Terri Irwin Marks 35 Years Since Meeting ‘The Most Incredible Man,’ Steve Irwin

MEGA

Thirty-five years ago, Terri Irwin‘s life changed with a chance encounter at a wildlife park in Queensland, Australia. There, she met Steve Irwin, the man who would become her husband and soulmate in an extraordinary life. Now, Terri is looking back on that unforgettable day, celebrating the love, family, and adventures that grew from their first meeting.

Terri Irwin Looks Back At ‘Chance Meeting’ With ‘The Crocodile Hunter’

On October 6, Terri Irwin marked 35 years since first meeting “the most incredible man,” her late husband Steve Irwin, at a roadside wildlife park in Queensland.

She commemorated the life-changing moment by sharing a photo of Steve holding a snake in front of her face. “I always felt like Steve and I were more than soulmates. Our life’s purpose was even bigger. I am truly blessed to live a life so full of love, family, and adventure,” Terri captioned the post.

“The most beautiful love story,” Bindi Irwin, the couple’s 28-year-old daughter, commented.

The sweet post drew hundreds of comments praising the couple’s relationship, calling it the “definition of true love.”

Terri Irwin Was On An Australian Tour When She Met The Conservationist

MEGA

Steve came from a family that was deeply involved in wildlife and conservation. His father was a reptile expert, and his mother rehabilitated wildlife. In 1970, his parents founded the Beerwah Reptile Park in Queensland, now known as Australia Zoo.

In October 1991, a couple of days after Steve took over the park’s management, he met Terri, who was visiting from the U.S. The two instantly connected over their love of wildlife, and in June 1992, they tied the knot in her hometown of Eugene, Oregon.

As noted on the zoo’s website, the couple chose a wildlife adventure and shot a documentary instead of a traditional honeymoon. The footage eventually became the first episode of the series “The Crocodile Hunter,” which catapulted Steve to worldwide fame and earned him the nickname he would become known by.

The Irwins Keep Steve’s Legacy Alive

MEGA

Steve and Terri welcomed their first child, a daughter named Bindi, in 1998. Five years later, Terri gave birth to son Robert.

In 2006, Steve tragically died while filming the documentary “Ocean’s Deadliest.” He and a cameraman were filming underwater when an unprovoked stingray repeatedly struck Steve in the chest with its serrated barb, as recounted by his crew members on “60 Minutes Australia.”

Steve’s family carries on his legacy and manages Australia Zoo together. Terri serves as the chairman and oversees day-to-day operations, while Bindi is a conservationist and zookeeper. Robert has also followed in his family’s footsteps as a zookeeper and wildlife photographer.

• Steve Irwin’s friend claims he foreshadowed his death before the accident.
• Robert Irwin became emotional after seeing a wax figure of his late father.
• Bindi Irwin celebrated her “extraordinary parents'” anniversary.
• Terri Irwin said she got her “happily ever after” with Steve.
• The Irwin family has earned two Mirrorball Trophies in “Dancing With the Stars.”

Terri Irwin Isn’t Interested In Finding A Romantic Partner

Over the years, Terri has repeatedly said she has found true love in Steve and isn’t interested in looking for a partner.

In 2016, a decade after Steve’s death, Terri said she has not been on a single date since her husband’s passing, per TODAY. While she admitted to being “lonely for Steve,” she isn’t a “lonely person” and does not feel the need to find a new partner.

In 2024, Terri said that while there are many “wonderful men,” there is no one like Steve. “I’d be like, ‘I love that you’re a librarian and the Dewey Decimal System is cool, but I got to go jump a crocodile and do that,'” she told Us Weekly.

Bindi And Robert Find Inspiration In Their Parents’ Love

MEGA

Bindi and Robert look up to their parents’ relationship and have often described them as their inspiration in finding a partner.

Bindi’s relationship with her husband, Chandler Powell, echoed her parents’ love story. Powell, an American tourist, met Bindi at the Australia Zoo. The couple wed in 2020 at the zoo and welcomed a daughter in 2021.

Robert has not publicly confirmed his relationship status. In 2025, he jokingly told PEOPLE he was “waiting for stars to align,” mentioning his mother and sister’s relationships.

“In both instances, there were American tourists that were coming over and visiting the zoo. So I’m waiting. I’m waiting for that American tourist to come into the zoo and for it all to happen,” he jokingly said.

The Terri Irwin Marks 35 Years Since Meeting ‘The Most Incredible Man,’ Steve Irwin first appeared on The Blast