Steve Irwin Statue, Sunshine Coast, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

The Steve Irwin Statue stands on the Mooloolaba Esplanade in Mooloolaba, on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, and honours the wildlife presenter known around the world as the Crocodile Hunter. It sits right by the beachfront, a short drive from Australia Zoo, the place Irwin made famous. For fans and casual visitors alike it is an easy, free stop on a seaside stroll.

The story behind it

Steve Irwin grew up to become one of Australia's best-known naturalists. He worked with his family at Australia Zoo in Beerwah, in the hinterland of the Sunshine Coast, and his TV shows took his enthusiasm for crocodiles, snakes and every other creature to audiences far beyond Queensland. His greeting of "Crikey" became a trademark.

He died in September 2006 after an encounter with a stingray while filming a documentary on the Great Barrier Reef. The news was felt deeply in Australia and abroad, and the Sunshine Coast, which he called home, has kept his memory close ever since. A statue in a public spot like Mooloolaba gives locals and travellers a place to stop and remember him.

What to look for

• Look at the statue itself and take your time with the figure, which is meant to capture the spirit of a man famous for his energy and love of animals.
• Notice how other visitors stop to take photos beside it, a sign of how many people still feel connected to Irwin's story.
• Look across the esplanade to the beach and the surf, the kind of coastal setting that defines Sunshine Coast life.
• Glance along the esplanade at the cafes and the promenade, which make this stretch of Mooloolaba a lively place to linger.

Tips for your visit

• Allow about ten to fifteen minutes for the statue, longer if you want to combine it with a walk along the sand or a coffee.
• It stands in a public space on the esplanade, so you can see it from the outside at any time without going into a building.
• Morning light is pleasant for photos and cooler for walking, while late afternoon suits a stroll along the beachfront.
• Cafes, the beach and the rest of Mooloolaba are all within a few minutes on foot, so it fits easily into a wider wander. If you plan to visit Australia Zoo as well, check current opening hours first.

See it on a quest

Murder Mystery: Death in the Shadows in Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast is a good fit if you like a puzzle with your sightseeing. You reach the statue on foot as one stop of a longer route through Mooloolaba, the app tells you about each place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle on the spot. One ticket covers the whole group.

Kid Quest: Solve the case of the lost senses in Sunshine Coast suits families who want children engaged rather than just posing for a photo. You walk between places along the route, hear about each one in the app and work out a puzzle in front of you. One ticket covers the whole group.

Sunshine Coast Detective Mystery: Infiltrate a Secret Society. turns the area into a detective trail. The statue is one stop on the way, the app gives you the background as you get there, and there is a puzzle to solve right where you stand. One ticket covers the whole group.