ROBERT Irwin has recalled how his late father, Steve, hand built what are now the front doors to the luxury Crocodile Hunter Lodge, which was officially opened today,
The Lodge consists of eight cabins and high end bar and restaurant with plans for dozens more cabins in the coming years.
Robert and Terri Irwin along with Tourism, Innovation and Sport Minister, Stirling Hinchliffe, opened the lodge, with Terri saying the new lodge was achieving 75 per cent occupancy.
Mr Hinchliffe said the site would be a boost for tourism now and ahead of the 2032 Olympics.
“This further offer allows people to stay longer, see more and experience more for the whole of the region and have a special relationship with Australia zoo,” he said.
“We will see a $4.5 million feed-back into the local economy each and every year going forward.”
The legacy of Steve Irwin is also clear in the Crocodile Hunter Lodge with Robert saying his dad contributed in more ways than just the name.
“There’s so many little aspects of dad through the whole thing, the front doors to the lodge were originally the crocodile grandstands from the original croc enclosures that he hand built,” he said.
“This wood was all recycled, he put every single nail in there and built these beautiful grandstands way back in the 80’s, and its really special that we are actually able to incorporate a part of dad.”
There are also both wild animals and Australia Zoo animals around the lodge which guests can enjoy and connect with while staying there, as well as endangered plants to attract more animals.
“It’s always been really important doing something like this that we are as eco-friendly as humanly possible, this really is all about conservation,” Robert Irwin said.
