Billabong Sanctuary

Hands down, Billabong Sanctuary was our favorite part of Townsville. We got there just before 10:00 a.m. (just in time to feed a Cassowary some grapes!), and ended up spending about 7 hours there! They have shows about every half hour, and many of the shows are interactive.

There are plenty opportunities to feed or interact with some of their animals. We got to feed a Cassowary, feed a river turtle, pet a Wombat, watch some huge crocodiles eat, hold (and have our teeth cleaned by…) a Rainbow Lorikeet, stand next to a massive Wedge-tailed Eagle, hold an Olive Python, and hold a little 8 year old Estuarine crocodile!

Here are some of our favorite pictures. Cheers!

Caesar – Estuarine Crocodile. Hatched at Hartley’s Creek Zoo in 1978.

Frill-Necked Lizard

Jupiter the Estuarine Crocodile – Over 1,000 lbs and estimated to be 60 years old.

She woke up!

Bush Stone-Curlew

Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo

Wanda, the Bare-nosed Wombat.

Sally! An 8 year old Estuarine croc.

River Turtle during feeding time. Eating some fish!

Jaws. Estuarine (salt water) Crocodile.

Plumed Whistling-Ducks

So sleepy zzzzz

Jaws bit his first three “girlfriends” on the head and killed them. His new girlfriend, Madonna, bit him when they were first introduced. They’ve gotten along well ever since!

Roxy, the Barking Owl. Their call sounds like a dog barking.

Koalas sleep up to 22 hours a day!

Fish, the Olive Python.

Cassowary – Australia’s largest land animal. We got to feed her grapes!

Snappy Tom, the Estuarine Crocodile, getting some food.

Eastern Water Dragon

“I am one with the tree,” Tawny Frogmouth.

Lace Monitor

A male Eclectus Parrot. The females are bright red and blue.

River Turtle