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Go Backpacking > Destinations > Oceania > Australia > Cairns Tropical Zoo

Cairns Tropical Zoo

January 29, 2008 By Dave

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Red panda

I visited the obligatory zoo when I was in Cairns. I missed the Steve Irwin Australia Zoo, which is spoken highly of in The Lonely Planet, so I was overdue. It felt like a small zoo, however given all the animals felt exotic, I easily spent 3 hours there (in the 95 degree heat).

Inland Taipan

I caught the snake show, which featured the world's most venomous snake (the Inland Taipan). Michael said the hill they lived on was crawling with them, though they'd never seen one (just pythons that stretch across the street, among other creatures!).

Cuddling a Koala Bear

Cuddling a koala bear was a mandatory photo-op!

Feeding time for Sarge the crocodile

And of course I had to watch the crocodile feeding. Sarge was a monster of a croc!

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Filed Under: Australia

About Dave

Dave is the Founder and Editor in Chief of Go Backpacking and Feastio. He's been to 65 countries and lived in Colombia and Peru. Originally from New York, Dave now calls Austin, TX home. Find him on Instagram and Twitter.

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Comments

  1. crambox says

    January 29, 2008 at 3:45 pm

    Dave those pictures are excellent! What was your favorite part/animal? How was the aquatic wild life did they have any large fish/wales?

    • Dave says

      February 1, 2008 at 1:33 pm

      I’d have to say the crocodile feeding was my favorite part – very cool to see it live. Cuddling the koala bear was a close second though. They didn’t let me hold onto it long – his body was super soft and furry, and the claws had a tight grip on me!

      I’d say it was a small zoo by the standards I’m use to. They didn’t have any fish…certainly no whales! The whales aren’t migrating past Australia at this time so that activity wasn’t an option.

  2. crambox says

    January 29, 2008 at 10:45 am

    Dave those pictures are excellent! What was your favorite part/animal? How was the aquatic wild life did they have any large fish/wales?

    • Dave says

      February 1, 2008 at 8:33 am

      I’d have to say the crocodile feeding was my favorite part – very cool to see it live. Cuddling the koala bear was a close second though. They didn’t let me hold onto it long – his body was super soft and furry, and the claws had a tight grip on me!

      I’d say it was a small zoo by the standards I’m use to. They didn’t have any fish…certainly no whales! The whales aren’t migrating past Australia at this time so that activity wasn’t an option.

  3. Sara Kerns says

    January 29, 2008 at 9:27 pm

    I can’t believe you got to cuddle with that sweet soft gray koala bear. I am enormously envious.

    • Dave says

      February 1, 2008 at 1:30 pm

      Yep, me and a bunch of Asian women. I cannot find Americans for the life of me!?

  4. Sara Kerns says

    January 29, 2008 at 4:27 pm

    I can’t believe you got to cuddle with that sweet soft gray koala bear. I am enormously envious.

    • Dave says

      February 1, 2008 at 8:30 am

      Yep, me and a bunch of Asian women. I cannot find Americans for the life of me!?

  5. Kango Suz says

    February 1, 2008 at 3:53 pm

    If you haven’t noticed, the American dollar isn’t exactly up to traveling right now. May be why you can’t find Americans. That and we’re a country of work-a-holics. *grins as she looks forward to putting in another very long day*

    That picture of you with the Koala is amazing. Little scary though to think that the hill where you’re staying is home to the most venomous snakes ever. But then again you’ve got a thing it seems for the creepy crawlies and slithering things.

  6. Kango Suz says

    February 1, 2008 at 8:53 pm

    If you haven’t noticed, the American dollar isn’t exactly up to traveling right now. May be why you can’t find Americans. That and we’re a country of work-a-holics. *grins as she looks forward to putting in another very long day*

    That picture of you with the Koala is amazing. Little scary though to think that the hill where you’re staying is home to the most venomous snakes ever. But then again you’ve got a thing it seems for the creepy crawlies and slithering things.

  7. Kango Suz says

    February 1, 2008 at 8:53 pm

    If you haven’t noticed, the American dollar isn’t exactly up to traveling right now. May be why you can’t find Americans. That and we’re a country of work-a-holics. *grins as she looks forward to putting in another very long day*

    That picture of you with the Koala is amazing. Little scary though to think that the hill where you’re staying is home to the most venomous snakes ever. But then again you’ve got a thing it seems for the creepy crawlies and slithering things.

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