Steve Irwin’s love for all things wildlife has been broadcast far and wide over the years.
And, just as it was the late legend’s passion for conservation that made Australia fall in love with him, so too was it Steve’s love for animals that caused Terri to fall hard for the Crocodile Hunter.
However, their first meeting in 1991 almost didn’t happen, with Terri, 61, revealing that she actually didn’t want to go to the wildlife park that we now know as Australia Zoo on that fateful day.
She had been visiting Australia with a group of friends at the time, and they were all keen to visit the park, but she wasn’t convinced because she thought all the animals would be in captivity.
“We’d had a late night the night before, and I was really tired,” she recalled on the Teen Beat with Danielle Fishel podcast.
“So while we’re driving back to Brisbane, I was kind of dozing in the back seat and the person driving the car said, ‘there’s like a little wildlife park here. Do you want to see it?’
“And I go, ‘you know, sometimes those little wildlife parks are just really depressing. I don’t know if I want to see a bunch of sad snakes and jars and I don’t know’.”
However, she revealed she decided to just “duck in” quickly and have a look because she thought she’d never be back in the area again, and was then blown away to see the kangaroos “wandering around” more freely.
After watching one “awesome” demonstration at the Zoo, she then agreed to go to another with a friend, and that was where she laid eyes on Steve for the first time.
She recalled thinking, “Who on earth is this man?” as she became enraptured by his storytelling and was impressed by his lack of ego, leading her to introduce herself to him.
“It wasn’t about him look how cool I am. It was about his deep love and respect for these animals,” she shared.
“So I thought, I’m gonna say hi to this guy.”
They then bonded over their shared love of predatory animals, with Terri telling him how she loved cougars because “they can kill an animal larger than themselves with just their teeth”, with Steve sharing the same sentiments about crocodiles.
And the rest is history! After spending a weekend together in Australia, Steve visited Terri in America, and eight months later, they were married.
Scroll on for a look back at their entire love story.
A love story for the ages
Terri and Steve tied the knot on June 4, 1992, in her grandmother’s church in Eugene, Oregon, before she moved to Australia to start a new life with him.
Reflecting on it all, Terri marked what would have been their 33rd wedding anniversary in a heartfelt Instagram post in June 2025.
“Today, 33 years ago, Steve and I were married in my grandmother’s church in Oregon,” she wrote with one of their wedding photos. “And it was the first day of my happily ever after. Every day I wake up with beautiful memories, so much love in my heart, and the promise of continuing his incredible legacy. I am truly blessed.❤️”
Bindi then shared the picture to her Instagram story and wrote: “Happy anniversary to my beautiful mum and dad.” At the bottom, she said her parents were “soulmates”.
Those who know Bindi Irwin and Chandler Powell’s love story will be aware that the young lovebirds met when Chandler was visiting Australia Zoo for a wakeboarding competition.
How did Terri and Steve Irwin meet?
There are some eerie similarities between Bindi and Chandler’s chance meeting and Terri and Steve’s first encounter. Right down to their nationalities.
Much like American Chandler was visiting Australia Zoo in 2013, American Terri was also visiting Australia in 1991 when she met her future husband Steve. And, according to the official Australia Zoo website, “it was love at first sight”.
Although the Irwins are best known for their legacy at Australia Zoo, Steve developed his conservation roots back in the 1970s, helping his parents at Beerwah Reptile Park, which would later grow to be the Australia Zoo we all know and love.
By the time the 1990s rolled around, animal-lover Steve had taken over the wildlife park. The then-29-year-old was busy managing the growing acreage when he ran into Terri Raines from Eugene, Oregon. And from the moment the then-27-year-old stepped foot in the wildlife park, it was clear the pair had a lot in common.
Steve was instantly smitten to learn that the American tourist had started her own wildlife rehabilitation facility called Cougar Country, which specialised in predatory mammals.
After Steve heard about Terri’s shared passion for animals, much like a cheetah, their love sped at an extraordinarily fast pace. Just a year after their first meeting, the wildlife-loving couple wed in Terri’s home in Oregon before returning to the land of the kangaroo.
The minute the khaki-clad pair said their vows, it was clear this union was not going to be your average one.
Rather than embark on a honeymoon, newlyweds Steve and Terri set out on a crocodile rescue mission, filming the entire journey. And thus, The Crocodile Hunter documentary series was born.
Just as Terri changed her last name to Irwin, the happy couple finally updated the sign outside their growing wildlife park to read ‘Australia Zoo’.
As they were blissfully in love and building an animal empire, Steve and Terri were met with the exciting news that they would soon be welcoming another addition to the park. Though this time not of the furry variety.
That’s right, back in 1998, the wildlife warriors gave birth to their first child, Bindi, who they named after one of Steve’s favourite crocodiles, which also translates to ‘young girl’ in certain Indigenous Australian dialects.
Then, five years later, in 2003, little Bindi gained a brother as Steve’s mini-me, Robert was born.
As new parents, Steve and Terri were kept busy growing both their family and Australia Zoo, the loved-up couple also filled their days filming animal documentaries to share their message of conservation all around the world.
Then, in 2006, disaster fell upon the family.
How did Steve Irwin die?
On September 4th, 2006, Steve Irwin was snorkelling in the Great Barrier Reef when he was tragically struck by a stingray. The fatal accident reached ears all over the globe as people far and wide mourned the great Crocodile Hunter alongside his wife and two kids.
Following Steve’s death, the grieving family carried on at Australia Zoo. However, 18 months later, Steve’s Dad, Bob Irwin, left the wildlife park after a reported falling out with Terri over the direction of the zoo.
Nowadays, Terri, Bindi, and Rob run the joint, along with Bindi’s husband, Chandler, of course. Plus, we can’t forget the latest Wildlife Warrior to join the ranks in March 2021 – Bindi and Chandler’s first daughter, Grace Warrior Irwin Powell.
Though he may be gone, Steve will never be forgotten as Terri continues to find sweet ways to honour the great love of her life.
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