10 Pics Of Bindi Irwin As A Wild Child With Mom Terri And Dad Steve

Growing up at Australia Zoo with crocodile-hunting parents Steve and Terri Irwin, Bindi Irwin had a unique childhood. Surrounded by animals of every species, and traveling to the far corners of Australia before she was even school-aged, she learned priceless lessons about wildlife and the world around her from her adventurous parents, and this foundation shaped her adult life as a conservationist and Australia Zoo CEO. It also prepared her to become a mom to daughter Grace Warrior Irwin Powell, a "free-range kid" who is enjoying the same fun and free childhood she enjoyed.

"She has the best childhood," Bindi said of Grace, in a May 2026 interview with SheKnows. "... Grace is a free-range kid; she just runs around and has so much fun with all of our animals ... If you have kids, take them outside, take them somewhere with animals so that they can build and expand on that kindness and empathy because it does make a difference for the rest of your life." Clearly, Bindi knows first-hand how impactful this kind of childhood can be, since throwback photos from her own youth show her having endless similar adventures with her parents. 

Prior to Steve's untimely death in September 2006, Bindi went everywhere with her parents, from the dark wetlands of rural Australia on the lookout for crocodiles, to the streets of LA for Hollywood film premieres. Compared to other kids, Bindi certainly had a wild childhood, but judging from the smiles in the following photos, we're guessing she wouldn't have had it any other way. 

In the summer of 2002, the Irwins were celebrating the premiere of "The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course" in Hollywood, California. Most stars with premiering projects get dolled up and walk down a red carpet, but not the Irwins. In true form, the family of three — Steve, Terri, and Bindi Irwin, who was just 4 — made their way to the event on the back of an elephant. We're not sure how this went down with the local authorities in LA, but all three Irwins looked to be having the time of their lives as they rode the elephant and then stopped for a cuddle post-ride.

Nothing will ever top arriving at your parents' film premiere via elephant, but Bindi Irwin had another exciting high inside the event held at the Arclight Cinerama Dome when dad Steve Irwin literally held her up in the palm of his hand. This was pretty tame compared to some of the adventures that Bindi experienced with Steve and mom Terri Irwin, but it sums up the Crocodile Hunter's strength, and also what was clearly his highest priority. 

If you thought lifting a 4-year-old with one hand was impressive, Steve Irwin further showed his strength (and fun sense of humor) in September 2002 at the Australian premiere of "The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course," when he held both Bindi and Terri Irwin at the same time. Posing for a photo, he wrapped Terri around his neck like a scarf, while holding little Bindi by her waist. We're not surprised that someone who wrestled with crocodiles could manage to pick up his wife and daughter so easily at the same time, but we're still impressed.

Being Steve Irwin's daughter naturally led to many moments of sheer adventure for Bindi Irwin. In February 2026, she posted an Instagram carousel of photos in honor of her late dad's birthday, including one that showed the father-daughter duo in a dinghy. Probably crocodile hunting somewhere in the waterways of Outback Australia, Bindi and Steve were all smiles with headlamps to light their way. Clasped in Bindi's hands was a baby crocodile, kicking off a lifelong love affair with animals.

For the Australian premiere of "The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course," Steve Irwin outdid himself by taking a second photo with his wife and daughter, this time holding them up at the same time in front of the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge. We're not sure what the best part of this photo is: that the Irwins look so happy, or that Bindi Irwin is wearing tap shoes! Either way, posing in front of the landmark is fitting for one of Australia's most prolific families.

Steve and Bindi Irwin shared the sweetest father-daughter moment in October 2005, during a family trip to Uluru in the center of Australia. For the pic, Bindi held Steve's face close and gave him a peck on the cheek, while Steve smiled on lovingly. It just goes to show that these two shared all the loving family moments that other fathers and daughters did, only against much more wild backdrops. It reminds us of the sweet pics of Bindi Irwin and her wild-child daughter Grace!

When looking back at childhood photos of Bindi and Robert Irwin, it's no wonder that they grew up feeling safe around even the most fearsome of creatures. Steve and Terri Irwin introduced their kids to the animal kingdom right from the start. In a throwback Instagram photo shared by Terri in honor of Earth Day 2026, the whole family can be seen posing for a group picture with a baby croc. This wasn't your average childhood, but clearly still full of smiles and laughs!

Growing up at Australia Zoo with Steve and Terri Irwin, Bindi Irwin didn't just fall in love with the scary animals — she also made lots of furry friends. In another photo from Steve's birthday carousel that she shared in 2026, Bindi posed in between her parents while Terri fed a carrot to a large wombat. Later telling Today that newborns are like "teeny, tiny animals," moments like this in Bindi Irwin's wild life definitely prepared her for motherhood.

Bindi Irwin was born to advocate for animals and conserve wildlife, but as this Instagram photo shows, she was also born to be a star. While dad Steve Irwin swung her around playfully, Bindi wore a metallic gold dress and a hot-pink feather boa with floral anklets. This might not have been a key moment in Bindi Irwin's complete transformation, but it was the ultimate preview that she would go on to win "Dancing With the Stars" one day.

Most parents would gasp at the thought of their infant coming in contact with a giant snake. But as we've established by now, Steve and Terri Irwin aren't most parents. One of the most endearing photos from Bindi Irwin's February 2026 carousel shows her as a baby nestled in Steve's arms, while a carpet python casually wraps around her and mom Terri's neck. You can tell by all of their expressions that Bindi was totally safe here, while the light in Steve's eyes shows that he was beyond proud to be passing his love of the reptiles on to his daughter.