Resuming my Gold Coast series, the final two posts are on my most favourite parts of the trip, and it's on our visit to the Paradise Country. =)
Getting to Paradise Country was pretty tedious. We had to catch a bus from our apartment to Pacific Fair, then changed to another bus that took us to the entrance of Movie World. From there, we had to walk a long way in to Paradise Country. The distance was said to be only 1 kilometre, but it definitely felt more like 5. Thank God the weather was cool, but with the hot sun blazing down on us, it felt like a really long way, especially for my pampered kids! It seemed that no one attempted to get to Paradise Country the way we did - Everyone else arrived in Tour buses. =P
But since we were going to walk anyway, we might as well enjoy the view along the way. There were lots to see - the blue skies, green grass, horses and cows... I actually enjoyed it. =)
Paradise Country is a rather small place with animals like kangaroos, koala bears, horses and cows that you can interact with. I chose it among so many different places of interest in Gold Coast because I thought it would be something that my kids are interested in, but I was right! They totally enjoyed petting the kangaroos, feeding them and watching them run around. If you are planning to visit the Paradise Country as well, I'd advise you to reach there by 9am as they have a suggested half-day itinerary and you can go for interesting shows starting from 9am to 1pm. Just follow that itinerary, and you'd cover every show available. I must say the staff doing the shows are all very humorous and entertaining, and you can expect a really happy morning there.
These guys were the first we met when we stepped into Paradise Country. They were so gentle and mild, and merely took a glance up at us when we tried to catch their attention, before going back to munching on their grass again.
The koala village was the first stop we went to. I have to say the koala bears are really lazy animals. They couldn't even be bothered to move much even though so many curious eyes were on them.
They actually look like soft toys if they move.
If you want a photo to be taken with a koala bear, you must pay AUD18. I refused to pay that kind of money.
The kids were given kangaroo feed to go and feed the cuties. They were so excited! The kangaroos were hopping everywhere around us, and definitely hungry for some breakfast. =D
The kangaroos were really friendly and totally not scared of human beings at all. My girls warmed up to these kind creatures immediately. =)
They all looked like joeys to us because they were all quite small.. We tried looking around for a mummy kangaroo with a baby in her pouch, but could not find one.
Look at how some of them were just basking in the sun and lazing around. =)
Jayne was enjoying herself so much, she kept going to different kangaroos and asking me to take photos for her. Haha.. It was really nice getting up, close and personal with animals we would otherwise get to see only from a distance in the zoo. Plus, these animals don't smell at all unlike some of others we've met in Singapore. =.=
The kangaroos had such long tails and they were everywhere, so we had to keep reminding the kids to watch out for the tails and not step on them. Surely, we don't want to hurt these little cuties!
I say, getting so close to Nature to be able to touch, feel and smell these animals is way better than reading them 100 books on them. And seeing how much my kids enjoyed themselves hugging the kangaroos, I felt that we've made a worthwhile trip here!
As we were waiting for a show to start, we walked around and explored the place a bit. I love it that the Paradise Country looked like an old barn, definitely something we don't get to see in Singapore. It actually reminded me of an episode in Barney when Barney & friends went to visit a farm. haha!
This was the dining hall where guests could opt to have buffet lunches at. Don't you think the lights hung from the ceiling made the place look like the dining hall in Hogwarts?! =P
Lots of old stuffs were used as decor everywhere.
Love these old kerosene oil lamps found at every table.
I found a bucket of sheep wool! So soft and fluffy! =D
More on Paradise Country in my next post. =)
