Robert Irwin's hometown hosts lookalike contest to celebrate wildlife warrior's return home

Robert Irwin's return to Australia has been celebrated with a lookalike search in his home town.

Hundreds turned out as the Sunshine Coast community hosted a lookalike contest to find the wildlife warrior's unofficial doppelganger.

"To welcome Robert Irwin home after six months, we had a bit of fun," Visit Sunshine Coast chief executive Matt Stoeckel said.

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"If Bindi Irwin had been here, she would have done a double take."

Thirty contestants battled it out on Kings Beach at Caloundra for the coveted title and bragging rights.

Robert lookalikes of all shapes and sizes strutted their stuff on a beachside catwalk in front of 300 people.

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Lookalike hopefuls tried to win over the judges with a range of props including toy crocodiles, blond wigs and the iconic khakis.

Stoeckel said the stakes were high with strict criteria to claim the crown.

"You had to own the crikey with confidence, you had to have that Robert Irwin physique and really be able to entertain the crowd with a bit of dance moves and some croc wrestling," he said.

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Caloundra father Ben Marshall took out the coveted title.

His striking similarity helped him win $500 in cash but it was his dance moves that got him over the line.

"I was up all night practising, so yeah, I'm glad I took out the win," Marshall said.

The real Robert took to social media to describe the contest as "classic".

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