Australia Zoo

Thanks to our sponsor ( Nicola)  we have just spent a wonderful day at Australia Zoo.  If you have read  Pete's ramblings you will know that we got there before the gates opened at 9 am and where one of the final families to leave at 5.30pm.

We spent some one on one time with the Red Panda's.  We feed them fruit salad and patted their lovely thick fur.  They are so cute and adorable we wanted to take them home with us.

Australia Zoo is so BIG  with so many animals to see.  You might remember our friend the bush turkey from Dorrigo well he has followed us up the highway and was there throughout the Zoo.  I did not know but he scratches up great piles of dirt, bark and leaves to make a mountain of a nest to impress the lady turkey's.  I was impressed and wanted to curl up in the turkey nest after following James into a cave and whacking my head on the roof.  I have had a sore head all day.

We watched the Crocodile show in the Crocoseum.  This was brilliant and you might be surprised to learn that I enjoyed the birds that participated much more than the crocs.  We saw Toucans, Macaws, Wedge Tailed Eagles,   a big bird of prey that I cannot remember but may have been a vulture or a Preregin Falcon.

We also watched the keepers at play with two 10 month old Tiger cubs.  This was brilliant they where so playful.  The Tigers jumped into a pool and swam about, there was a window under the pool so you could see their whole body swimming under the water.  I did not think Tigers liked water being part of the cat family but there you go.

All day long Grace and I where on the watch for Bindi but unfortunately we did not spot any of the Irwin family.   Grace would like to go back on thursday when there are big celebrations at the zoo for Bindi's 16th Birthday.  Grace was very disappointed she did not get to see Bindi.  James was full of questions about Bindi's dad and how they got to have a zoo.

We finished the day by a visit to the Wildlife  Hospital that is attached to the zoo.  We watched through the window as a wallaby was operated on and had his leg bandaged up.  We also saw a lizard that had been brought in that was being weighed.  The hospital was built by Steve in memory of his mother.

What a wonderful bloke Steve Irwin was and what a legacy he has left behind.  We should all strive to leave the world in a better place in our own way.

Thank you again to our friend Nicola for a great day.