Activities guide
Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary: Lorikeets, Lost Valley and a Day Plan
By the ParadiseGrove editorial team · Last checked 9 September 2026
Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is a day out for people who want wildlife to be the main event: wild lorikeets at the entrance, keeper presentations, a miniature railway and the rainforest habitats of Lost Valley. It is south of Burleigh in Currumbin. Make room for the train ride and a keeper talk as well as the animals you came to see; four to six hours is a useful planning allowance with lunch.
The lorikeets: start or finish with the birds
The wild lorikeet sessions run at 8am and 4pm in the arena near the entrance, according to the sanctuary’s visitor information. Birds may land on feeding plates, people and belongings. That is the appeal of the experience, but it can also be a lot for a child who dislikes flapping wings or birds close to their face.
Choose the morning session if you want to make an early start; it is before the main sanctuary opens at 9am. Alternatively, finish a longer visit with the 4pm feeding. These are wild birds, so numbers differ between sessions. Keep electronics protected from the sticky feed and let children watch first if they are unsure about participating.
Lost Valley: more than Australian wildlife
Lost Valley adds a rainforest walk with species including ring-tailed lemurs, red pandas, capybaras and cotton-top tamarins. Look for the lemurs’ striped tails and the capybaras’ water-side habitat. The sanctuary explains that lemurs use their tails to keep track of their troop, while capybaras have partly webbed feet—a couple of details for children to look out for as they explore.
The five-acre precinct takes its theme from Gondwana. Its rainforest and boardwalk keeper talks add the conservation stories behind the animals; choose one and explore the surrounding habitats before or afterwards.
Use the train and timetable to shape the day
The miniature railway is both an attraction and a way of getting around the grounds. For families, it gives the visit a change of pace between walking and watching animals.
At arrival, choose two or three priorities from the daily programme. The current programme includes WildSkies Bird Show, a koala nursery keeper talk and Lost Valley talks. Start with one timed presentation, explore nearby habitats, break for lunch and put Lost Valley in the afternoon. Use that day’s session times to put the stops in order.
Is a full admission ticket right for you?
A full visit makes most sense when animals and keeper presentations are a priority for your group. If you only have a spare hour, a local headland walk is a more realistic choice than rushing through the sanctuary. General admission and paid encounters are different products: choose an extra because you specifically want it, not because it appears alongside the ticket.
Check the total for your ages and date in the official booking system. Our four-to-six-hour allowance includes breaks and is a planning suggestion, not a claim that everyone needs that long. For smaller children, choose fewer highlights and finish while the day is still enjoyable.
Getting there from Burleigh
Use 28 Tomewin Street as the destination, rather than a general search for Currumbin Valley. The sanctuary’s visit page links parking and transport information. Compare the door-to-door public-transport trip with driving, including parking and the return leg.
Bring water, sun protection and comfortable walking shoes. For mobility or sensory requirements, the detailed accessibility page is useful because it describes particular areas, including the lorikeet arena. Hours above were checked on 9 September 2026; confirm date-specific maintenance before booking.