By The Beach #4

And now for something completely different...

Well, not completely, but certainly a change from the endless blue vistas & bright sunshine of the previous three installaments. Rainy weather forced us to rethink our itinerary & become veritable tourists in our own state, joining in with the school holiday throng to visit Currumbin Wildife Sanctuary for the first time in twenty-five years! 

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Dress: Camp Hill Antiques vintage linen, wool embroidery

Cardigan: Metalicus knit

Ankle Boots: Renee Loves Frances leather, silver zippers

Bag: Homestore Ashgrove cane, vinyl

Bangle: Gift, vintage carved soapstone

Ring: Thousand Island Dressing shell

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Posing with Blinky Bill (the first of many) wearing another beautiful bohemian ensemble - a gorgeous black linen Mexican midi dress covered in white wool floral embroidery that I picked up from a stall at Camp Hill Antique Centre, white knitted longline cardigan from Metalicus to ward off the chill in the air without adding unncessary bulk, tan leather ankle boots with silver zippers from Renee Loves Frances that are progressively "beat up" & "worn out" enough to evoke all those wild-west-inspired-hippie fantasies & a white cane circular crossbody bag from Homestore Ashgrove to carry all the essentials while keeping my hands free to immerse myself in all the interactive activities on offer. Jewellery was kept simple for the same reason - a single vintage carved soapstone bangle that my younger brother gifted me for my birthday last year & a chunky shell "cocktail" ring from Thousand Island Dressing in Paddington.

Scroll down to see how the rest of the day unfolded...

For those who are unfamiliar, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is a heritage listed zoological garden that is home to native mammals, reptiles, birdlife & amphibians as well as several exotic species from other countries around the world including lemurs, capybaras & red pandas. Built in 1947 by Dr Alex Griffiths, a beekeeper & flower grower who created a small-scale lorikeet feeding display that quickly garnered the attention of both tourists & locals. By 1964 when the famous model railway was created, the number of diverse animals being cared for by the sanctuary had grown exponentially. The park was gifted to the National Trust in 1976 to be run as a not-for-profit social enterprise, enabling the Currumbin Wildlife Hospital to be built in 1989 which now treats over 10,000 sick & injured animals each year. 

Koala Cuddling Experience

"I'm Blinky Bill, my whole life's a thrill

I do exactly what I want, I'm Blinky Bill"

Constricted

Inside Blinky Bill's Treehouse...

Free Flight Aviary

Narrow Gauge Railway

Pelicans

Kangaroo Feeding

Feeling like an extra in Steven Speilberg's Jurassic World as I enter the Lost Valley...

Iguana

Tree Kangaroo

Red Panda

Capybaras

Lemurs

Chinese Pheasant

Chinese Ducks

Crocodile

Enclosed Aviary

Echidna

They put up signs now...

(Long story)

Koalas

Riding the Narrow Gauge Railway...

Finishing with a spot of Aussie-themed lunch: 

Salt & Pepper Calimari with Quinoa Salad followed by Hot Chips with Bush Tomato Sauce

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Entry to Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary also gives the purchaser free entry into the Surf World Surfing & Beach Culture Museum next door, which we perused before we left. If you love surfing & surf culture or have an affinity for the beach, this is a must-see destination; a hidden gem with a ukelele display that really puts a smile on your face.