Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary Entry Ticket Gold Coast

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary began in the late 1940s as a small bird garden where a local beekeeper fed the wild lorikeets that came to raid his flowers. Today it covers 27 hectares of eucalyptus forest, rainforest and open paddocks on the southern Gold Coast and is run as a not-for-profit organisation. The money from every ticket goes back into caring for wildlife, running conservation projects and educating visitors about protecting the natural environment.

The sanctuary also operates one of the busiest wildlife hospitals in the world, treating thousands of injured and orphaned native animals every year, from koalas hit by cars to sea turtles caught in fishing line. Large windows let you watch the vets at work, which many visitors find the most moving part of the day. Volunteers stand around the park to answer questions and suggest what to see next, so it is easy to plan your visit.

Koalas, kangaroos and the lorikeet feeding

For most visitors the highlight is the chance to see Australian animals up close. You can walk into the kangaroo paddock and hand-feed the grey kangaroos, meet koalas dozing in the eucalyptus trees, and spot wombats, Tasmanian devils, dingoes, cassowaries and crocodiles in their enclosures. Holding a koala and buying a souvenir photo is possible for an extra charge, and keepers explain how each species lives in the wild.

The wild lorikeet feeding is the moment that made Currumbin famous. At 8:00 and 16:00 dozens of rainbow-coloured lorikeets fly in from the surrounding forest and land on the heads and arms of visitors holding plates of nectar, for a small gold coin donation. With the sanctuary opening from 9:00, the afternoon feed is the one most day visitors join, so plan to stay until late afternoon if you can.

Shows, the Lost Valley and the Extinction Trail

Your ticket includes every show and presentation of the day. At the Wild Skies free-flight bird show, raptors, owls and parrots fly just above the audience and show their natural behaviours, and the Aboriginal cultural presentation shares dance, music and stories of the First Nations people of the region. Check the show times at the gate and build your route around them.

Beyond the main paths lie the themed areas. The Lost Valley takes you into a forgotten world of ancient plants and rare animals, with one of the largest walk-through aviaries in the southern hemisphere. The Extinction Trail is a forest walk past life-size dinosaurs and the giant megafauna that once lived in Australia, a favourite with children. Outback Springs recreates a slice of the dry interior, and the miniature train links the different corners of the park.

Planning your visit: opening hours and how to get there

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is at 28 Tomewin Street, Currumbin, about 30 minutes by car south of Surfers Paradise, less than 10 minutes from Gold Coast Airport and only a few hundred metres from one of the best surf beaches in the world. Buses along the Gold Coast Highway stop close to the entrance. The sanctuary opens daily from 9:00, and most visitors spend four to six hours inside.

To get the most from your Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary tickets, arrive at opening, see the morning shows, have lunch at one of the picnic grounds and stay for the afternoon lorikeet feed. You are welcome to bring your own food. Wear comfortable shoes, as the paths are long and some sections are not ideal for wheelchairs or strollers. The best time to visit is a weekday outside school holidays, when the paths are quieter.