If you have always wanted pick up a koala, feeding a kangaroo, walking with a dingo, or holding a baby crocodile, the Billabong Sanctuary 20km from Townsville on the Bruce Highway, this is the place for you.
The park is open daily from 9.00am to 16.00pm, is built around a large lake filled with duck and swan-like animals and turtles, and also includes various outdoor dining areas, a children's pool, and a reception with bar and souvenir shop.
He is one of the few Australian bioparks and here, unlike the zoos, including the highly rated one in Sydney, the animals are not in cages, they have areas dedicated to them but they can roam free for the entire extension of the sanctuary. Except for i six crocodiles, divided two by two into three ponds with considerable space around them, so as to recreate their natural environment, snakes and dingoes, which Australian legislation considers wild dogs imported by the first settlers and therefore dangerous for the local fauna. "I'm in the enclosure to be protected from men“, Laura told us during the visit, who arrived in Australia as a tourist because she was in love with its nature and has been a guide of the Billabong Sanctuary for five years.
In addition to the animals already mentioned, in the biopark also live colorful parrots, emus, echidne, similar to large porcupines, lizards of all sizes, red kangaroos of central Australia. You can observe them by moving freely in the park or by following the appointments established by the guides, who dedicate a good half hour to each species of explanations on its peculiarities and habits, then having the animal in question touch, caress, take the arm of the animal in question. they feel like it.
It could be your only chance in life to cuddle a koala, don't miss it. In the case of crocodiles, on the other hand, there is the moment of the meal, which for them is also a bit of physical exercise. In fact, to get to the prey, the park guides make them raise them from the water up to three meters. The admission price is 32 AUD for adults, but there are five dollars discount for Backpackers, and if for some reason you have to leave earlier or if you haven't had enough, you can also return the following day without paying anything, just by having a coupon issued at the reception before leaving.
Billabong Sanctuary is a real one oasis of peace and tranquility for the animals and the fact that they are never frightened by visitors proves that the way they are managed and cared for within the park is excellent. On the site all information and show times. A trip to Australia isn't complete without observing the incredible variety of local wildlife and this is definitely one of the best ways to do it.
