I'll admit that the entire time I've been here, I've been looking for kangaroos on the side of the road... unfortunately, no dice. When Sharleen mentioned the Australia Zoo, where I could see not only kangaroos but koalas too, I was all for it! It was about an hours drive to get there, and I had to catch this picture on Steve Irwin Way before we pulled into the parking lot at 10:30.
Right as you get inside the zoo, there's this statue of the Irwin family, and I was encouraged to be the stereotypical tourist and take a picture with them. Look at the beautiful sunlight!
We all thought the zoo was very similar to Disney's Animal Kingdom, aside from one big difference...
Some of the animals kinda just wander around. Like this lizard.
It was such pretty weather, I just can't get over that this is their winter! Sign me up!
Being in the Crocodile Hunter's zoo, of course there were lots of crocs around to look at.
And lots of weird looking native-to-Australia animals.
Like this bird. Apparently he's the most deadly bird on the island.
Prepare yourself for a koala overload, because I'm pretty infatuated with them!
They are just so cute and cuddly and fat and fluffy!
I sort of wanted to take one home with me.
Can we have a collective "awwww!" moment? They're just so adorable!
Next there were some random camels... who would have thought Australia has native camels?!
Steve is everywhere here. They have old videos of him talking about the eco systems and animal safety. They have posters of him all over, and some of them freaked me out they were so life like.
The show was awesome. They had birds flying all around the arena, and of course they had a massive croc grab food from one of the handlers. It was super cool to see.
We grabbed lunch afterwards and sat in the cafeteria area for a while, just talking and munching away. When we finished up, we went to head back out to the exhibits when Sharleen's mom points out TERI IRWIN walking down the stairs. She then goes on to shout "Teri! Hi! This girl's from the states, can she take a picture with you?" to which Teri replied, "well, sure!"
So in my excitement to get down the stairs and meet the Crocodile Hunter's wife, I fell down the cement stars.
I fell down stairs in front of an Australian celebrity.
It was so embarrassing, but I wasn't hurt and we took our pictures and I walked away with only a bruised ego.
I can just picture Teri going home to Bindi and Bob and say "I just met this clutzy American who fell down the stairs". I'm going to be that American girl who tripped down the stairs for the rest of my life.
After I collected my pride, we headed off to see, well, not only see, but touch kangaroos! I was like a kid in a candy store I was that excited. I'd never seen a kangaroo before, so my joy was spilling out of me! Pretty sure I squealed when I saw the first one lying in the sun.
As if my day could get any more exciting, I got to hold a koala!
It was magical, people.
Truly magical.
Though a little smelly. But that's not important.
After holding the Koala (who's name I have already forgotten) we headed off to feed elephants!
This picuture has no zoom whatsoever. They were just right in front of us, and we held out a piece of food and then he just grabbed it from our hands!
Got slobbered on, but it was worth it.
Forgive me, but I had to include another koala picture.
Seriously, my obsession runs deep.
Seriously, Sharleen and family, THANK YOU SO MUCH for bringing me to the zoo!
I got to PET a KANGAROO and HOLD a KOALA!
Does it get any more Australian than that?!
I say it does not!
Wow that does sound like a lot of fun! I kept thinking about a Big Bang Theory episode as I read about you and the Koala's. Amy talking to Sheldon says, "we both know that is your Koala face!" If you haven't seen that, you should.
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