The newest digs at Australia Zoo’s Crocodile Hunter Lodge blend five-star fixtures with freshwater fauna for one of the country’s most spectacular overnight stays.

A watercoloured haze of sunrise pink pulls me to the outdoor deck where my bleary eyes focus on the invasion at my feet. One. Two. Three, four. Five… no way. Six? Yes way. Six crocodiles float motionless in a lagoon on the other side of the glass wall I’m pressed against. The sight is so overwhelmingly unexpected and spine-tingling that I audibly squeak. I swear the chunkiest one eyeballs me.

I’ve woken up inside one of just four Crocodile Cabins, The Crocodile Hunter Lodge’s newest two-storey, two-bedroom stays right off Australia Zoo in Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. It’s a morning view you will not find elsewhere on earth and to be dressed in a fluffy white robe and custom-branded slippers, as a heated private plunge pool dazzles beside me, is surreal. This is five-star luxury with 24/7 live entertainment in the middle of birdsong-freckled Australian bushland and it’s only 6:20 in the morning. Crikey doesn’t begin to describe the exhilaration right now.

Location

Found in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland, The Crocodile Hunter Lodge’s Crocodile Cabins are immersed in pristine bushland. The sublime Glass House Mountains are less than 10 minutes’ drive from the lodge and their famed abrupt, narrow volcanic peaks are seen along your journey via Steve Irwin Way. A two-minute drive around the corner from Australia Zoo on Steve Irwin Way, the Crocodile Cabins are adjacent to a natural freshwater pond that houses 10 crocodiles. The pond is also home to an exceptionally brave raft of ducks and endangered Mary River turtles. In cabin number 18, where I’m staying with my husband and two children, the second floor offers glimpses of a mountainous landscape that instils deep serenity.

Style and character

The Crocodile Hunter Lodge connects to its unblemished surrounds via raw materials including recycled timber, black steel, soft LED lighting that glows sunset-caramel and rammed earth walls. The designers were going for “luxury woolshed" so while the main building, original Red Kangaroo, Emu and Black Cockatoo cabins, and brand-new Crocodile Cabins ooze sophistication, nothing looks out of place.

It wholly embraces the wildlife that originally inhabited the land, as two Diamond pythons are enclosed within the main reception area and Cunningham skinks and a bearded dragon greet you right out front. Kangaroos chill, koalas snooze, bush turkeys lurk and lorikeets, finches and ducks glide throughout the entire property.

Facilities and services

The star of the show is The Billabong, a 25-metre heated infinity pool set against a grassy lawn dotted with red kangaroos, koalas and a hot-lapping emu. Speaking of which, at 5pm daily, a zookeeper pops around to answer guest questions about The Crocodile Hunter Lodge’s resident wildlife — an experience I seize to wrap my head around why that emu won’t stop pacing. The answer? He’s on heat and looking for a mate. Makes sense, the poor fella.

Additionally, there’s a washing machine and yoga mat in each of the Crocodile Cabins, a gift shop near the hotel’s reception, 24-hour concierge, fast wi-fi, the on-site Warrior Restaurant and Bar (more on that below), and a minivan service that takes guests to Australia Zoo and back between 8:30am and 5pm daily.

The cabin

While it’s luxe all the way, this is Irwin country — wildlife fascination, and khaki, is unavoidable. That said, I enter the Crocodile Cabin, and it feels like an auction winner on The Block. A soaring eight-metre ceiling opens the living room into another stratosphere while large glass panels stream natural light and shimmer off that heavenly plunge pool. A huge, fully equipped kitchen with white cabinetry and sleek black handles is the stuff of Pinterest dreams while a Fisher & Paykel stovetop and dishwasher, Bosch in-built fridge, and Tefal pots and pans refine holiday cooking. A contemporary timber dining table by Sydney’s Kave Home brings modern farmhouse vibes while a Samsung Smart TV powers down into a photograph of the Glass House Mountains, taken by Robert Irwin, to dial up the tech. It’s big, bold and beautiful.

What of those neighbouring crocs? Slithering between pond and lagoon, sunbaking on small patches of grass and even adults-only “snuggling" (particularly in the evenings when action gets hilariously loud) offer round-the-clock viewing. It’s not just my children racing out in their pyjamas the following morning to see what they’re up to. These reptiles are totally enthralling, fascinatingly prehistoric and especially endearing given their group size. You’ll count all 10 during an overnight stay with the babies of the bask proving adorable — a word I never previously associated with crocodiles. But here, I’m in love.

Equally charming are the cabin’s personality pops that pay tribute to Australia’s first family. From animated caricatures of the late, great Steve Irwin, his wife Terri, their son Robert and daughter Bindi, to animal facts shared via the deck’s walls and a door mat emblazoned with ‘Crikey!’, the Irwins share intimate pieces of themselves. Even the toilet paper and paper towels are khaki in colour, sparking their trademark joy unexpectedly.

Nature-inspired wallpaper lights up each bedroom while a large Indigenous artwork is mesmerising in the dining room. Indigenous prints are also spotted across cushions, subtly energising the open-plan living and dining. The Crocodile Cabins are considered, authentic odes to their surroundings — and I struggle to compare their warmth to anywhere else I’ve ever stayed.

Food and drink

Warrior Restaurant and Bar is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, located within walking distance to the Crocodile Cabins (don’t miss the ‘Native Food Hill’ just right of the dirt road near the small staff-only zone — an edible garden of vegies and herbs that fuel the kitchen). You can sit inside to watch its open-plan kitchen or outside on the patio overlooking those roos. My family and I are officially wildlife warriors after checking into the Crocodile Cabins so heading outside for another chance to admire the animals is a no-brainer.

As a hotel guest, one dish off the breakfast menu and two drinks are included, plus your group scores a complimentary fruit platter. Warrior has earned itself a solid reputation on the Sunshine Coast for elegantly showcasing the region’s nutrient-dense produce, and these skills are on full display even at 7:30am. Locally sourced sourdough is topped with earthy, nutty Rocky Creek mushrooms from nearby Kiamba, Little White goat cheese from nearby Wamuran, and free-range eggs to craft the ‘Sunny Coast Toast’. Meanwhile, my children fill their fists with apple and cinnamon pancakes, house-made apple jam and vanilla ice cream before they’re licking their plates clean. They also beg me for the adorable croc-shaped chocolate that appears on the teaspoon by my latte, but I pretend I can’t hear them and drop it into my creamy caffeine hit without a glimmer of guilt.

In the afternoon, cocktails by the Warrior team turn infinity pool frolicking into the happiest of hours. My husband’s espresso martini, safely served in a plastic glass, is so nice he orders it twice while I request extra heat in my second chilli margarita. Two chunky slices of fresh chilli from the garden, seeds intact, are promptly introduced. It does the trick and I’m back to koala spotting in style.

Dinner at Warrior brings a mixed bag of families, couples and large groups, clearly attracting non-hotel guests in the evening. My slow-braised beef Rendang curry, paired with cardamom rice and finished with toasted coconut, peanuts, fried rice noodles and pickled cucumber, melts in the mouth. The kids smash their mini-Wagyu burgers and thick-cut chips before moving onto the colouring-in activities our waiter places in front of them.

If leaving your Crocodile Cabin proves too tempting, it’s worth noting that Warrior’s entire menu can be ordered to your room between 7am and 9pm. In-room dining also extends to an ‘Afternoon Snacks’ menu which includes a beautiful ‘Woombye Cheese Plate’ of four locally produced cheeses (Woombye Cheese Company is famed throughout Queensland, particularly their award-winning washed rind). An antipasto platter, sliders and chips are also available between 3pm and 5pm.

Do the Crocodile Hunter Lodge’s Crocodile Cabins provide access for guests with disabilities?

While the Crocodile Hunter Lodge offers two specific accommodation options for guests with access needs, the Crocodile Cabins are not designed to be accessible. The upstairs level is only reachable via a staircase. Facility-wise, however, the infinity pool is fitted with a pool hoist, wide deck area, wide access ramp, a spacious and fully equipped bathroom (with a shower and shower seat) and accessible car parking right in front of the adjacent main building.

Warrior Restaurant and Bar also has its own accessible bathrooms, plus it’s located on the ground level, while the minivan shuttle to Australia Zoo is also wheelchair accessible.

Are the Crocodile Hunter Lodge’s Crocodile Cabins family-friendly?

Yes, from every angle. While the cabins are styled without super-fragile furnishings or itty-bitty choking hazards, family-friendly amenities can also be arranged. High chairs and portacots are on the list, as are incredibly thoughtful items for babies like nappy bins and bottle sanitisers.

Additionally, a ‘Treat yourself!’ mini bar-style set up in the kitchen includes purchasable items like a plush toy, ‘Snap’ card game, reusable colouring mat and puzzle. My personal cherry on top? A few days prior to check-in, I received an email from the reservations team to confirm my preferred bed configuration in both bedrooms — single beds or Kings, the choice was mine. How impressive.

Are the Crocodile Hunter Lodge’s Crocodile Cabins pet-friendly?

Sadly, the only four-legged creatures invited to sleep over are the crocs and their fellow resident critters. The team explain that domestic pets like dogs and cats may pose hygiene and safety issues for the accommodation’s native animals, but registered service and guide dogs are all good if you get in touch before you arrive.

Do the Crocodile Hunter Lodge’s Crocodile Cabins serve as wedding accommodation?

You’re more than welcome to book all four cabins if they’re available, but there’s no wedding accommodation package as such. The Crocodile Hunter Lodge does offer wedding ceremony packages (up to 30 guests) that incorporate the on-site Ironbark Paddock events space, plus there are wedding reception packages within Warrior Restaurant and Bar for up to 30 guests.

Details

Best for: Families looking to elevate a zoo visit and, of course, animal lovers.

Address: 88 Irwin Rd, Beerwah, QLD

Getting there: The Crocodile Hunter Lodge is a two-minute drive from Australia Zoo, which is a one-hour drive north of Brisbane. The nearest airport is Sunshine Coast Airport, which is a 30-minute drive from the accommodation. Direct flights from Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Canberra and Cairns run regularly.

Price: From $2,099 per night for up to four guests. This includes daily breakfast at Warrior Restaurant and Bar for each guest, a $150 dining voucher for Warrior Restaurant and Bar, daily Australia Zoo entry for each guest, ‘Sneak Peek’ entry to Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital for each guest, a welcome gift and regular minivan shuttle service to Australia Zoo.

Check-in process: Pick up your key from reception — a short walk or a minute’s drive from the cabins — any time from 2pm. There’s one undercover car space, plus a driveway at each cabin to conveniently house an additional car.