Reimagining nature education
Wide-eyed expressions of awe on kids’ faces at the newly opened WILD with Australian Geographic precinct at Dreamworld on the Gold Coast said it all.
“That’s when I knew we were onto something extraordinary,” said Australian Geographic’s Managing Director, Izaac Blomley, after announcing a profound new partnership between the two iconic Australian brands.
“We’d been working on this collaboration for well over a year, but when I saw how kids were reacting to what we were doing, I fully realised the significance of this partnership – another way to tell our conservation-based stories to a wider audience.”
Blomley and a small contingent from Australian Geographic’s Sydney office were at the theme park last week to announce the new collaboration, which will underpin a fresh focus for conservation education in Australia. Twenty top science students with an interest in wildlife were invited from the local Coomera State School to attend the launch, and they were clearly enthralled by what they saw.
“At the heart of our work has always been a belief in the power of real stories and real connections,” Blomley said. “These students are the next generation of nature guardians. Their excitement at meeting the koalas and snakes shows how WILD will inspire Australians of all ages to connect with our native wildlife.”
The launch of WILD with Australian Geographic builds on significant upgrades to Dreamworld’s wildlife facilities, reflecting its commitment to animal welfare and conservation. Recent projects include a newly improved enclosure for resident wedge-tailed eagle Goldie, the ongoing development of a brand-new habitat for Lumholtz’s tree-kangaroos, and the Bilby Discovery Centre, which opened in 2023 to support education and awareness for this threatened species.
“It was these kinds of efforts that reflected a vital alignment with what Australian Geographic does,” Blomley said.
As part of the revamped precinct, the latest instalment of Australian Geographic Our Country was unveiled in an intimate seven-screen format, inviting visitors on a cinematic journey through Australia’s diverse landscapes and wild places.
Projected floor-to-ceiling and accompanied by immersive surround sound, Our Country is a multi-screen experience that sweeps across rainforests, oceans, deserts and night skies. It’s a breathtaking celebration of nature.
Having toured Australia with the support of official partner AAT Kings and captivated audiences worldwide to critical acclaim, Our Country now has a permanent home at Dreamworld.
“We’re thrilled to give visitors the chance to experience Our Country here for years to come,” Blomley said.
“This partnership with Australian Geographic is a milestone in our mission to champion wildlife education and conservation,” said Dreamworld’s Head of Life Sciences, Michele Barnes.
“WILD will give guests the chance to engage with native species in new, exciting ways while reinforcing the importance of protecting Australia’s precious biodiversity.”
