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 have adapted our schedule of shows and interactions to conform to social distancing requirements.
We continue 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
- Turtles
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, smile at a crocodile. 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 - KOALA FEEDING
This is the time of day when our koalas are most active, as Rangers feed them fresh gum leaves from our own eucalyptus plantation. Great photo opportunities as they clamber around their perches selecting their favourite tender green tips.
Watch for our two adorable joeys!
9:30 AM - TURTLE FEEDING
Have some fun at the edge of the billabong feeding mackerel skins to the Krefft’s turtles. Watch for the long-finned eels that churn up the water as they try to grab their share!
9:45 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 do to help them, and hand feed some grapes to Yarrabah and Hope.
10:00 AM - WOMBAT ENRICHMENT
The wombat is the largest burrowing mammal in the world! Join us at the southern hairy-nosed wombat enclosure to learn more about these awesome little diggers while they have a bit of fun with their toys.
Yala is a southern hairy-nosed wombat. Notice his soft fur– so different from that of Reuben our bare-nosed wombat.
10:15 AM - KOALA EXPERIENCE
We’ll open up either Koala Crescent or Banjo’s enclosure, just past the cassowaries.
Come on in and learn more about these adorable marsupials. Get up close for a selfie with Mallee or Banjo. (Sorry no pats allowed)
10:30 AM - SOUVENIR PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES
Join us at the Main Show Area for your souvenir photo with a koala, a wombat and/or a reptile (lizard , python or juvenile crocodile). Yes! You can hold a koala, or stand beside it and give it a pat for a pole photo. You’ll receive a print in a colourful folder, as well as a code for digital copies to share. **
11:00 AM - DINGO WALKABOUT
Rangers will do a lap of the billabong with our three friendly dingoes, stopping to greet families at the main show area for a chat and a photo opportunity. Meet King, Allira and Kalari. Give them a pat, and learn more about this misunderstood native animal.
11:15 AM - ROVING RANGER: Reptiles
Rangers will stroll throughout the Main Show Area with a snake or a lizard and even a baby crocodile! Meet one of our friendly native pythons, or perhaps feel the knobbly scales on Spike the shingleback lizard.
12:00 NOON - CROCODILE FEEDING and CROC HANDLING
The most exciting show of the day—a powerful saltwater croc explodes out of the water to snatch food from our Rangers! 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!
We then move on to feed some of our other enormous estuarine crocodiles. North Queensland is croc country. Learn how to stay safe while you enjoy our magnificent waterways.
Next we’ll visit Australia’s endemic species– the freshwater crocodiles. Up to 10 lucky visitors will be invited to feed our frisky little freshies– check with the ranger for details. It’s heaps of fun!
Finally, in case you missed it before, we’ll have a juvenile crocodile available for you to hold. Get a good close look at some of their amazing features. Great photo opportunity!
1:00 PM - FREE FLIGHT BIRD SHOW AND INTERACTION
Roxy the barking owl swoops over your head. Listen for his distinctive Woop-woop call! 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? Rangers might get Freeze to demonstrate!
The show ends with your opportunity to interact with some feathered friends. Rangers will bring out Scarlett the eclectic parrot or perhaps Ivy and Wattle, two cheeky little scaly-breasted lorikeets. Your chance to have a hold for some delightful photo opportunities.
1:30 PM -FREE TIME
This is your time to stroll around and visit some of the animals you may have missed.
Have a browse in our gift shop on your way out for a special souvenir or a little something for the folks back home.
2:00 PM - Park Closes
Thanks for coming. Hope you had an awesome day!
** Optional Souvenir Photo for a small extra charge.
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.
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.
