Show Times
INTERPRETIVE SHOWS, FEEDING AND HANDLING
At Billabong Sanctuary, our Rangers are passionate about our amazing native wildlife, and they want to share that passion with you. We are proud to offer Australia’s best interactive wildlife experience. Interpretive shows throughout the day showcase Australia’s unique animals:
- Cassowaries
- Koalas
- Wombats
- Crocodiles
- Lizards
- Snakes
- Parrots
- Birds of Prey
- Dingoes
WILDLIFE TALKS AND SHOWS
We want you to get up close to these awesome creatures, and to appreciate their special place in nature, but we also want you to have fun! Feed the free-ranging kangaroos and ducks, cuddle a koala, tickle a wombat, pose with a python. It’s all about putting YOU in the picture. Get as close as you want, or just sit back and enjoy the show!
9:15 AM - KOALAS + KANGAROOS FEEDING
Great photo opportunities as our Rangers feed fresh gum leaves to the koalas, and our friendly free-ranging kangaroos enjoy their morning meal.
10:00 AM - CASSOWARY FEEDING
The magnificent cassowary is the 3rd largest bird in the world, and is a keystone species in maintaining the health of tropical rainforests. There may be fewer than 4000 left in the wild. Learn what we can all do to help them, and hand feed some fruit to Yarrabah and Hope.
10:30 AM - TURTLE + BARRAMUNDI FEEDING
Have some fun feeding our Krefft’s turtles, and learn a bit about the history of our very own billabong. Watch the barra churn up the water as Rangers toss some pellets to these popular local freshwater fish [during the cooler months only].
10:45 AM - WOMBAT EXPERIENCE**
Tickle a Wombat’s Toes!
The wombat is the largest burrowing mammal in the world! Learn all about these awesome little diggers. Then come up and give Wanda a pat, or purchase a souvenir photo holding Reuben on your lap!
11.15 AM - KOALA EXPERIENCE**
Why do koalas sleep for most of the day? What is their closest Australian relative? Learn the surprising answers to these questions, then get up close for a selfie with a koala in Koala Crescent, or purchase a souvenir photo as you cuddle one of these endearing marsupials, or stand beside it and give it a pat for a pole photo. Billabong Sanctuary is one of the few places in the world where you can hold a koala!
12.00 NOON - REPTILE EXPERIENCE**
From the safety of the reptile pit, our expert rangers will showcase one of our venomous snakes, as well as our local pythons. You will then have the chance to get up close with some of our lizards, pythons, and even a baby croc! Handling is free, but you can also purchase a souvenir photo holding the baby croc, or one of our huge but friendly native pythons.
1.00 PM - CROCODILE FEEDING
The most exciting show of the day—a powerful saltwater croc explodes out of the water to snatch food from our Rangers! North Queensland is croc country. Learn how to stay safe while you enjoy our magnificent waterways.
2.00 PM - FREE-FLIGHT BIRD SHOW
Gunther the barn owl swoops silently over your head. Yasi the black kite puts on an amazing display of aerial acrobatics. Meet a curlew and a tawny frogmouth and pose for a photo with one of our cheeky parrots.
2:30 PM – TURTLE FEEDING + TURTLE RACES
Have some more fun feeding those Krefft’s turtles, then cheer on your favourite racing reptile in the ever-popular turtle derby. The winner gets an extra chunk of fish skin!
2:45 PM – DINGO EXPERIENCE
Dingoes came to our shores over 18 000 years ago so can be regarded as native animals. Yet they are widely persecuted. In this newly-expanded show, learn more about his misunderstood native animal. Then have a pat and pose for photos with King, Allira or Kalari, our own friendly dingoes. (No extra charge)
3:15 PM – CROCODILE FEEDING
If you missed this spectacular show earlier, here is your chance to see the mighty estuarine crocs in action as they power out of the water for a feed. It’s a thrilling spectacle!
3.45 – PM WOMBAT EXPERIENCE **
Tickle a Wombat’s Toes!
The wombat is the largest burrowing mammal in the world! Learn all about these awesome little diggers. Then come up and give Wanda a pat, or purchase a souvenir photo holding Reuben on your lap!
4:00 PM – KOALA EXPERIENCE **
Come and meet one of our koalas in Koala Crescent—you can get up close for a selfie!. You may also purchase a souvenir photo at the photo hut. Our rangers are available to answer your questions about these awesome Australian icons.
4:20 PM – REPTILE EXPERIENCE **
Here’s your chance to get up close to some of these fascinating creatures. You can also purchase a souvenir photo with a reptile of your choice.
4:40 – KANGAROO FEEDING
Our friendly free ranging kangaroos gather round the feeder for their afternoon meal. They tend to seek out a shady spot to sleep during the heat of the day, so this is another great opportunity to get up close for a pat and some photos.
** Optional Souvenir Photo for a small extra charge. A portion of all proceeds supports Magnetic Island Koala Hospital.
ATTENTION PARENTS:
For the koalas’ safety, as well as that of our visitors, we are required to restrict koala handling to children over 1.4 metres in height (4 1/2 feet). A board is posted by the photo area for reference.
Children who do not meet this requirement are still welcome to join Mum and Dad or big brother and sister for a family photo.
And over in Koala Crescent, another of our friendly koalas sitting on a branch will happily pose while you take a selfie or while your friends or family take your photo.
