The Crocodile Hunter

Thursday 24th July 2014

Today I took a reasonably long bus journey to Australia Zoo, home of Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter.  I picked today quite randomly based on the weather forecast and the other places I wanted to see in Brisbane but it worked in my favour as I unintentionally visited on Bindi Irwin's 16th birthday. Using the fashion of the moment, the theme of the day was animal onesies so a lot of the guests and all of the staff who weren't in contact with the animals were in fancy dress. 

As it was Bindi's birthday there were lots of special events happening throughout the day. Within half an hour of arriving Bindi was due to arrive along a red carpet. Before we saw her lots of handlers with different animals appeared. Other than the tigers, who just paraded past, they wandered back and forth along the waiting crowd and we were able to touch them all. 

Lots of unknown people arrived and walked along the carpet and had their photos taken and after a long wait, the Irwin family finally arrived. From such a distance away, I couldn't hear what she was saying from the stage and then she was mobbed by news cameras (one of the features I saw this evening back at the hostel). After over 90 minutes of waiting (and I nearly gave up!) she made it to me. She almost stopped at the people next to me but luckily I managed to beckon her back for an autograph and a selfie. 

In the Crocoseum I watched a band called Magic Carpet Ride who did covers of animal songs like The Eye of the Tiger, In the Jungle and Roar.  

Then it was time for the stunning Wildlife Warriors show. It began with a breathtaking display of birds which swooped round the stands. I could feel myself beaming like a small child as the brightly coloured lorikeets and macaws circled overhead. 

Then they bought some snakes round before Terri, Bindi and Robert Irwin came out. After Bindi was presented with a birthday cake, they began the croc show where Bindi and Robert fed the crocs. 

Worrying that I'd spent too much time watching shows instead of seeing the animals, I wound my way round the rest of the park. 

At last I plucked up the courage to stroke a kangaroo and they're as soft as they look. This was the third opportunity I had to stroke them them. Visions of them bouncing into me or punching me ran through my head every other time!

Towards the end of the afternoon, the birthday theme continued with a onesie parade where a couple of kids who must've been around 3 years old won the prize, dressed as a dragon and a lion. 

Then we got free birthday cake!

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So that concludes my unexpected day at Australia Zoo. What a day! The treats keep on coming and I feel incredibly lucky. 

When I was 5 years old, my mom always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down “happy.” They told me I didn’t understand the assignment and I told them they didn’t understand life. - John Lennon