Crikey! Bindi is in the running for the 'Awesome Aussie' award at this year's Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards, so kids get set to cast your vote!

Following on from her win as the 'Biggest Greenie' for the last two years - last year sharing the honours with Robert - Bindi is up against Rove, Tim Cahill and Torah Bright in the special 'Awesome Aussie' category.

Bindi's nomination has followed a ripper year, having released her first feature film, Free Willy: Escape from Pirate's Cove, and her books, Bindi Wildlife Adventures, all the while spreading the conservation message and showing kids how they too can make a difference.

Voting for the special category of 'Awesome Aussie' is open only during the last week of voting, so get set to cast your vote from Monday 20 September until Sunday 26 September. Kids can vote as many times as they like online at www.nickelodeon.com.au.

Winners will be announced 8 October at the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards.

Shows related to this zoo news:
Kids Story Time
 
Australia Zoo Wildlife Warriors
 
Kids Zoo Talk
 

From a very young age our magnificent group of Sumatran and Bengal Tigers have been meeting and greeting guests from around the world.

Everyday you can go behind the scene for a private photo with one of our tigers in the magnificent Tiger Temple. If it's adventure you're after - you can take a walk on the wild side with our tigers as they explore the bushland surrounding the Zoo.

Both experiences give you the chance to spend some quality time with the most amazing animal on this planet. Our Sumatran Tiger juveniles love to explore, our regal Bengal Tigers love the attention and our adult Sumatran Tigers provide a truly unforgettable experience.

An Australia Zoo tiger encounter is ‘a must' for anyone who loves big cats. It's also perfect for birthday, Christmas or anniversary presents. Our tigers have even witnessed a few marriage proposals on their daily strolls.

While giving people an unforgettable experience, a tiger encounter at Australia Zoo is the best way to make a difference to tigers in the wild. Proceeds from each tiger encounter go directly towards tiger conservation projects in an effort to rescue this magnificent species from extinction. Tiger conservation projects also help protect other species which share their habitat including Orangutan, Asian Elephants and many other small cats and endangered primates.

Since 2004 Australia Zoo has raised close to one million dollars through guest tiger encounters to help protect tigers in the wild.

So if you love tigers and want to get involved and help make a difference - book your very own tiger encounter today!

With just three months left of the 2010 Whale Season, time is running out to jump aboard Steve's Whale One for an adventure of a lifetime.

The weather is perfect, the water is clear and the whales are more active this season than ever before! Everyday the gentle giants ‘wow' the crowds with amazing acrobatics and breath-taking encounters. Wooo-hoo!

Cruise the spectacular coastline of Queensland's Sunshine Coast aboard our luxurious 115 passenger catamaran - Steve's Whale One. Enjoy 360 degree views, a delicious lunch and guaranteed whale sightings!

Don't miss your chance to see the gentle giants of the ocean, up-close and personal, as they journey along the coastline.

Join us for a magical whale season - book your ticket online now.

The perfect gift: Spoil your special someone with a day of whale watching aboard Steve's Whale One! Buy gift tickets now!

The Steve Irwin Day Photo competition went off like a frog in a sock! On the final day of competition, there were over 420 entries from all around the globe, all competing for a Fuji Digital Camera and bonanza prize pack! And every entrant showed Australia Zoo how Steve inspired them to share his passion. You little beauty!

And the winners are...

In first place, Greet Roelandt - Turtle

Close behind in second place is Jordan Packard - Ring-neck snake

And finally, in third place is Kristin Donaldson - Flashjack Wallaby

Highly Commended

We also have a couple of highly commended awards for some of our other favourites!

Funniest photo
Kellye Glass - American Black Bear

Webteam favourite
Cherie Palmer - seal pup in ocean at golden bay

Thank-you to everyone who entered- you all make a difference to wildlife and conservation. Steve would be proud!

Don't forget to keep an eye out for our Free Trip Video Competition coming very soon to our website!

Shows related to this zoo news:
Australia Zoo Wildlife Warriors
 

Tune in to Animal Diaries each week to learn about our beautiful animals in the most exciting way.

Join us as we venture behind the scenes with our dedicated keepers for a closer look at everyday life at the Zoo. You'll be right in the thick of it - tiger enrichment, croc feeding, food preparation, vet checks and stacks more!

Grab some pop-corn - dim the lights - sit back and enjoy the action as we get up-close and personal to some of the most amazing animals on earth.

Let's go!

Check out Animal Diaries!

Australia Zoo's much anticipated wombat joey has made its debut appearance from its mother's pouch, to the delight of keepers and visitors at Australia Zoo, who have discovered that we have a new little girl!

The joey was born to Common Wombat Minibus in January this year, and will remain in the pouch until around October, with keepers just starting to see the little one's head and limbs making an appearance out of the pouch over the last couple of weeks.

Australia Zoo's head of native mammals, Tammy Forge, has been monitoring Minibus since conception in January, and is thrilled to see the first of the joey.

"We have all kept a close eye on Minibus this last month as we expected to see signs of the joey poking out, and we're just so excited to see our newest little addition," said Tammy.

"Minibus has been great so far, and we're all eagerly awaiting October for when our joey is out and about."

This is the second joey for 15-year-old Minibus, who arrived at Australia Zoo in 2001, and gave birth to daughter Burrow in 2003. This joey's father is Tonka, who was born at Australia Zoo in 2005.

Minibus has continued to live in her on-display enclosure, where visitors to Australia Zoo can keep an eye out for her joey! People can also get involved and support Minibus and Tonka by sponsoring them through Australia Zoo's Adopt an Animal program.

Keep an eye on our website for details of our Spring Joey naming competition, to run throughout the September school holiday period.

Now we know it's not polite to talk about someone's weight but we recently weighed our gorgeous girls and strewth it never ceases to amaze us how huge they are!

Here at Australia Zoo we weigh our elephants every three months. Last time we weighed the girls, Siam and Sabu had lost weight and Bimbo put weight on (which is a good thing for Bimbo). Now that was coming out of summer and into spring, however much like us elephants put weight in winter and we were curious to see how much.

We started with little Bimbo and she weighed in at an impressive 2445kg. Next was Siam our oldest elephant at 53 who weighed in at a massive 4170kg. Last but not least was Sabu our heaviest elephant who weighed in at a whopping ....are you ready for this.....4300kg. Crikey!

Lucky for elephants, they have very large, dense and rigid bones in their legs to support that massive body. Did you know that elephants also walk on their toes and have a large fatty pad on the bottom of their foot that acts like a shock absorber helping to distribute their huge weight?

For more cool elephants stories stay tuned and make sure that next time you visit Australia Zoo you come down to visit the elephants and say "G'day" to the amazing crew that look after them.

Take care, and remember Elephants and Crocs Rule here at Australia Zoo! WOOO-HOO!!!!

Crikey! To coincide with our 40th birthday - when you visit Australia Zoo in August you will receive free unlimited entry until the end of 2010. What a ripper!

An Australia Zoo Adventure Pass is your ticket to jaw-dropping animal action, ripper monthly events and non-stop entertainment and fun including Father's Day, School Holiday Fun, Halloween, Steve Irwin Day and Robert's 7th Birthday!

So what are you waiting for? Come along and party with us everyday!

Simply ask for your Adventure Pass when you visit Australia Zoo this August or buy online now.

Crikey - what a party! Our Wildlife Warrior princess Bindi turned twelve on Saturday, July 24! It was a day that saw Australia Zoo transformed into Hollywood, with celebrity red carpet action, paparazzi, a host of activities and Terri, Bindi and Robert dressed to impress. Thousands turned out to help Bindi celebrate and got stuck into Hollywood handprints, movie star makeovers, signing Bindi's GIANT birthday card, stretch limousines and STACKS more throughout the day!

The highlights of the day were in the Crocoseum where Bindi was presented with her fabulous Hollywood birthday cake, the crowds were treated to the sight of seeing Terri, Wes and Bindi performing the croc show in their best attire and there was a chance to catch Bindi's feature film debut Free Willy: Escape from Pirate Cove on the big screen!

"We had a fantastic day," the birthday girl said. "I mean, it's not every day you get to dress up in dresses at the zoo! We're usually in khakis, so we're having a fantastic time."

To top it off - as guests left the Zoo at the end of the day they were served a yummy slice of birthday cake! Wooo-Hoo!

For exclusive Irwin content and extra photos from Bindi's Birthday why not sign up for the Australia Zoo Club?

Shows related to this zoo news:
Australia Zoo Wildlife Warriors
 

Australia Zoo's star travel agent, Rebecca Adams, was presented with the 'Rookie of the Year Award' at the 2010 AFTA National Travel Industry Awards for Excellence.

Rebecca was selected for the award from an excellent field of contenders including peers from WOW! Travel, Flight Centre and Harvey World Travel.

In just two short years in the travel industry, Rebecca has established herself as a family and corporate travel specialist on the Sunshine Coast working for Australia Zoo Travel.

Accepting the award, Rebecca said she was very honoured to have been selected as the best rookie travel consultant.

"Thank you Australia Zoo Travel for the opportunity to be part of this amazing industry," said Rebecca.

"I have travelled to so many beautiful places and I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to share my experiences and knowledge with other passionate travellers from around the word".

If you are planning your next adventure, contact Rebecca and the team at Australia Zoo travel.

Congratulations Rebecca!