Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is a 27-hectare wildlife park at 28 Tomewin Street, Currumbin, on the southern Gold Coast, with more than 1,000 animals, daily shows and a lorikeet feed that is free without a ticket. It is about 75 minutes by car from the Brisbane CBD and about 25 minutes from Surfers Paradise.
A day pass covers the koalas, kangaroos, crocodiles, the Lost Valley rainforest walk, a splash zone for kids, hop-on miniature trains and a timetable of keeper talks and shows. Koala encounters, the TreeTop Challenge and food cost extra.
Koalas, kangaroos and the animals to see
The sanctuary is laid out in named zones, including Koala Country, Kangaroo Country, Reptile Country, Lorikeet Country, Pelican Country and Lost Valley. The Koala Nursery keeper talk runs daily at 11:45 am.
Elsewhere you will find dingoes, echidnas, bilbies and quokkas at Quokka Nook. Outback Springs is a small farmyard with llamas, chickens and mini goats, where kids can also pan for gemstones.
For more wildlife days out, see Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Brisbane, Australia Zoo on the Sunshine Coast and, closer by, David Fleay Wildlife Park beside Tallebudgera Creek.
Croc Wetlands and Lost Valley
Croc Wetlands
Croc Wetlands holds freshwater crocodiles, American alligators and a large saltwater crocodile called Boss Hog.
Lost Valley
Lost Valley is a 5-acre rainforest walk themed on the ancient supercontinent Gondwana. You will see ring-tailed lemurs, red pandas, capybaras, cotton-top tamarins and a binturong, plus walk-through aviaries with more than 100 birds from about 20 species.
Two keeper talks run here daily: the Lost Valley Rainforest Talk at 1:15 pm and the Lost Valley Boardwalk Talk at 1:30 pm.
Free lorikeet feeding
Wild lorikeet feeding happens daily at 8 am and 4 pm at the Lorikeet Arena. It is free, needs no booking and no entry ticket, and gold coin donations are welcome. The 8 am session starts an hour before the gates open at 9 am.
Shows and keeper talks
All of these are included with entry and need no booking:
- 9:30 am: Billy Tea Presentation at the campfire at Outback Springs
- 10:00 am: Pelican and Eel Show
- 10:15 am and 12:30 pm: Blinky Bill Stage Show
- 10:45 am and 2:15 pm: WildSkies Bird Show
- 11:45 am: Koala Nursery Keeper Talk
- 12:00 pm: Tasmanian Devil Keeper Talk
- 3:00 pm: Ngari-bah Aboriginal Culture Show
There are more talks through the day, including the radiated tortoise, the Kroombit tinkerfrog and the Dino-Mite Explorer show. Times can change, so check the Shows and Times page on the day. Some shows may be delayed or cancelled in wet weather.
For kids: splash zone, miniature trains and dinosaurs
Wild Island Adventure Splash Zone is a water play area with timed water jets, so pack a change of clothes and a towel.
The miniature trains are included with entry and run daily, hop-on and hop-off, between four stops. The sanctuary’s miniature railway was built in 1964, and a red steam train runs once a month.
The Extinction Trail is a walk past dinosaur and megafauna replicas, and the Art Trail winds through the bushland.
Koala encounters, TreeTop Challenge and Astra Lumina
These cost extra, on top of entry:
- Koala Connections Experience: a slow-paced guided walk through a purpose-built koala habitat, from $39 a person (about $33 for members), entry not included. Sessions are capped at 12 people and each includes a professional candid photo. Children under 13 must be with a paying, participating parent. Touching the koalas is up to the keeper and is not guaranteed, and prams stay at the briefing area.
- Breakfast with Koalas: a set breakfast with the koala keepers and one photo with a koala in a tree, from $129 including all-day entry. You cannot hold the koala.
- TreeTop Challenge: a high-ropes course with more than 100 challenges, including 14 ziplines. The Experience Pass, which covers entry plus the course, is from $100.
- Astra Lumina: an illuminated night walk through the bushland, from $30, separate from the day pass. It runs on Fridays and Saturdays, with extra nights in school holidays. The trail is about 1.5 km and takes 60 to 90 minutes.
A short history of Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary
Alex Griffiths, a bee and flower keeper, began feeding wild lorikeets at his Currumbin home, and the sanctuary opened as the Currumbin Bird Sanctuary in 1947. He gifted it to the National Trust of Australia (Queensland) in 1976, and it was renamed Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary in 1995. It was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register in 2009.
The sanctuary describes itself as a not-for-profit. Its wildlife hospital, first set up in 1989, has admitted more than 14,000 animals, including more than 500 koalas.
Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary tickets and opening hours
The sanctuary is open from 9 am to 4 pm every day, with last admission at 3:30 pm. It is closed on 25 April and 25 December. It stays open in light rain and may close in severe weather, in which case ticket holders are notified.
A single day pass costs $70 for an adult (18 and over), $55 for a concession and $50 for a youth (3 to 17 years). Children under 3 are free. Concession tickets are for pensioners, seniors, veterans and students, and online bookings add a 1.75% fee. The day pass includes the daily shows, keeper talks and miniature trains. It does not include encounters, the TreeTop Challenge, food or photos.
An annual membership costs $125 for an adult, $100 for a concession and $75 for a youth, and includes free parking, so it pays for itself on a second visit for an adult. Carers of Companion Card and Hāpai Access Card holders get free general admission. Buy tickets and check current prices on the sanctuary’s ticket page.
Food and drink at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary
There are six places to eat on site: the sit-down Homestead, the Sanctuary Cafe near the main entrance (with the Aussie Scoop Ice Cream Parlour inside), Wild Burgers and Wild Waffles and Candy Store near the Blinky Bill stage, and Conservation HQ near the wildlife hospital entrance.
You can also bring your own bottled water, snacks and picnic food, but no alcohol or glass bottles. Picnic areas include The Pavilion, Turtle Deck, Outback Springs and the lawn next to the Extinction Trail, and none need booking.
Is Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary dog friendly?
No. Only certified assistance dogs are allowed inside, and they cannot enter areas with direct animal interaction. Proof of certification and vaccination is required, and the sanctuary asks you to email [email protected] first.
Accessibility and prams
The 27-hectare grounds have concrete, paver, stone, timber and sand paths, and the main route is bitumen, cement or pavers. Steeper sections are signed before they begin, and the sanctuary asks you to call (07) 5534 1266 for gradient details.
There are eight reserved accessible parking bays near the entrance. The Sanctuary Gifts entrance has level access. The cafe entrance has moderate grading and is not recommended for unaided wheelchair use. Restrooms are at the entrance, with wide cubicles in selected areas, and an accessible toilet with a shower is at the TreeTop Challenge amenities. Baby care rooms are in key spots through the grounds, and the main one is at the Wild Burgers amenities. There is no Changing Places facility on site. The closest is at John Laws Park public amenities in Burleigh Heads, and it needs a key.
Prams and wheelchairs can be hired for a small fee from the Visitor and Member Services booth near the Lorikeet Arena, or you can bring your own. Scooters, bikes and skateboards are not allowed. Low-flying aircraft from Gold Coast Airport can be loud and sudden, which matters for kids who are sensitive to noise.
Planning your visit
- How long: a half day covers the main sights; make it a full day to fit in several shows, the splash zone and the trains.
- Best time: arrive at 9 am to fit in the most shows, as the daily timetable runs from 9:30 am to 3 pm.
- Cost: entry plus $10 parking, then extras. Food is not included.
- What to bring: water, a hat, sunscreen, a change of clothes for the splash zone and an umbrella if rain is forecast. Umbrellas are allowed.
- Toilets: restrooms at the entrance, an accessible toilet with a shower at the TreeTop Challenge, and baby care rooms through the park (see the park map).
Getting there and parking
By car, the sanctuary is at 28 Tomewin Street, Currumbin. From Brisbane on the Pacific Motorway, take exit 95 (Stewart Road, towards Currumbin and Tugun), follow it to the end, turn sharp left onto the Gold Coast Highway, then turn right at the lights onto Tomewin Street. It is about 95 km and about 75 minutes by car from the Brisbane CBD, about 17 km and 25 minutes from Surfers Paradise, and a short drive from Gold Coast Airport.
The sanctuary car park is open from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm and costs $10 per car for the day. It is free for Queensland National Trust members. There is also some 2-hour street parking nearby.
By bus, Translink route 700 (Tweed Heads to Burleigh Heads) has a “Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary” stop, and the sanctuary says buses stop directly out the front. There is a taxi rank at the entrance. Plan your trip with the Translink Journey Planner or call 13 12 30.
The sanctuary’s own site is currumbinsanctuary.com.au, or call (07) 5534 1266. Details can change, so check before you go.
Nearby
- Currumbin Rock Pools – a creek swimming spot with picnic tables up Currumbin Valley.
- Tallebudgera Creek – the creek beside David Fleay Wildlife Park, a short drive north.
- Burleigh Heads National Park – a short rainforest circuit and headland views.
- Kirra Beach and Coolangatta – patrolled beaches at the southern end of the coast.
- Things to do on the Gold Coast – more days out when the kids still have energy.
Browse more zoos and wildlife parks or everything on the Gold Coast.
Quick answers
How much does Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary cost?
A day pass is $70 for an adult (18 and over), $55 for a concession and $50 for a youth (3 to 17). Under 3s are free. Parking is $10, and online bookings add a 1.75% fee.
What time does Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary open and close?
It is open 9 am to 4 pm daily, with last entry at 3:30 pm. It is closed on 25 April and 25 December.
Is the lorikeet feeding free?
Yes. Wild lorikeet feeding is at 8 am and 4 pm daily at the Lorikeet Arena, free and with no entry ticket needed. Gold coin donations are welcome.
Is there free parking at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary?
The sanctuary car park costs $10 a day, and it is free for Queensland National Trust members. There is also some 2-hour street parking nearby.
Can I take my dog to Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary?
No. Only certified assistance dogs are allowed.
Can I take a pram or bring my own food?
Yes to both. You can bring your own pram, or hire a pram or wheelchair for a small fee, and you can bring snacks, picnic food and bottled water, but no alcohol or glass bottles.
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