immersed in a replicated rainforest environment, surrounded by birds, where you can see crocs, frogs, turtles and many more. DAINTREE MANGROVES WILDLIFE SANCTUARY Daintree Phone (07) 4098 7272 The Sanctuary is a great day out from Port Douglas or Cairns for families, individuals and groups wanting to see, touch and photograph wildlife set within wetland reserves and purpose built aviaries with first class amenities for your comfort.

HARTLEY'S CROCODILE ADVENTURES Captain Cook Highway, Wangetti Phone (07) 4055 3576 / Fax (07) 4059 1017 Hartley's is famous for its exciting and educational wildlife presentations including crocodile shows, wetland wildlife, snake show, cassowary feeding, koala feeding and more. Open 8:30am – 5:00pm. KURANDA KOALA GARDENS Rob Veivers Drive, Kuranda Phone (07) 4093 9953 Open every day from 9:00am to 4:00pm You don't want to leave without having cuddled a koala, do you? Ok, then the Kuranda Koala Gardens are the place to visit. Wallabies, fresh water crocodiles, lizards, pythons and other animals also live here. JOHNSTONE RIVER CROCODILE FARM Flying Fish Point Road, Innisfail Phone (07) 4061 1121 / Fax (07) 4061 6202 Huge display of crocodiles. Education guided tours explaining the breeding, survival and farming of these impressive reptiles are available. There are other animals such as cassowaries, kangaroos, wallabies and birds. RAINFORESTATION KURANDA Kennedy Highway, Kuranda Phone (07) 4085 5008 Open from 9:00am to 4:00pm everyday (except Christmas Day) The Rainforestation Nature Park is a 40 hectare tourist attraction. Whether it is just for an offsite dinner and outings or for the whole family, Rainforestation offers three main attractions, that represents a great experience for everyone. RAINFOREST HABITAT WILDLIFE SANCTUARY Port Douglas Road, Port Douglas Phone (07) 4099 3235 / Fax (07) 4099 3100 Open daily from 8:00am to 4:00pm The park features four different and unique habitats of North Queensland: rainforest, wetlands, woodlands and grasslands. You can wander through the boardwalks and discover a great array of animals and trees in their natural habitat. AUSTRALIAN BUTTERFLY SANCTUARY 8 Rob Veivers Drive, Kuranda Phone (07) 4093 7575 / Fax (07) 4093 8923 At the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary, you have the opportunity to wander through a beautiful rainforest environment especially designed with the needs of butterflies in mind.