Paradise Country
Experience farm life at Paradise Country
Paradise Country is a unique farm experience, fun for families, great for kids and a very Australian outing if you have visitors from overseas. It's tucked in behind Warner Bros. Movie World and Wet n Wild Water World at Oxenford, on the Gold Coast. It provides an opportunity to experience farm life and gives a taste of the outback.
In addition to the range of varied attractions, your visit can include a traditional Aussie BBQ lunch in a spacious, rustic style restaurant. An annual pass, offering 12 months of unlimited entry, is now available too.
Paradise Country is a great family day out
So what is there to see at Paradise Country? The farm tour offers a combination of demonstrations to watch, animals to meet and things to do.
Demonstrations to Watch
Sheep Shearing / Ram Parade
The Sheep Shearing and Ram Parade is a fun show
Sheep shearers will introduce you to a number of Australian sheep breeds during the Sheep Shearing Show and Ram Parade. The entry and exit of these sheep to the stage is fun, as they career down an open ramp which runs right through the audience. The patter of the host is informative and full of humour. I did wonder if a number of overseas visitors might miss some of the information with his Australian accent and quick delivery.
Billy Tea & Stock Horse Show / Whip Cracking, Boomerang Throwing & Sheep Dog Roundup
The Australian Stock Horse is an extremely versatile and hardy horse
We were unfortunate to get caught in a summer downpour during our visit, despite starting out in full sunshine. The show went on, although a little curtailed by the rain, as the Stock Horse was unable to be put through its paces.
Whip crackin' good
However, I have to say the whip cracking display was very impressive. No wonder it moves cattle, when you hear that crack up close, it's certainly loud. The boomerang thrower did extremely well considering he was fighting against a very strong wind. The sheepdog braved the wet and gave a skilled demonstration of his rounding up ability and seemed to be enjoying it too. We watched the demo of how to make Billy tea, using an old can and some wire. The tea was really good and the damper very tasty.
Animals to Meet
Photographs with a koala are available
The koalas were true to form, looking cute and cuddly and at peak performance in their enclosure i.e. fast asleep - clever how they can sleep wedged in trees, without falling out. The Koala Photo Centre provides the opportunity tourists seek, to hold and be photographed with a koala (extra cost).
Paradise Country houses both Eastern Grey & Red Kangaroos
The kangaroos were lolling around in a comfortable mob, able to retreat behind a given line when they wanted some peace for themselves. Did you know that the little joeys are born the size of a peanut? They are blind, furless and their ears are not fully developed, yet by 12 months of age are fully independent of their mother.
The Aussie Farmyard is fun for little ones
The Aussie Farmyard is home to a range of animals including pigs, sheep & goats and the animal nursery feeding times let you get up close to baby animals of all shapes and sizes.
Things to do
Clancy's Opal MiningThere are a couple of attractions which require payment if you wish to take part. One is Clancy's Opal Mining which gives you a taste of opal mining, as you chip away at your allocated section of the mine wall, with your miners pick. I think you are able to discover your own opal but we didn't actually do this activity, as we chose the gold panning.
Gold & Gem Fossicking
Gold Panning
We bought a panning bag, took it to the sluices and the kids enjoyed "panning for gold". The water washes away the dust and pieces of gemstones appear in the box. My 9 year old was very impressed that she had found gold, well "fools gold" anyway but it was fun.
Kids enjoy discovering the gems in their panning bag
Plan Your Day / Buy Tickets
Map of Paradise Country
(Image courtesy of Paradise Country website)
In order to maximize your time at Paradise Country, check out the times of the various shows before you go. The demonstrations have 3 times scheduled throughout the day, so you can plan the order you would like to see things in. Little ones will also not want to miss the animal nursery feeding times. Click here for
Tour Times and here for the
farm map.
There are 3
admission options:
general admission, general plus lunch and an annual pass.
You need to purchase and print out your tickets before you go.
Booking online at MyFun also offers you a discounted price.
Location
(Image courtesy of Paradise Country website)
Click here for
Location and Access information.
