Birthday Antics at Cairns Tropical Zoo

Explore FNQCairns

Jun 5

[UPDATE:] Cairns Tropical Zoo closed on 31 March 2016 with the land sold to a local developer. Many of the animals were relocated to other zoos and wildlife parks including Hartley's Crocodile Adventures, Kuranda Koala Gardens and Birdworld Kuranda. You can read more about the closure of the Zoo here via the Cairns Post >> Cairns Tropical Zoo to shut doors after 35 years.

A collective scream rose up from the crowd that had gathered around the crocodile enclosure at Cairns Tropical Zoo.

It wasn’t so much the sound of the Saltie’s jaws snapping as he lunged at the keeper (with chicken in hand), but more the amount of water he sprayed over us from just one tiny flick of his enormous tail. As I looked over at my daughters face I realised that I had found the perfect place to celebrate her 8th Birthday with a bunch of tweenager girlfriends.

So here’s my List on why Cairns Tropical Zoo rocked as a Birthday party destination:

No. 1 - Interactive Fun

From being splashed by a 4.5m+ saltwater crocodile to tickling an alligator’s tummy, to cuddling an oversized koala and feeding lazy kangaroos the girls had an absolute ball. There were plenty of shows going on to keep them fully entertained and thanks to this they also got to touch, feed and handle a variety of animals at the Cairns Tropical Zoo. Collecting stamps at the various enclosures kept them extra busy and they had a hoot posing for photos at the funny caricature displays that were scattered throughout the zoo

Cairns Tropical Zoo - Interactive Fun @adventuremumma.jpg

No. 2 – ‘Fabulous Habitats’

A direct quote from my daughter’s ‘Bestie’ whose mother has had quite a bit to do with Zoos in her past life - and I had to agree! The grounds and enclosures at Cairns Tropical Zoo are in great condition and well maintained. The paths are lush and tropical and walking around is a pleasurable experience. Throughout the park there are easy access points for people to see exactly what’s happening inside, and in many cases, get inside. The kids got a real kick out of all the open flight aviaries and enclosures that let them experience the animals up close and personal. And if you don’t want to do it at 100 miles an hour like my kids there are plenty of benches to sit on, and enjoy the opportunity to chill with the animals.

Cairns Tropical Zoo - Wildlife @adventuremumma.jpg

No. 3 – Happy Animals and Happy Staff

It was pretty obvious that all the staff you met were getting a real kick at being part of the Cairns Tropical Zoo experience. It was also obvious that the animals on site were fairly settled and experiencing little stress with having an audience nearby. I noticed that there were strict rotational guidelines for the koalas that were being handled and in all the enclosures there were areas for the animals to ‘hide’ when they needed some chill time. I also noted that you had to watch the kids like hawks to stop them ‘wandering’ into the no-go zones.

Cairns Tropical Zoo - Photo Opportunities @adventuremumma.jpg

No. 4 – Great Range of Deals on Offer

On entry we were informed that our ticket could be made valid for 2 more days. So if we wished to return during this time there would be no extra fees. This is great for young families visiting the area that may find a ‘whole day’ at the Cairns Tropical Zoo a bit too much for their little ones. It also means it’s easy enough to pop in again and catch another wildlife show if your child didn’t make it through the first time. The zoo also offers package deals with other popular Cairns activities so it’s worth doing some research to find out what suits you best.And for me the best thing about organizing a birthday party at the Cairns Tropical Zoo is that there was minimal planning required. Trust me I much prefer a game of pass the Koala over a game of ‘pass the parcel’ any day – plus there’s a whole lot less tears at the end of it :)

Good Things to Know:

Cairns Tropical Zoo specializes in animals from tropical zones.
There are opportunities to get your photo taken holding a variety different wildlife (koalas, snakes, crocs) but this will come at an extra cost.
If you do opt for a koala cuddle photo you need to be bigger than 120cm.
After handling the animals there are handwashing areas to eliminate germs.
There is a licensed cafe with a big open deck that features an extensive menu.
There are strollers for hire at the Cairns Tropical Zoo for a small fee.
Group bookings and Birthday Parties are welcomed.
If you are celebrating a birthday you can drop your cake at the cafeteria beforehand.
Local rates apply to Cairns residents.
A Wild Card Yearly Zoo Pass is available and will give you access to special discounts
Cairns Tropical Zoo is located 20 minutes north of Cairns, near Palm Cove