Explore Nature And Wildlife At Australia’s Oldest Zoo - The Melbourne Zoo
Located at the heart of Melbourne, the Melbourne Zoo is a prime hotspot in Australia. It is a shelter to over 320 species of animals and more than 70,000 species of plants. With more than 2.5 million people visiting every year, the zoo is open throughout the year for you to explore. Here is a quick guide to the Melbourne Zoo!
About Melbourne Zoo
The Royal Melbourne Zoological Gardens, otherwise popularly known as the Melbourne Zoo is one of the biggest and the oldest zoological parks in Australia and truly a great tourist place to visit in Melbourne. Located in the Royal Park in the Parkville region of Melbourne, the zoo houses more than 5000 animals, with several being native to the country.
Official name: Royal Melbourne Zoological Gardens
Location: Elliott Ave, Parkville VIC 3052, Australia
Date of Opening: 6 October 1862
Number of Visitors Per Year: Over 2.5 million people visit the zoo every year.
Number of Species: 320
Why Visit Melbourne Zoo?
- Melbourne Zoo is one of the largest zoological parks in Australia and is situated within a 4 km radius of Melbourne’s city center.
- The Zoo is a primary serving habitat to over 300 different species of animals, most of which include Australian natives.
- It is situated amidst beautiful gardens and is divided into various bioclimatic zones.
- Take a long stroll along the Elephant Trail and see the mesmerizing Asian elephants up close.
- Enjoy a nice picnic with your entire family in designated spots within the zoo where you can spread your basket and enjoy!
- Witness how the zoo is designed to meet the requirements of the animals housed within its shelter, ensuring a comfortable setup.
- Check out the most popular exhibits in the zoo – Butterfly House, Orangutan Sanctuary, Predator precinct, and Australian Outback.
Why is Melbourne Zoo So Famous?
- Melbourne Zoo is Australia’s favorite and oldest zoo that boasts around 350 animal species on 22 hectares of grounds and enclosures.
- The zoo is an ideal place to learn about endangered species and environmental conservation in Australia.
- It includes a schooling section that caters to many school visitors every year and is a great education for young minds to conserve animals.
- You can get hold of Australian native animals like Kangaroos, Koalas, and more.
- A great escape from the city hustle where you can pet the most iconic species of animals in Australian lands.
Melbourne Zoo History
Australia’s famous Melbourne Zoo is one of the oldest and was modeled after the London Zoo. After its opening on 6 October 1862 at the Royal Park site on the land donated by the City of Melbourne, the zoo was initially used for the acclimatization of animals that were brought to Australia. Gradually, after the appointment of Albert Alexander Cochrane Le Souef in 1870, the gardens were developed with the addition of exotic animals for public display.
On your visit, you can witness the historical cages with the heritage-listed Elephant House, which has now been revamped for visitors paying to sleep overnight in tents at the zoo in Roar and Snore evenings. In 2012, the Melbourne Zoo commemorated around 150 years of operation.
Getting to Melbourne Zoo
Address: Elliott Ave, Parkville VIC 3052, Australia
Situated in the Royal Park premises in the Parkville region of Melbourne, the zoo is around 4 km north of the center of the city. The zoo is the primary serving habitat for many animals in Melbourne, it is home to more than 320 species of animals. A lot of these species are native to Australia and other parts of the globe.
Melbourne Zoo Opening Hours
General Timings: Melbourne Zoo is open every day, irrespective of the day of the week, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Last Admission: The last admission to the zoo is at 4:30 PM
Closed: The zoo is functional all year round.
Best Time to Visit: The best time of the week to visit the zoo is during weekdays as you can expect a thinner crowd.
Duration of Visit: I will take you at least 4 to 5 hours to explore the entire zoo.
Know MoreWhat to See Inside Melbourne Zoo
Growing Wild
Once you enter the main gate of the zoo, you will discover an interactive play area called the Growing Wild, designed for children that has plenty of meerkats, reptiles, insects, tortoises, and more.
Gorilla Rainforest
Recreating an African jungle theme, the Gorilla Rainforest consists of monkeys and apes that roam in the open. It is no less than a gorilla land!
Trail of the Elephant
Get an insight into the endangered Asian elephant and witness the creature in its very own habitat. This is Melbourne Zoo’s award-winning Asian village and can be explored with free guided tours.
Wild Sea
An underwater space that houses animals and plants from Victoria’s coast and ocean, where you can enjoy watching beautiful penguins and seals.
Lion Gorge
Your next stop will be at Lion Gorge where you will be in close proximity to some of the ferocious creatures like the Lions, African wild dogs, Snow Leopards, to name a few amongst the many.
Frogs and Reptiles
Spot frogs, chameleons, large-sized lizards, and a lot more in this zone.
Larger Than Life
Get a chance to walk between the tallest creatures in the animal kingdom; giraffes. You can also spot many other animals within this zone, such as baboons and zebras.
Australian Bush
Before you bid goodbye to the zoo, go on an adventure at the Australian Bush swamped with native birds, wombats, Koalas, Kangaroos, and a lot more.
Melbourne Zoo FAQs
A. Melbourne Zoo is one of the largest zoological parks in Australia and is a great tourist destination in Melbourne. The zoo acts as a primary habitat for a lot of animals in Melbourne and is home to more than 300 species of animals.
A. Melbourne Zoo is a popular zoo in Australia that is situated within the Royal Park in Parkville, north of the city.
A. Known for being the country’s oldest zoo, it was modeled on London Zoo. The zoo is famous for serving as the primary zoo in Melbourne with more than 300 various species from Australia and across the globe.
A. Melbourne Zoo offers a great escape from all the chatter and bustle of the city and is home to more than 300 animal species including the Australian natives. Now that is a true sight to witness!
A. If you wish to visit the Melbourne Zoo in Australia, you can book your tickets online well in advance. Since it is a popular tourist destination, it is quite possible for you to run out of tickets.
A. Your Melbourne Zoo tickets start from AU$40.
A. The Melbourne Zoo was opened on 6 October 1862 at the Royal Park, over land which was given by the City of Melbourne.
A. With more than 5000 animals in the zoo, the space has more than 300 animal species from Australia and from all over the world.
A. The Melbourne Zoo is open on all days of the week from 9 AM to 5 PM.
A. Melbourne Zoo is one of the most popular zoos in Victoria and in Australia consisting of numerous animals, birds, reptiles, that have been provided shelter with a well-designed habitat favorable to them.
A. The Melbourne Zoo consists of one of the largest zoos in Australia and offers you a wide range of animals from the Australian natives. The space also acts as an entertainment center for kids, giving them an insight into the various animals and their habitats.