Currumbin Sanctuary’s new Lost Valley attraction to open on Gold Coast on Boxing Day

RARE and incredible creatures never before seen on the Gold Coast will be unveiled this month when the city’s newest tourist attraction opens to the public.

RED pandas, colourful birds and rare reptiles which have never been seen on the Gold Coast will live at the heart of Currumbin Sanctuary in a new $3 million attraction more than a decade in the making,

The Lost Valley exotic precinct will open its doors on Boxing Day after nearly a year of construction to become the historic wildlife sanctuary’s biggest feature to open in seven decades.

A Red Panda. Picture: Glenn Norris

The five hectare attraction will focus on the ancient supercontinent of Gondwana which Australia was once part of, and will feature a range of creatures including the ring tail lemurs, cotton-top tamarins, red panda, capybaras and the eclectus parrot.

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National Trust of Australia chief executive Jonathan Fisher said its opening on December 26 would give the city an economy boost during the summer season.

“This is coming at a time when we are going to have the whole world looking at the Gold Coast and it gave us the chance to create something really different,” he said.

Jonathan Fisher

“The trust is all about the celebration of the environment and cultural heritage and this will show off what is unique about this part of the world.

“We hope people will come here and open their eyes to what it is all about and with more international visitors here we need to see more investment in attractions will continue to bring people here.”

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The opening is the culmination of the sanctuary’s 70th anniversary year.

It was founded by Dr Alex Griffith who built it around his Currumbin home.

Plans for the Lost Valley hatched three years ago and was developed around revamping existing structures for new purposes.

The Aviary earlier this year when it was being revamped. Park General Manager Michael Kelly (L) and Technical Services Manager Ken Stiller at the site. Picture: Richard Gosling

Its giant, long-abandoned bird aviary will be at the heart of the attraction where the new rainforest was created.

It will be home to free flying birds including the eclectus parrot, molucan red lory, black capped lory, satin bowerbird, emerald dove, chiming wedgebill, golden pheasant, mandarin ducks and macaws.

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Macaws will be featured at the Sanctuary.

Mr Fisher said he hoped to see the new attraction put the sanctuary back on the map with domestic and international visitors.

“We’ve spent nearly $3 million on this including creating new walkways which weaves its way through the trees waterfalls and rainforests,” he said.

“It opens to the public on Boxing Day and will get better and better and hopefully become a must-see attraction during and After the Commonwealth Games.

“We are looking forward to showcasing it to the world.”

A friendly Eclectus parrot.

CREATURES:

* Golden pheasant

A creature native to China, with populations wild populations now through Asia, the US, Europe and Australia.

* Red Panda

An endangered animal originating from the Himalayas and China, there are less than 10,000 in the wild

* Green iguana

A common animal known as the American iguana, they are native o the US and are a common pet.

* Ring-Tailed lemurs

Originally from Madagascar, the Lemur is famous for its long tail and is endangered. They are considered social animals who live in large groups and have a female dominant society.

* Capybaras

The world’s largest living rodent, the Capybara originates from South America and are considered gentle. They can live for up to 12 years in captivity.