I just realised I haven't shared this with you guys yet! I went to Australia Zoo in January this year on Australia Day, it was amazing! Here is my recap:
My day started by waking up at 4.45am so I could get ready and put my pets out. I got dressed in full on Aussie clothes; I had an Australia flag shirt, Aussie shorts complete with boxing kangaroos, a hat with Aussie flags around it and Aussie flag earrings. I also had my Steve Irwin watch on, but that's just because I like it.
We got to the bus station a bit before 6am and it is a good thing we did because my ticket said the bus would leave at 6.15am but actually ended up leaving right on 6am. I was half asleep on the bus and it seemed like it was taking forever to get there especially when we were only about an hour away from the zoo the bus driver decided we needed to stop for a break (I thought this was a little pointless since the trip only takes two and a half hours). But after that the time flew and before I knew it we were driving past Aussie World (which meant we were minuets from the turnoff) and were on Steve Irwin Drive! And in no time we were at the zoo! When we got there the bus drove straight up in front of the ticket counter (so great not having to find a park) and we were able to walk straight through (another good thing because the lines were so long!)
The first thing we saw in front of us was the memorial statue of the Irwin family (the one unrevealed Steve Irwin Day 2007) it is such a beautiful statue since it was only 9am and the zoo had just opened not many people were in yet so I was able to get a photo with it. Next to that was a keeper holding a baby crocodile that I got to pat (it's skin felt like rubber). After that we walked over the alligator bridge and headed for the Crocoseum but before that we stopped and had some free tea and damper (very nice). One of the staff members here told me that there was a little 9 year old girl there that day for her 29th visit!!!
Once we got into the Crocoseum we found some seats, I went for a walk by myself around for a bit into the kids zoo and saw the goats (that were all sitting on tables), sheep, pigs (so cute) and cows. Outside of that they had special guests from a lama farm, the lamas were so soft to pat). I then went for a walk behind the Crocoseum to look at the memorial set up for Steve, all the shirts were still hung up with some artwork but all the things that were previously on the ground were gone. Back there I also saw the birds that are used in the show flying around in their cage that is built into the Crocoseum (the first time I have ever noticed it!). I then went for a walk under the eatery and saw the jeep they use in the show and in an area where they screen Crocodile Hunter videos they now have hung up khaki shirts signed by famous people who have worn them with their photo (there were a lot of famous people!). There was also the Harley Davison on display that the zoo is auctioning of on their website. Next to the Wildlife Warrior office they now have a glass cabinet set up with all the art work and gifts that people gave in memory of Steve (the things previously with the shirts), it was so beautifully set up and there are some amazingly talented people that contributed.
After that I went back to the Crocoseum because it was time for John Williamson!!! It was so good seeing and hearing him live. He played for about half an hour and said goodbye, the guy hosting the zoo show came out and said "ohh no there's still more of John" (maybe not those words but you get the idea) and he came back out again and played for over another half an hour. He was accompanied by Warren H Williams. After that was the usual wildlife show that started with the elephants coming out carrying Aussie flags then the snakes, the birds and finally the crocs (it was my first time seeing it without an Irwin doing the demonstration). After that was lunch! The eatery was absolutely packed and took forever to get anything. After lunch we caught the shuttle up to the Elephants where the handlers were explaining how they train them by getting them used to being touched but the elephants were more interested in playing in the dirt. We walked over to the tigers and saw one tiger having a rest right in front of the glass and another one playing with a keeper before also falling asleep. We were going to catch a shuttle but by this stage the lines were so long we thought it would be quicker to walk so we headed back and went through the Kangaroo area and got to pat a kangaroo (most of them were having an afternoon nap). By this stage we only had about an hour left so we decided to start doing some shopping. The shops at the zoo are amazing; they literally have everything and more. I went insane when I saw the wildlife warrior shirts, it was the first time I had seen them and there were heaps of different designs. There were also new Australia Zoo shirts that looked really nice. And in each store they had a big Bindi stand full of all Bindi merchandise. After that I went to the other side of the zoo and saw the camel (normally there is two but one had disappeared), the Tasmanian devils (that run round and round in circles), sleeping foxes, baby koalas (getting new gum leaves put into their area), dingoes, turtles (that kept popping their heads out of the water) and cassowaries. I then made my way to the snake and wombat area only to discover the wombat area is being renovated so the wombats had to be temporarily relocated further up the track. By the time I got there only one was still out eating and the others were napping in their beds. To finish the day off I did one more bit of shopping at the shop that exits the zoo.
I walked out of the zoo and sat down and about five minuets later by bus pulled up and at 3.50pm we left (even though the bus driver himself said in the morning we were leaving at 4pm – I think he needs a new watch!). Before that though I went to take a photo of the welcome sign at the zoo and one of the staff standing near it saw me pointing a camera that way and started jumping up and down and calling out – he was so funny! I had an amazing day at the zoo and was so glad I took the bus because I was so worn out! We stopped (an hour after leaving) at the same place as the morning but most people were sleeping. We got dropped off a bit after 6.30pm after a very big day, or should I say a beaut day out!
Photos:
http://picasaweb.google.com/Snickals/AustraliaDay2008AustraliaZooVideos: I have a couple on youtube already and will be adding some more in a little bit
