Frommer's Australia from $50 a Day 13th Edition - To Parent Directory

THE GOLD COAST 351
in the hundreds twice a day for feeding. It’s quite an experience, as flocks of chattering
birds descend onto visitors holding trays of food for them. Photographers
go crazy and the tourists love it. These amazingly beautiful birds have a vivid green
back, blue head, and red and yellow chest. Lorikeet feeding is at 8am and 4pm.
Don’t miss it. You can also have your photo taken cuddling a koala, hand-feed kangaroos,
stroll, or take a free miniature steam-train ride through the park, and
attend animal talks and feeding demonstrations. An Aboriginal song and dance
show takes place daily. The park’s 27 hectares (67 acres) are home to 1,400 native
birds and animals, including two enormous saltwater crocodiles, and lots of native
birds are also drawn to the wetlands within the grounds. It also offers behind-thescenes
tours that take in the animal hospital and endangered-species-breeding area,
a birds-of-prey display, and nighttime tours. Allow several hours to see everything.
28 Tomewin St., Currumbin (18km/11 miles south of Surfers Paradise). & 07/5534 1266. www.currumbinsanctuary.org.au.
Admission A$22 (US$14) adults, A$14 (US$9.10) children 4–13. AE, DC, MC, V. Daily
8am–5pm. Closed Christmas and until 1pm Anzac Day. Ample free off-street parking. Bus stop 15m (49 ft.)
from entrance.
David Fleay Wildlife Park Value Established in 1952 by Australian naturalist
David Fleay, this is one of Australia’s premier wildlife parks. You’ll see a platypus,
saltwater and freshwater crocodiles, wallabies, kangaroos, glider possums,
dingoes, wombats, the rare Lumholtz’s tree kangaroo, and a big range of Australian
birds, including emus, cassowaries, wedge-tailed eagles, black swans, and lorikeets.
You walk on a series of raised boardwalks through picturesque mangrove, rainforest,
and eucalyptus habitats, where most of the animals roam free. The nocturnal
house is open from 11am to 5pm daily, and this is where you’ll see many of the
most elusive animals including Australia’s answer to the Easter bunny, the bilby.
Talks and feeding demonstrations throughout the day include a reptile show and
saltwater croc feeding—usually only October through April, when the crocs are
hungry. Aboriginal rangers give talks about weaponry, bush medicine, and their
links with this region. Volunteers also give free guided tours throughout the day.
The Queensland National Parks and Wildlife Service (QNPWS) has run the park
since 1983, but David Fleay continued to live here until his death in 1993.
Because the QNPWS frowns on handling animals you can’t cuddle a koala or
hand-feed kangaroos here. There’s a cafe, gift shop, and picnic tables.
West Burleigh Rd. (17km/11 miles south of Surfers Paradise), West Burleigh. & 07/5576 2411. Admission
A$13 (US$8.45) adults, A$8.50 (US$5.50) seniors and students, A$6.50 (US$4.20) children 4–17, A$33
(US$21) for a family of 6. MC, V. Daily 9am–5pm. Closed Christmas. Ample free parking.
CRUISING THE COAST
The Gold Coast is overrun with all kinds of cruise boats and sailing vessels clamoring
to take you out for a morning or a day on The Broadwater, a calm strip
of water between the mainland and The Spit, north of Surfers Paradise and Main
Beach. Wander down to Marina Mirage, off Sea World Drive, in Main Beach,
and take your pick from the many boats based there.
Two of the biggest companies are Shangri-La Cruises (& 07/5557 8888;
www.shangrila.com.au) and Island Queen Showboat Cruises (& 07/5557
8800; www.islandqueen.com.au). Both run a similar range of cruises, including
morning shopping forays to Sanctuary Cove Marine Village, seafood buffet
luncheon trips to Stradbroke Island, canal cruises to spy on the luxury homes in
the waterway estates, Polynesian or Vegas-theme dinner cruises, and transfers to
the theme parks. The boats have air-conditioned covered spaces, bars, and an
open-top deck. Expect to pay A$37 (US$24) for a 2-hour shopping cruise, and