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Currumbin is a town on the Gold Coast which is best known for its beach and for its Wildlife Sanctuary, established in 1947.  The Sanctuary is similar in many ways to the Koala Sanctuary near Brisbane, in that it showcases Australian wildlife and has a number of presentations throughout the day.  It doesn’t have nearly as many koalas, but probably has more of other types of animals, and is larger and more developed.

A Wombat	Pacing Echidna (WMV Video, 8.4 MB)
Land Mullet	Freshwater Crocodile

It has a small passenger train (though not as small as the one at Tropical Fruit World) which can save a fair amount of walking when travelling from one part of the Sanctuary to another.

Connie and Bob on Train

The Train

There is also a large aviary (actually, the largest walk-through aviary in the southern hemisphere), a large area for communing with and feeding kangaroos, and a number of areas set aside for the wildlife presentations.

Nella in Aviary	Connie with Kangaroo
Kangaroo	Many Ducks

One of the presentations featured several examples of Australian wildlife (including a Death Adder which was turned loose to slither about on the stage).

Barking Dingo (WMV Video, 3.2 MB)	Death Adder
Shingleback, or “Two-Headed” Lizard	Monitor Lizard (WMV Video, 3.6 MB)
Tawny Frogmouth	Australian Possum

There was also a discussion of the resident Salt Water Crocodile (very large but not normally fed in the winter because of slow metabolism issues) and a mass feeding and discussion of the many kangaroos.

Salt Water Crocodile (WMV Video, 7.4 MB)	Fresh Water Crocodiles
Kangaroo Feeding Time (WMV Video, 9.0 MB)	Feasting Kangaroos

Not  wildlife but uniquely Australian, there is also an aboriginal dance and didgeridoo show. 

Musician Displaying Didgeridoo	Didgeridoo Demonstration (WMV Video, 16.7 MB)
Emu Dance (WMV Video, 14.6 MB)	Sing-Along (WMV Video, 7.4 MB)

The attraction for which the Sanctuary is probably best known, though, is the twice-daily lorikeet feeding.  Lorikeets are smallish rainbow-colored parrots which are native to Queensland (including the Gold Coast).  They make a lot of noise and are nectar-eaters.  Sanctuary visitors are given shallow metal pans which are filled from a pitcher with a somewhat thick, white nectar mixture to which the local lorikeets are very partial.

Lorikeet Feeding Sign	Preparing for Lorikeets (WMV Video, 6.7 MB)
Lorikeet Nectar	Waiting for Lorikeets

The idea is to hold the pan up high and wait for lorikeets to swarm in and consume the nectar.  Sometimes they’re more cooperative than at others, but when they’ve decided to favor you with a visit, there’s no mistaking the event.  They will perch on the pan, on your hands, on your arms, or on your head; this can leave little scratches all over you but makes for some distinctive photo opportunities.  You can take your own photos, or a roving Sanctuary employee will take one which you can purchase afterward.

Attack of the Lorikeets (WMV Video, 16.9 MB)	Connie and Lorikeet
More Lorikeet Attack (WMV Video, 6.6 MB)	Lorikeets in Tree

The Beach at Currumbin	The Beach at Currumbin (WMV Video, 11.8 MB)
Connie and the View North	Bob on Beach

An Echidna	Pacing Wombat (WMV Video, 10.0 MB)
Giant Staghorn Fern	Dingo and Presenter
Carpet Python	Carpet Python (WMV Video, 3.2 MB)
Shingleback, or “Two-Headed” Lizard (WMV Video, 7.5 MB)	Samson the Monitor Lizard
Monitor Lizard	Australian Possum (WMV Video, 1.4 MB)
Salt Water Crocodile	Musician Playing Didgeridoo
Aborigine Dance (WMV Video, 13.8 MB)	Aborigine Dancers
Emu Dance	Lorikeets in Tree
Lorikeet Attack!	View South from Currumbin
Wave Breaking on Rocks	Rocks

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