Visit The Land Down Under At The Australian Outback Exhibit At The San Diego Zoo

I was invited to a media preview of the Australian Outback exhibit. All opinions are my own.

The San Diego Zoo is Koalafornia Dreamin’ thanks to their brand new and gorgeous Australian Outback exhibit which opened May 24, 2013. The 3-acre exhibit is home to 7 different marsupials (including the cuddly Queensland koalas, wombats and Parma wallabies) and 23 species of Australian birds (including the noisy kookaburra, bowerbird, palm cockatoos and Gouldian finches). The Australian Outback exhibit provides outdoor perches for each of the San Diego Zoo’s 21 koalas – including three joeys, which range in age from 8 to 10 months old.

The Conrad Presbys Australian Outback is a brand-new experience for animal lovers in which visitors can fully immerse themselves in  Land Down Under encounters. Walk through the Aboriginal-inspired totems to view 25 colorful bird species, then cross the roadway to the Queenslander House to get a Koala-Eye-View of the Koalas as they nap, eat and climb. Let the kids become Koala wannabes as they climb the Koala Klimber and grab a bite to eat at Sydney’s Grill and everyone will have a Australian good time.

The Queenslander House, the “hub” of the Australian Outback exhibit was built in the architectural reminiscent style of the houses in Queensland, Australia. The Queenslander House serves many purposes, from education in its dynamic classroom, displays about koala conservation, a window into the koala food prep kitchen, and information about Koala veterinarian care. It is from the the deck surrounding the Queenslander House that you’ll get the amazing Koala-Eye-View of the cuddly marsupials in their tree perches.

The San Diego Zoo has the largest breeding colony of Queensland koalas and the most successful koala breeding program outside of Australia. Staff at the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research are studying koala populations both at the Zoo and in the wild to better understand the species’ complex ecology, mating behaviors and health. The information gleaned from this work will help further develop conservation strategies for koalas. San Diego Zoo Global is also partnering with the Dreamworld Wildlife Foundation in Australia to educate people about the threats facing native koala populations.

My children and I had the opportunity to visit the Australian Outback exhibit at the San Diego Zoo and we love, love, loved it. We had the opportunity to walk through the Australian birds and see the adorable wombat, we got to see the sleepy Koala’s nestled in their shaded tree perches and we even got to check out the educational classroom. Inside the classroom, the kids were able to do crafts and see a Kookaburra bird up close. The noisy Kookaburra bird even had my daughter squealing with delight:

We had such a fantastic time at the Australian Outback exhibit that I want you to drop what you’re doing and order your tickets to the San Diego Zoo online. Right now. You MUST take your kids!