Show Times

The magnificent cassowary is the third largest bird in the world and is a keystone species in maintaining the health of tropical rainforests.

There are thought to be fewer than 4000 left in the wild! Join this talk and learn why they are so important, and what we can do to help them.

We’ll even invite you to hand feed a piece of fruit to Hope or Troppo!

The wombat is the largest burrowing mammal in the world!
Join us at Yala’s enclosure to learn why they burrow underground, and learn about the three types of wombat in Australia and why one is critically endangered.

You can also watch Yala have fun with his enrichment toys.

Only the rangers are allowed to hold the wombats.

Join us at the Main Show Area for your souvenir photo with a koala, and/or a reptile (lizard, python or juvenile crocodile).

YES! You can hold a koala or stand beside it for a pat, or koala on a branch photo.

A print of your koala experience in a colourful folder is included in the price, as well as a code for digital copies to share. 

• Photo of any animal Koala or crocodile or python $35
• 2 animal photo combo Koala or crocodile or python $60 (saving $10)
• 3 animal photo combo koala, crocodile, python $90 (saving $15)

In the interest of animal welfare,  there is limited availability and capped session times for koala photos, so we highly recommend booking your koala photo in advance to avoid missing out.

To secure your spot, please call our reception team on (07) 4778 8344.

Capture a special memory with one of our adorable koalas—book today!

ATTENTION PARENTS

For the koala’s safety, as well as that of our visitors, we are required to restrict koala handling to children over 1.4 metres in height (4.5 feet). A board is posted by the photo area for reference.

Meerkat ranger talk and feeding at the meerkat enclosure at 11:30. You’ll learn about these enchanting little members of the mongoose family as they munch on their mealworms and veggies. We’re sure you’ll agree: they are totally irresistible!

Sit with them in their enclosure, offer them some food—and be prepared to have them climb all over you and entertain you with their antics!

You’re welcome to take selfies, or hand your device to our ranger who will take photos of the fun you’re having!

This encounter would make the perfect gift!

Here’s everything you need to know about our Meerkat Encounter:

• Meet the Meerkats takes place every day (except Christmas Day) at 11:45 am and 2:00 pm
• Cost is $65 per person; maximum 4 people per session. Session is 15 minutes long
• Cost for the encounter does not include entrance to Billabong Sanctuary
  Minimum age is 8; children under 12 must be accompanied by paying adult
• Ring the front desk on (07) 4778 8344 to make a booking; once paid, no refunds are given. Walk-ins are permitted subject to availability on the day—just ask when you arrive!
• Participants must wear fully enclosed shoes (no thongs or sandals). We recommend you wear clothing which covers the arms and shoulders as the meerkats may climb up and perch on you—with the possibility of scratches.
• Accessibility: We will make every effort to accommodate guests with mobility issues. Note that to enter the enclosure you will descend a couple of shallow steps and walk across a metre or two of sand to sit either on a chair that we provide, or on a log that is low to the ground. Feel free to discuss your requirements when booking.
• Animal welfare: We want our meerkats to have a positive experience while you are enjoying the encounter. Please don’t pat them. Rangers reserve the right to terminate the interaction if there is an animal welfare issue.

The most exciting show of the day—a powerful saltwater croc explodes out of the water to snatch food from our Rangers! It’s the best croc show in Far North Queensland!

On weekends, the show starts at the Jawbridge over Krakatoa’s lagoon. At a massive 5.1 metres in length, he is the largest estuarine croc on mainland Queensland. Awesome!

On weekdays we give the big fella a break and feed our other enormous estuarine crocodiles. Meet our Rangers in front of Snappy Tom’s enclosure and they will guide you to the first location. North Queensland is croc country so learn how to stay safe while you enjoy our magnificent waterways.

We’ll also visit Australia’s endemic species– the freshwater crocodiles. These frisky little snappers jump clear off the ground to grab their lunch.

During summer months you can even join the fun - grab a ticket at Reception and for just $12 you can have the thrill of personally pole-feeding a freshie! Awesome!

Watch out bird show as Yasi the black kite puts on an amazing display of aerial acrobatics.

Freeze, the bush stone-curlew, trots around the show area, snatching up bits of food. Have you heard the curlew’s eerie night-time cry?

Can you spot Skwimm, the tawny frogmouth, on his perch nearby? Such amazing camouflage! Don’t worry if you can’t spot him, our Rangers will bring him down so you can get a closer look.

The show ends with an opportunity to interact with more of our feathered friends: Waru, our young red-tailed black cockatoo or maybe a cheeky lorikeet. This is also your chance to have a hold for some delightful photos.

We invite you to join us at the edge of the billabong to feed fish skins to our voracious Krefft’s turtles! They just can’t get enough.

But watch out for the long-finned eels, as they churn up the water trying to grab their share.

This is fun for kids of all ages and not one to miss.

Meet our  gorgeous dingoes  Rusty and Kirby.

Dingoes are amazingly intelligent, resilient native animals, yet they suffer persecution in most parts of their range.  Learn why they play a vital role as apex predators in terrestrial ecosystems.

Sit with them in their enclosure, offer them some food—and be prepared to have them climb all over you and entertain you with their antics!

You’re welcome to take selfies, or hand your device to our ranger who will take photos of the fun you’re having!

This encounter would make the perfect gift!

Here’s everything you need to know about our Meerkat Encounter:

• Meet the Meerkats takes place every day (except Christmas Day) at 11:45 am and 2:00 pm
• Cost is $65 per person; maximum 4 people per session. Session is 15 minutes long
• Cost for the encounter does not include entrance to Billabong Sanctuary
  Minimum age is 8; children under 12 must be accompanied by paying adult
• Ring the front desk on (07) 4778 8344
• to make a booking; once paid, no refunds are given. Walk-ins are permitted subject to availability on the day—just ask when you arrive!
• Participants must wear fully enclosed shoes (no thongs or sandals). We recommend you wear clothing which covers the arms and shoulders as the meerkats may climb up and perch on you—with the possibility of scratches.
• Accessibility: Meet the Meerkats is not suitable for guests with mobility issues, as you will need to go down a couple of steps, walk across sand and sit on a log that is low to the ground.
• Animal welfare: We want our meerkats to have a positive experience while you are enjoying the encounter. Please don’t pat them. Rangers reserve the right to terminate the interaction if there is an animal welfare issue.

This is a shortened version of the morning show as Rangers discuss some of the amazing features of these Australian icons, with the opportunity for some personal interaction.

Take a selfie with a koala, watch a wombat playing with his soccer ball, and hold some scaly critters: a lizard, a python or even a baby crocodile! This is one wildlife experience you don’t want to miss on your Townsville holiday.

Join us at the Main Show Area to purchase your souvenir photo with a koala on a branch, and/or a reptile (lizard, python or juvenile crocodile).

You will  receive a print of your souvenir photo in a colourful folder included in the price, as well as a code for digital copies to share. 

• 1 animal photo crocodile or python $35
• 2 animal photo combo crocodile and python $60  (saving $10)

In the interest of animal welfare, our afternoon souvenir photo session features a koala-on-a-branch photo only (no holding) for just $25.

              There will be limited availability and capped session times, so we highly recommend booking your koala photo in advance to avoid missing out.

             To secure your spot, please call our reception team on (07) 4778 8344.

Capture a special memory with one of our adorable koalas—book today!

Once again, Rangers coax our mighty estuarine crocs out of the water in an awesome display of speed and power as our crocs enjoy their afternoon feeding session.

North Queensland is croc country, so enjoy our Rangers presentation and learn how to stay safe while you enjoy our magnificent waterways.

Thanks for coming. Hope you had an awesome day!