Rainbow lorikeets
On your arms.
Adam Jones from Kelowna, BC, Canada — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Adam Jones from Kelowna, BC, Canada — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Lewi Hirvela — CC BY-SA 2.0
An Australian wildlife sanctuary south of the Gold Coast, founded in 1947 as a bird sanctuary and world-famous for feeding flocks of free-flying wild rainbow lorikeets, which land by the dozen on visitors' arms and heads to eat from their plates. The sanctuary holds hundreds of native animals: koalas and kangaroos you can feed, wombats, Tasmanian devils, crocodiles and birds of prey, with daily free-flight bird shows and Aboriginal culture shows of dance and music. It also has a wildlife hospital treating thousands of injured animals each year, where you can watch the vets through glass, plus a small train touring the grounds and rope bridges through the trees for adventure. Tickets are about A$70 per adult, per visitor guides. Allow at least half a day; morning is the best time for the lorikeet feeding.
On your arms.
Behind glass.
Up close.
28 Tomewin Street, Currumbin, southern Gold Coast
Usually in the morning and afternoon; morning is best for the big flocks, per visitor guides.