The wildlife conservationist shared a snap to his Instagram Stories as he celebrated some downtime

Robert Irwin.Credit : Eric McCandless/Disney via Getty

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Robert Irwin is enjoying a day in nature
The Dancing with the Stars champ revealed how he’s finally spending his downtime after a busy month of movie debuts, competition wins and special zoo projects
“First day off in months,” Irwin wrote

Robert Irwin is enjoying some much-deserved downtime.

The Dancing with the Stars winner and wildlife conservationist, who just celebrated his 22nd birthday, had a rare day off on Thursday, Dec. 4, as he shared a photo on his Instagram Stories to mark the occasion.

The image of Irwin’s day off, which he soundtracked with Jack Johnson’s “Do You Remember,” featured a glimpse of his time spent under a tree with an acoustic guitar, book and an apparent journal as he kicked back on a blanket.

“First day off in months,” Irwin wrote over the sunny day snap. “So nice 🙌.”

Robert Irwin’s Instagram Stories.Robert Irwin/Instagram

Irwin’s outdoors getaway comes amid his Dancing with the Stars victory alongside Witney Carson on Nov. 25, his movie debut in Zootopia 2 (as Robert Furwin, of course) and the announcement of a “passion project” at the Australia Zoo.

On Tuesday, Dec. 2, Irwin revealed that he’s “heading back home” to work with the Crocodile Hunter Lodge at the zoo, which opened in 2022. “It has been quite the passion project that we’ve been working on,” he said, calling the venue “a way to really properly welcome everyone to our home.”

Irwin also expressed gratitude for the “incredible” support he’s received in the U.S., adding that it’s been “really cool to see” people now visiting the Australia Zoo.

Irwin and Carson, 32, secured the Mirrorball Trophy during the DWTS season 34 finale, 10 years after his sister, Bindi, did the same with Derek Hough during season 21. While speaking with The Hollywood Reporter about the latest family milestone, Robert touched on the possibility of their mom, Terri Irwin, following in their footsteps and becoming the third Irwin to win the series.

“Listen, the petition to have my mom on Dancing With the Stars has begun, and I started it,” Robert joked. “I started this season, and she is firmly like, ‘Nope, I’m not doing it. That’s not for me.’ And I’m like, ‘Well, I’m gonna wear you down.’ “

He added, “So let’s wear her down and get her on there, because I think she would be great.”

Robert, who danced with his mother back in October to Phil Collins’ “You’ll Be in My Heart,” told PEOPLE during the competition that she “exemplifies” strength and serves as a role model for him. “I think so many people forget what strong means,” Robert said. “You think strong is like steadfast, you show up, you just carry on, and everything’s fine. That’s not what strength is.”

“True strength is being able to find and feel your own vulnerability, your own emotion, and use that to carry yourself and to hopefully try and help others and to create a community,” he added. “And my mom is just such a kind and vulnerable and strong and steadfast human being, and she teaches me every day what it is to put one foot in front of the other, even when it’s so hard to do that.”