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Melbourne Zoo

  • Museums
  • Parkville
  1. Two children watch a seal in a tank at Melbourne Zoo
    Photograph: Visit Victoria
  2. A tiger with its mouth open at Melbourne Zoo.
    Photograph: Jo Howell
  3. A koala in a tree at Melbourne Zoo.
    Photograph: Jo Howell
  4. An elephant and its calf at Melbourne Zoo.
    Photograph: Jo Howell
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Time Out says

When’s the last time you went on a Melbourne Zoo adventure?

Every trip to Melbourne Zoo is different. Despite being Australia’s oldest zoo, this vibrant animal world is constantly evolving, with new exhibits, events and, of course, creatures great and small. 

A trip to Melbourne Zoo done right takes a day. The largest exhibit is the majestic Wild Sea, where penguins and seals bask on land before slipping into clear waters and showcasing their elegant aquatic skills. Another highlight is the sprawling Orangutan Sanctuary, where a family of beautiful, intelligent orangutans swing from tree to tree, play with each other and feed high off the ground. Then there’s the Trail of the Elephant: an immersive Asian village and garden where five Asian elephants thrive. 

We could go on and on about the lions, lemurs, meerkats, butterflies and native animals that you’ll encounter, but we’ll let you discover it all for yourself. Throughout your Melbourne Zoo experience, you’ll learn about all the conservation work that happens behind the scenes; saving wildlife, conserving habitats and raising awareness of initiatives like palm oil labelling. For children and adults alike, a trip to Melbourne Zoo is a way to reconnect with our animal friends and gain a closer understanding of the delicate ecosystems of the world.

Can't see enough during the day? Melbourne Zoo also runs 'Roar 'n' Snore' overnight camp, where you can sleep at the zoo in the historical elephant exhibit. Drift off to sleep listening to the calls of the animals, and when you wake in the morning you'll be able to meet the keepers and go on an exclusive guided tour. Melbourne Zoo provides tents and camping mattresses, plus dinner, supper and breakfast. Roar 'n' Snore also includes admission to the zoo the next day, so you can spend the whole day exploring animals you heard in the night.

If it’s been a while between visits, then there’s a world of adventure waiting for you.

Children aged under 16 get in for free on weekends, public holidays and the school holidays (Mon-Fri $23), and adult tickets are $46.

Want more family-friendly fun? These are the best activities for kids in Melbourne.

Leah Glynn
Written by
Leah Glynn

Details

Address:
Elliott Ave
Parkville
Melbourne
3052
Transport:
Nearby stations: Royal Park, Buses: Royal Park
Price:
Up to $46
Opening hours:
Daily 9am-5pm

What’s on

Dinosaurs at the Zoo

Working in a secret lab, scientists at Victoria's main four zoos have discovered a way to clone dinosaur DNA, found inside mosquitoes trapped in amber. They've filled in the missing sequences using frog DNA to create moving, roaring dinosaurs, which you can see until July throughout the zoos. What could possibly go wrong? OK, we might have got a little bit over-excited about the prospect of dinosaurs at the zoo. These dinosaurs are large-scale models of these ancient beasts, but they will be roaming around at Healesville, Werribee, Kyabram and Melbourne zoos once again. If you're lucky, you might see a keeper waking a sleeping dinosaur, or come face to face with a moving prehistoric creature. At Melbourne Zoo, keen explorers can explore the Dino Trail and embark on an adventure into The Lost Wild tunnels and unearth hidden fossils, while enjoying dino-themed treats or tackling a scavenger hunt. Or at Werribee Zoo, become a palaentologist and go on a dino dig to excavate fossils or navigate volcanoes and lava streams. There will be daily activities and plenty of dino facts to learn, with each of the four zoos offering slightly different experiences and activities.  All four dino experiences are running from now until July 14 and the cost is included in zoo admission. Opening hours vary slightly for each zoo. For more information, visit the Zoos Victoria website. So go on and make a visit, before they go extinct again.  Looking for more things to do? Here's a guide to what's o

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