Your Ultimate Guide To Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary

Some days on the Gold Coast belong to the surf and the skyline. But some of the most unique and memorable days happen tucked away in the picturesque hinterland fringe of Currumbin, where the beloved and iconic Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary has been weaving its magic since 1947.

That's when beekeeper and floriculturist Dr Alex Griffiths first began feeding the wild rainbow lorikeets on his property, initially just to lure them away from his prized flowers. Word got out, and what began as a humble act of connection between a man and his birds quietly grew into one of Queensland's most treasured institutions. Nearly eight decades later, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary spans 27 hectares of eucalyptus groves and rainforest, welcoming close to 600,000 visitors a year. And the lorikeets are still front and centre.

Natural Wonder

What strikes you immediately when you step through the gates at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is the sheer scale of it. Not in an overwhelming way, but in a ‘worlds within worlds’ kind of way. There's so much to do, and yet it never feels crowded, rushed or chaotic. Smooth, even pathways wind through the grounds, making it genuinely easy to navigate with prams, wheelchairs, and little legs. The bush surrounds are lush and tranquil, the sound of birds always present, and the canopy offering welcome shade as you wander from one experience to the next.
And there are so many experiences to choose from.

Feed Rainbow Lorikeets (No Ticket Needed)

Twice a day, the skies above Currumbin erupt in a blaze of colour as hundreds of wild rainbow lorikeets descend for their famous feeding. Here's the part that surprises most people: you don't need an entry ticket to witness it. Simply turn up, grab a tray of nectar, and prepare to be absolutely covered in determined, chattering, gloriously-plumed birds. It's one of those experiences that transcends age. Toddlers dissolve into giggles, grandparents reach for their cameras, teenagers forget to be cool. The tradition is as old as the sanctuary itself, and it still delivers every single time.

 

Handfeed Kangaroos

Included in your entry ticket is access to the kangaroo feeding area, and honestly, this alone is worth the price of admission. What often catches visitors off guard is just how chilled out the kangaroos are. These languorous, velvety-soft creatures will eat right from your palm, snooze right at your feet and welcome a vigorous back scratch. 

Children especially can tend to go quiet as they match the energy of the space. If they stay hyped however, never fear. The roos aren’t phased by kids at all, and the kindly keepers are always at hand to provide gentle guidance on your interactions. (Note: any roos who grow tired of the attention can hop over to the “no humans” spots for a bit of a rest at any time.) 

Koala Experiences at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary

Experience koalas like never before as you wander through a purpose-built, immersive habitat – a tranquil sanctuary designed to bring you closer to these sleepy eucalyptus lovers in a natural, welfare-first environment. This isn’t a typical photo-op; it’s a slow-paced walk where you can observe, not intrude, capturing breathtaking moments as Koalas lounge and snooze among the treetops. Along the way, knowledgeable Wildlife Keepers will share fascinating insights into how Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is protecting this treasured species for generations to come.

Other Aussie wildlife you’ll discover on your journery through the park: dingoes, endangered Tassie devils, emus, birdlife and crocs, too – fresh and saltwater alike, some at seriously impressive sizes!

Lost Valley

One of the park's most atmospheric worlds is the Lost Valley - a cool, dimly lit rainforest setting where mist drifts through the trees, clear waterfalls chatter and the feeling of stepping into another world is immediate. 

This is where you'll find the lemurs, peering at you with their enormous eyes as they nibble happily on carrots, and the capybaras, who are currently having a full-blown viral moment on social media. These huge, placid, impossibly endearing creatures are every bit as adorable in person as they are on your reels. A red panda and Cotton Top Tamarins are an enchanting sight too.

Up Close Animal Encounters

For those who want to get even closer, paid animal encounters are available throughout the park. Think cotton-top tamarins, tree kangaroos, goats, llamas, and many more, including the aforementioned capybaras. These intimate experiences are run by knowledgeable keepers who bring genuine passion to sharing insights about each animal's natural habitat, behaviours, and conservation status. 

If you've ever wanted to glimpse a nocturnal creature, Repturnal World is one of your rare chances. Set in a darkened cavern environment that replicates nighttime conditions, this precinct reveals animals you would otherwise never otherwise find. From smooth and sleepy to sharp and skittery, the exotic animal friends on offer are fascinating – and occasionally creepy - in the dimness.

Daily Shows & Presentations

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary puts on multiple free shows throughout the day. The WildSkies bird show is a standout. Huge, brilliantly coloured exotic birds zoom around just above your head while expert presenters share fascinating facts about each species. It's interactive, it's exhilarating, and you may even feel the breeze of a macaw wing as it passes just above you.

The Aboriginal cultural show is on 3pm daily - don't miss this unique, moving and memorable insight into First Nations culture. Members of the Yugambeh Aboriginal Dance Group perform traditional songs, stories and dance drawn from their heritage and connection to Country that stretches back 60,000 years.   

Treetop Challenge

Look up as you wander through the park and you may spot brave souls hurtling through the treetop canopy on the Treetops Challenge, a high-ropes and zipline adventure that gets the heart pumping from a bird's-eye vantage point. Watching from below is entertainment in itself, and tickets are sold separately, if you develop FOMO from watching all the fun.

Miniature Train

When little legs need a rest, the charming park train is your best friend. Departing from multiple points around the sanctuary at regular intervals, it's a delight for young ones and a genuinely lovely way to see the grounds from a different perspective. No rush, no hurry. Just the park rolling past at a gentle chug.

Wildlife Conservation

Behind the joy and the spectacle, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is doing serious, important work. The on-site wildlife hospital, founded in 1989, offers a free community service, treating, rehabilitating, and releasing sick, injured, and orphaned wildlife. Specialist veterinarians and their teams work year-round, and their contributions to world-leading conservation research programs extend well beyond the Gold Coast. 

Visitors can observe the hospital in action, and for many it proves to be one of the most moving experiences of the day - a reminder that this place has always been about something more than tourism.

Activities For Kids

Currumbin goes out of its way to make this day magical for children at every turn. The Extinction Trail is a must-do. Wind through a path lined with growling life-size dinosaur replicas that loom from the undergrowth, then let the kids loose on the fossil-digging sandpit. Gem panning is another hit, where little ones can sift and fossick for sparkling stones to take home as treasure. 

The splash park is perfect on a warm day, and the enclosed playground means parents can sit for a few minutes while kids cool off.  There are kid-friendly presentations like the Dino-Mite Explorer Show and Blinky Bill’s Stage show.

At every turn there are informative – sometimes interactive – boards and plaques that provide details about pretty much every animal and experience on offer. It’s just as much a learning experience for the grown ups as it is for the little ones.

Food & Drink

There are a choice of dining options when hunger strikes including casual café dining, burgers, ice cream and The Homestead, which offers sit down dining and kid-friendly dining in a gorgeous old Queenslander overlooking Kangaroo Country. The candy store and the gift shop, stocked with gorgeous native animal plush toys, are both delightful ways to round out the visit.

The Sanctuary After Dark – Astra Lumina

At night-time the sanctuary lights up with Astra Lumina - enchanting self-led experience that takes you along a 1.5km trail through beautiful bushland and towering trees, illuminated by lanterns, LEDs, lasers and projections. The immersive, multi-sensory adventure transports you to a cosmic wonderland, with soundscapes that echo through the bush, and nine mesmerising installations that glow, shine and sparkle. Astra Lumina is open on Friday and Saturday nights from 5.45 - 9pm (extra days during school hols).

A Gold Coast Icon

It's worth noting that Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary's excellence hasn't gone unrecognised by the industry. The sanctuary claimed Gold at the Queensland Tourism Awards in the Major Tourist Attraction category for three consecutive years before being inducted into the prestigious Queensland Tourism Awards Hall of Fame. Recently, Tourism and Events Queensland’s Best of Queensland honour has seen Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary receive a Gold rating, indicating that the park offers up not only an experience of the highest standard to visitors, but also does so while meeting the industry’s best practice standards.

Whether it's your first visit or your fiftieth, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary delivers a day that's genuinely unlike anywhere else. Come for the lorikeets. Stay for everything else.