Best Zoos in Australia for Families
Australia has some of the world's best zoos, and nearly all of them cater brilliantly to families. Whether you're looking for close animal encounters, educational programs, or just a great day out, here's our guide to the best zoos across the country.
Melbourne
Royal Melbourne Zoo — Parkville
Australia's oldest zoo and still one of its best. The Trail of the Elephants, gorilla enclosure, and new penguin exhibit are standouts. The zoo is set within Royal Park, so you can combine it with the excellent nature playground nearby.
Price: Adults $44, Kids $22, Under 4 free, Weekend family pass $110 Getting there: Tram 58 from the city drops you at the gate Time needed: 3–5 hours Highlights: Elephant Trail, butterfly house, kangaroo encounter Tip: The zoo is quieter on weekday mornings. Head to the elephants first — they're most active in the morning.
Healesville Sanctuary — Yarra Valley
If your kids love Australian animals, Healesville is unmissable. Set in beautiful Yarra Valley bushland, it focuses exclusively on native wildlife — platypus, wombats, echidnas, koalas, and the spectacular Birds of Prey show.
Price: Adults $44, Kids $22, Under 4 free Time needed: 2–4 hours Highlights: Platypus viewing (one of the few places to see them reliably), Birds of Prey show, koala encounter Tip: Book the platypus close-up experience — it's small group and you learn fascinating things.
Werribee Open Range Zoo — Werribee
A safari-style experience on Melbourne's western fringe. The guided bus tour through the African savannah section — with giraffes, zebras, and hippos — is genuinely exciting for kids. It feels completely different to a traditional zoo.
Price: Adults $44, Kids $22, Under 4 free Time needed: 3–4 hours Highlights: Safari bus tour, gorilla enclosure, slumber safari (overnight stays) Tip: Sit on the left side of the safari bus for the best views.
Sydney
Taronga Zoo — Mosman
Perched on the harbour with views of the Sydney Opera House and city skyline, Taronga is as much about the setting as the animals. The Sky Safari cable car ride from the ferry wharf to the zoo entrance is an experience in itself.
Price: Adults $52, Kids $31, Under 4 free Getting there: Ferry from Circular Quay (12 minutes) Time needed: 4–6 hours Highlights: Sky Safari, seal show, giraffe feeding, harbour views from every angle Tip: Take the ferry — kids love arriving by boat, and the views are spectacular. Start at the top and walk downhill.
Featherdale Wildlife Park — Doonside
A more intimate, hands-on experience than Taronga. Kids can hand-feed kangaroos and wallabies, get up close to koalas, and see Tasmanian devils, wombats and cassowaries. It's smaller and cheaper than Taronga but the close encounters are unbeatable.
Price: Adults $38, Kids $24, Under 3 free Time needed: 2–3 hours Highlights: Koala encounters, kangaroo feeding (included in entry), reptile house Tip: Arrive at opening for the best animal interactions — feeding times are busiest at midday.
Brisbane
Australia Zoo — Beerwah (Sunshine Coast)
The Irwin family's famous zoo lives up to the hype. The Crocoseum show is world-class, the Africa section is impressive, and the whole place radiates the Irwin family's genuine passion for wildlife conservation.
Price: Adults $62, Kids $38, Under 3 free Getting there: About 1 hour north of Brisbane CBD Time needed: 5–7 hours (full day) Highlights: Crocoseum live show, tiger walk, hand-feeding elephants Tip: This is a full day trip — don't try to rush it. The Crocoseum show runs at midday; grab seats 30 minutes early.
Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary — Fig Tree Pocket
The world's oldest and largest koala sanctuary. You can hold a koala here (Queensland still allows it), hand-feed kangaroos, and watch platypus feeding. It's smaller and more focused than Australia Zoo but easier to reach from Brisbane CBD.
Price: Adults $49, Kids $35, Under 3 free Time needed: 2–3 hours Highlights: Koala holding ($25 extra for photo), kangaroo feeding, sheepdog show Tip: Book the first koala holding session of the day — the koalas are most alert in the morning.
Perth
Perth Zoo — South Perth
A compact but excellent zoo with a strong focus on conservation. The Australian Bushwalk section lets you walk among free-roaming kangaroos, and the nocturnal house (numbats, bilbies, quokkas) showcases animals you won't see anywhere else.
Price: Adults $36, Kids $18, Under 4 free Getting there: Ferry across the Swan River from Elizabeth Quay Time needed: 3–4 hours Highlights: Australian Bushwalk, nocturnal house, orangutan viewing Tip: Take the ferry from Elizabeth Quay — it's the best way to arrive and kids love the boat ride.
Adelaide
Adelaide Zoo — CBD
One of the few city-centre zoos in the world, Adelaide Zoo is walkable from Rundle Mall. The panda exhibit (Wang Wang and Fu Ni) is unique in Australia. The nature playground within the zoo is one of the best zoo playgrounds we've seen.
Price: Adults $40, Kids $22, Under 4 free Time needed: 3–4 hours Highlights: Giant pandas, immersive rainforest exhibit, nature playground Tip: The pandas are most active first thing in the morning and late afternoon. Midday they're usually sleeping.
Monarto Safari Park — Murray Bridge
Adelaide Zoo's sister property, about an hour from the CBD. Like Werribee in Melbourne, it's an open-range safari experience with guided bus tours through lion, giraffe, and cheetah enclosures.
Price: Adults $44, Kids $24, Under 4 free Time needed: 3–5 hours Highlights: Safari bus tour, cheetah encounter, lion feeding Tip: Book the VIP cheetah experience if it's available — it's incredible for animal-loving kids.
Comparing Prices
| Zoo | Adult | Child | Under | |-----|-------|-------|-------| | Melbourne Zoo | $44 | $22 | 4 free | | Taronga Zoo | $52 | $31 | 4 free | | Australia Zoo | $62 | $38 | 3 free | | Perth Zoo | $36 | $18 | 4 free | | Adelaide Zoo | $40 | $22 | 4 free |
Tips for Zoo Visits With Kids
- Arrive at opening — animals are most active in the morning, and you'll beat the crowds
- Bring a pram — even if your kids usually walk. Zoos involve a lot of walking and tired legs lead to meltdowns
- Pack lunch — zoo food is expensive. Most have picnic areas with shade
- Download the map — most zoos have apps with GPS wayfinding. Plan your route to avoid backtracking
- Check show times — seal shows, bird shows and feeding times are often the highlight for kids. Plan your day around them
- Sunscreen and hats — you're outdoors for hours. Reapply at lunchtime
Browse all zoos across Australia on Family Action for ratings, photos and visitor reviews.