Robert Irwin on the Joys of the Sunshine Coast: “I Feel Like My Job Is to Share the Beauty of Where I Live With the World”

The Irwin family are about as synonymous with the Sunshine Coast as it gets. “I was quite literally born and bred at Australia Zoo,” Robert Irwin says. “It was a very unusual childhood but a pretty awesome one as well. It's the most wonderful place to grow up. I'll always be so grateful for home.” A childhood among the sprawling savannas, rugged hinterlands, and white-sand beaches sounds pretty idyllic—especially for a child so at one with nature.“I spent probably 99 percent of my time outside,” Irwin laughs. “The only time I was inside was when I had to sleep. I grew up as what my mum would describe a ‘free-range kid.’ My idea of fun was running around Australia Zoo—it’s a state-of-the-art wildlife sanctuary on over 700 acres of land, so I grew up catching snakes and hugging koalas and riding horses and being in there with rhinos, giraffes, and elephants. It was such a magical childhood. Whenever I come back home, I’m hit with this overwhelming feeling of being so grateful to live where I do,” he says.“I grew up catching snakes and hugging koalas and riding horses.” Kate BerryFor someone whose entire life has revolved around Australia Zoo, what strikes me most about Irwin is his seemingly unending enthusiasm for his hometown. He speaks with such pure excitement and passion about every topic we touch on.“I feel like my job is to share the beauty of where I live with the world. I think it's a place that everybody should experience. The Sunshine Coast, and Australia in general, not just my home at Australia Zoo. It is a life-changing experience to come to connect with nature.”“When I’m home, I just feel like I'm reconnected to what is most important to me. I'm connected with my purpose, which is really to continue this amazing family business, to continue a legacy of conservation. Just talking about it makes me really, really miss it quite a lot. I look forward to getting back there.”Here, the Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro host tells us all about his favorites across the Sunshine Coast, from the most romantic date spots to the perfect way to spend a morning.What’s your favorite memory from your childhood on the Sunshine Coast?For me, it's the sounds. Every morning, waking up to the sound of the tigers next door and the lemurs that are calling at full volume, sometimes at 5 a.m. The Sunshine Coast is such an incredible location, and Australia Zoo is, in my opinion, the jewel in the crown. It's the centerpiece of our region that so many people grow up visiting—it's been around for over 55 years. But the Sunshine Coast itself is a region where you’re about five minutes from volcanic mountains and hinterlands and temperate forests, then about 15 to 20 minutes away from some of the best beaches in the world. It’s a beach community with the mountains right on our doorstep.What's the best way to spend a morning on the Sunshine Coast?Waking up at Australia Zoo. First up, a nice sunrise hike at one of the local mountains. There's a mountain range called the Glass House Mountains, which are absolutely stunning. Get up there to watch the sunrise, and come back down within an hour. If I've got a day free, I'm straight to the coast—somewhere like Mooloolaba, which is our closest beach town on the Sunshine Coast—to watch the morning waves roll in, get out on the surfboard for a while. Then hit the trails for mountain biking and spend the afternoon feeding crocodiles at Australia Zoo. Later, watch the sunset over the African Savannah [with] a nice campfire.Where are the best surf spots?We're spoiled for choice. For any surfers in the world, there is one famous break in a town called Noosa. But all the way down the coast, there are some gorgeous spots and a couple that are still fairly hidden, which is becoming more and more rare in the surf community.Eco-retreat Crocodile Hunter Lodge's serene pool at sunset Kate BerryWhat are the top three places travelers should visit on the Sunshine Coast?You're a small hop away from the Great Barrier Reef, but if I had to narrow it down to three, I'd say go to Mooloolaba. There is sea life right off the coast and a population of humpback whales that pass through on their migratory route. There's also a massive amount of sea turtles, rays, and sharks a few snorkels off the coast.One of my other favorite places is a park called Mary Cairncross Park, which is in the hinterlands where you've got this old rainforest that's been there for thousands of years. You'll find wallabies and pademelons, which are these adorable miniature kangaroos. It feels like you've been transported to this alpine rainforest—miles and miles away from the beach.Number three would be right at home at Australia Zoo, at the Crocodile Hunter Lodge. Oddly enough, one of the best places to see wild animals is on zoo property. We have so many of the animals that we have in habitats—elephants, tigers, all sorts—but there are also wild animals at our lodge. We have a massive population of kangaroos that have moved into these botanical gardens. You can sit out there on the lawn and watch joeys hopping into their mother's pouch, koalas up in the trees, cockatoos coming in to feed, fruit bats at night.At the zoo's Cuddly Koala Encounter experience, visitors can hold these marsupials. Kate BerryWhere do you go to unwind?Up on the points. There's an incredible beach in Noosa. There's this series of beaches and there's a point called Hell's Gates. It’s a big, rocky point that looks way out down the coast and into the ocean. You can sit on the edge and watch the world go by.Rhinos graze behind Robert at the zoo Where are the best places to eat?I have an incredible restaurant at Australia Zoo called Warrior Restaurant and Bar. I'm very sneaky and I'll get them to make me takeaway dinner. I end up eating [there] more than anywhere else, but if I want to get out, [there's] the Tamarind, a great Asian-influenced restaurant. Up the road in the mountains, there's the Long Apron. You feel like you've stepped into the South of France.Robert cites the mountains among some of the most romantic locations Where’s the most romantic date spot?I mean, I think Australia Zoo screams romance. That's where my mom and dad met. But up in the mountains, there's a town about 15 minutes away from where I live with so many tiny hidden gems, cafés, and great dinner spots. You can spend a whole day there, whether it's with a group of mates or with your significant other. It's cozy, it's happy. You feel like you've just completely escaped; you feel completely anonymous. It's just that beautiful little small town vibe.Crocodile Hunter Lodge as seen from above What about a night out—where do you go to drink?My idea of an after-party is to go back to someone's backyard. You build a nice little campfire, a guitar, that type of thing. I've got about 600 acres to play with, but there are a lot of great late-night dining options particularly on the weekends. There's Rice Boi in Mooloolaba, in this area with a whole bunch of bars, cafés, and eateries. On a weekend, at night, it's absolutely bustling. Everybody's just out dancing, enjoying themselves. You can spend a night out and still feel very safe. To be quite honest, our idea of late is like 9 p.m., so it's a little different from somewhere like New York or London.Describe your favorite view.My favorite view of all time is honestly a sunset looking over the African Savannah at Australia Zoo. If you get up high enough, you can actually see the Glass House Mountains. You've got a beautiful view of giraffes and rhinos and zebras, right at sunset. I'll sit out on Pride Rock—it looks just like The Lion King—and watch all of our animals after the zoo has shut.For Sunshine Coast visitors, surfing in Noosa is a must. You travel a lot for work. How do you feel when you come home?I feel like I'm wrapped up in a big hug when I go to the local café, go for a surf, or am back with all of my animals. I'm reconnected to what is most important to me.My job is to share the beauty of where I live with the world. I think it's a place that everybody should experience. The Sunshine Coast, and Australia in general. Wherever you go, you're having some sort of life-changing reconnection with the natural world. And I definitely feel that every time I [return]. Talking about it makes me really, really miss it quite a lot. I look forward to getting back there.Robert Irwin is the host of the new Disney+ series Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro. A version of this story originally appeared in Condé Nast Traveller UK.