His red motorbike is his main mode of transportation around the zoo. As he motors by a little girl and her mom, the girl smiles, yet looks stunned that she just saw the Crocodile Hunter in the flesh.
In the days leading up to Croc Hunter Live, word spread that Steve would be at the zoo. That, coupled with the Queen's Birthday celebration, a three-day holiday akin to our Labor Day or Memorial Day, has driven tons of people to the zoo with the hope of seeing or meeting Steve.
Heather Baldwin's eyes grow wide when she's asked if she's excited to see the Crocodile Hunter during rehearsal for Croc Hunter Live.
"I don't like zoos very much, but I wanted to come here," Baldwin, an 18-year-old from England, says. "I watch all his programs."
She made a point of putting the zoo on her itinerary while backpacking from Sydney to Cairns, Alice Springs and back, since she and her boyfriend are huge fans.
"He's so funny when he goes up to venomous things and toys about with them," she says.
During Monday's Croc Hunter Live, a group of teenage girls, who look like Britney Spears would be more their kind of idol, get up enough gumption to call out to Steve, who rides by again on his bike.
"Steve!" One yells out. He turns to greet them and they shyly turn their heads, courage melting away. When Steve drives off they disappear in to the crowd, probably plotting their next daring attempt to get the Crocodile Hunter's attention.
Tim Lo, from Ontario, Canada, inches his way toward the stage to get a photo of Steve, angling his zoom lens past other fans' heads. He has been living in Australia for a few months for work and finally got a chance to tour around the country and make a special stop at the zoo.
"He pretty much looks the same [as he does on TV]," he says. "His hair is a little lighter."
Lo, who loves watching the Crocodile Hunter in Canada, was surprised to find Steve at the zoo. Seeing Steve is one of the highlights of his travels.
"It's pretty up there, probably among the top three."
Dannee Saylor from Florida has positioned herself right in front of the stage and is waving a piece of paper and a pen.
"Hi Steve! Would you sign an autograph?" she shouts. He obliges.
"For the last 10 years, I promised my son that he could meet him and now he's 21 and were here," she says, with son Bill beaming brightly next to her.
"I want to be a volunteer at the zoo," he says. "My fiancee is a vet, and we would love to move to Australia and live here."
Mom seems almost as cowed by the Croc Hunter as her son. The two of them are among the few spectators closest to the helicopter action during Monday's live event. After the helicopter makes its drop and moves over the food
court, Saylor says, "Wow! Let's do that again!"