Bindi Irwin pushes new venture amid zoo money woes

Bindi Irwin has stepped up promotion for Australia Zoo’s hospitality arm as the family works to rebuild finances after the pandemic battered visitor numbers and revenue.

In a series of new Instagram video, she urges followers to book into the Warrior Restaurant & Bar or stay at The Crocodile Hunter Lodge amid ongoing reports of money pressures.

The Beerwah-based operation, which sits alongside Australia Zoo, has leaned on the award-winning Warrior Restaurant & Bar since it opened in 2022, with Bindi and husband Chandler Powell highlighting the venue’s views this week.

“Have a look, it’s so beautiful,” Bindi said in the clip, with Chandler adding, “It’s gorgeous here,” as the camera panned across the premises.

In her caption, Bindi encouraged fans to “book a fabulous breakfast, lunch or dinner” or “come stay at my favourite place on Earth, The Crocodile Hunter Lodge.”

Bindi Irwin and her husband, Chandler Powell, are attempting to entice visitors to her Warrior Restaurant & Bar. Source: Instagram

The marketing push follows years of alleged financial strain.

In 2020, Bindi said her late father Steve’s legacy came close to the brink as the family battled to keep operations afloat through Covid.

Australia Zoo shut for 78 days during the pandemic while animal care bills continued at around $80,000 a week.

By January 2021, Woman’s Day quoted a source warning the zoo wasn’t “out of the woods”, citing the heavy reliance on international tourists during border closures.

The couple have been promoting the restaurant and lodge through a number of social media videos. Source: Facebook

In 2025, Star reported a source saying the family was still rebuilding after those shocks and trying to climb out of debt, with Terri Irwin looking ahead with “a lot of anxiety.”

Against that backdrop, the Irwins have focused on driving business to their Queensland nature reserve and its on‑site lodging and dining, positioning the lodge‑restaurant offering as a revenue pillar alongside the zoo.

The latest video underscores that strategy, linking a feel‑good showcase of the property to a direct call‑to‑book across breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Warrior Bar & Restaurant in the Crocodile Hunter Lodge.

Of course your iced latte comes with a choc croc. Source: Instagram

There’s also fresh speculation about the workload behind the scenes.

New Idea reported Chandler, 29, ended last year feeling “exhausted” and overlooked after months “working non-stop” to keep the zoo running while Robert Irwin, 22, pursued high‑profile television opportunities from Hollywood to South Africa.

An insider told the outlet Chandler “busts his gut day in, day out” to keep Steve’s legacy alive.

Croc Cabin at Crocodile Hunter Lodge.

Meanwhile, supporters have been quick to throw their support behind the Irwin family’s latest call for support.

“The private dining room makes it so easy with kids!,” one person replied to the video.

“Took our granddaughter here for an overnight stay in one of the lovely cabins, for her 8th birthday. The staff went over and above with a birthday cake. Beautiful infinity pool with a view of kangaroos, emus and koalas,” another lamented.

For now, the family’s message is clear: fill the restaurant, book the lodge, and keep visitors flowing back to Beerwah as the operation continues its long post‑Covid financial recovery.

Source: www.realcommercial.com.au