A couple of hours drive from Brisbane will bring you to Darling Downs Zoo.  Scenery is ever changing on the drive.

Stop at some of the interesting little places along the way. We stopped at the quaint Me Ma store on the way, leaving us just a half hour short drive to the Zoo.

Family owned, this zoo is home to a diverse range of animals.  From Australian natives to big cats and giraffes.  Sure too be something here for everyone.   Friendly staff in the entrance shop, explain the zoo and the symbols showing animals you can feed, before sending you on your way with map in hand.Sleepy koalas peer out from their open enclosure.   Birds of all shapes sizes, some sporting a myriad of vivid colours, reside thoughout the zoo.

Nothing beats the pleasure, especially for the little visitors, of hand feeding animals.  Ostriches were more than happy to devour the food pellets offered.

Meerkats, and monkeys, can provide you with hours of entertainment.  Busy, on guard and curious, meerkats are a definite draw card.    One cannot help but smile as you loose yourself in the antics of these alert animals.

A number of monkey breeds are housed here.  Some dart around their enclosures with effortless ease, whilst their buddies, use their agile limbs to forage food or swing easily from rope to branch.Keeping an eye out fir the arrival f rod, this lionesswas quite content as she soaked up the sun.the tiger was a little shyer preferring to lurk in the greenery at the back of her enclosure.Llamas and zebras cohabitat in one enclosure.  Competing for those enticing pellets visitors offer for hand feeding, there is some pushing and shoving, as the heirachy is determined. All are happy to receive the feed, always on the lookout for the telltale white bucket dangled by patrons.

In between the giraffes, big cats monkeys, birds, crocodile, reptiles and meerkats, take a moment to soak in the pastel colours of the landscape canvas rolling off into the distance. It really is breathtaking. 

It’s an easy stroll around the animal enclosures, the furtherest being the giraffes up the back.

Informative talks are held at different times to give visitors the chance to interact with residents.  For an extra fee, you can take the opportunity to have a close up experience wth big cats or meerkats, to name just a couple.Brazilian Tapir proved popular with visitors.  Their long soft snouts, gratefully and politely accepted the feed offered.  A lot more gentle than the pushy zebras next door.

The zoo certainly makes a good day out destination from Brisbane.  Enjoy the drive and be sure to stop off here and to support the small businesses and townships on the route.  Take your time, it will be worth it!