Cairns Koalas & Creatures — Attraction in Cairns City

Holding a koala was a special experience, and the photo itself is lovely — although in one of our shots the koala had its eye closed, we know it was kinda of out of control but we weren’t given the option for a retake, which was a bit disappointing.

We were told by an employee named Daphne that my parents who don’t speak English would be able to watch the Mandarin version of the instruction video after the Japanese one. However, another employee came around and turned it off. When I requested the Mandarin version, she looked straight at our group — all Asian faces — and questioned what the request was for. Her attitude was extremely dismissive, and although she eventually played the video, she did so in such an unwilling way that it felt like I was asking for trouble.

I was told that families are usually photographed first, but instead we were scheduled at the very end. Later, when my husband and I were having our own conversation, she leaned over and interrupted to tell us she didn’t like what I was saying. This came across as very rude and derogatory, adding even more discomfort to an already unpleasant interaction.

For overseas travelers like my parents, this treatment was especially upsetting. We had looked forward to this experience for a long time, but instead of feeling welcomed, they felt singled out, and discriminated against.

Thankfully, Daphne noticed how uncomfortable the situation had become and did her best to make our experience better, which we truly appreciated.

The animals themselves are wonderful, but a more inclusive and respectful approach from all staff — especially in a travel town full of tourists — would make this visit a far more positive experience for...

My experience at Cairns Koalas & Creatures was incredibly disappointing and disheartening. This attraction is situated within a shopping mall, and unfortunately, the conditions for the koalas are far from ideal. The enclosure lacks fresh air, and the koalas appear stressed and overworked.

The process of interacting with the koalas is unsettling. They are continuously placed on tourists for quick photos before being swiftly passed along to the next visitor. Each koala must endure multiple interactions with up to 20 people in a sitting, resembling a conveyor belt experience rather than a compassionate encounter.

The atmosphere within the attraction was unpleasant, with a pervasive smell of urine. Most visitors seemed to be tourists, many of whom were pushy and lacked awareness of personal space and consideration for others in line.

Despite claims of being owned by a koala conservation organisation, the setup and treatment of the animals suggest otherwise. It's concerning that profit and tourist turnover seem to take priority over the well-being and welfare of these iconic Australian creatures.

There's a stark difference between raising funds for conservation and outright exploitation, and unfortunately, Cairns Koalas & Creatures leans towards the latter. If you genuinely care about koalas and their welfare, I would strongly urge reconsideration before supporting this...

Having visited Zoom a couple of times on previous occasions, we were disappointed to discover it had closed down but happy to see a link on their website to Koalas and Creatures.

The facility size is pretty small but makes up for it with its charming rainforest decor and adorable animals. The birds are a treat to watch as they interact with each other and occasionally fly over to greet their visitors. There is also a collection of various other reptiles on show too.

The highlight is the Koalas, which true to self are sleepy, but their cuteness means you could watch them for hours. We opted for the koala photo, which allows you to hold one of them whilst having your photo taken. An experience not to be missed by anyone from anywhere in the world.

The whole time, we were given information on the animals, their natural habitat, and particular habits from friendly, knowledgeable, engaging staff who never get bored of questions. The animals' needs and welfare is the top priority, which was great to see.

It's well...