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.


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.

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.


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



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.


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



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.


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.



From the Wildlife Sanctuary we headed over to the beach. We stopped at Elephant Rock, where there are some rocks you can walk out onto for a nice view of the Gold Coast in both directions.




Connie and I gave this a try and enjoyed the view, but not for long – the sun was setting, and it was getting cold. Also, we wanted to get back and rest up for the next day, which would be a travel day. We were going to Sydney.