Where to Go in Melbourne: the 5 Best Zoos

1.Penguin Parade, & Wildlife Encounters Eco Tour from Melbourne

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3,774 reviews · from $118Our pick

Spend about 12 hours exploring Brighton Beach, Moonlit Sanctuary, Phillip Island’s Nobbies, and the famous Penguin Parade. Go West guides such as Cloe, Jools, Graeme, and Aleks are known for lively wildlife commentary. The small penguins appear after dark, so bring warm layers.

“We had a wonderful time on the Penguin Parade & Moonlit Sanctuary Tour. Jess was an amazing tour guide — very friendly, welcoming, cheerful and responsible. It was a very well organized and memorable trip. Would highly recommend everyone !”

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2.Werribee Open Range Zoo: Entry Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 646 reviews · 1 day · from $37Best value

Explore Werribee Open Range Zoo on foot, then board the included safari bus across 200 hectares of open savannah. Look for giraffes, zebras, rhinos, and kangaroos, and plan time for lion, gorilla, hippo, meerkat, and koala exhibits. Keeper talks and accessible paths add value for families.

“Great zoo! Easy to get around and plenty to see. Loved the hippo experience and deluxe safari.”

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3.Melbourne Zoo General Entry Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 333 reviews · from $40

Use your mobile ticket to explore Melbourne Zoo at your own pace. See more than 320 species, including koalas, platypuses, penguins, elephants, giraffes, gorillas, orangutans, and lemurs. Keeper talks, children’s play areas, cafés, and public transport access make this a flexible family day out.

“Love visiting the Melbourne Zoo. Love the lions and giraffes. The zoo is kept clean. Staff are helpful. It was a great day and great experience.”

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4.Werribee Open Range Zoo General Admission Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 143 reviews · from $40

Spend about three hours at Werribee Open Range Zoo, combining general admission with a 40-minute safari bus through open grassland. See rhinos, giraffes, lions, hippos, gorillas, monkeys, and Australian wildlife, then add keeper talks, walking trails, playgrounds, and food stops at your own pace.

“This was an amazing experience. I will definitely go again. It was great seeing the animals up and close.”

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5.Deluxe Safari Adventure at Werribee Open Range Zoo – excl. entry

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 68 reviews · from $43

Join a 75-minute 4WD safari across Werribee Open Range Zoo’s open plains. A guide such as Brontë or Jill may bring you close to giraffes, rhinos and zebras while explaining animal care and breeding programs. The tour is limited to 20 people, but zoo admission is not included.

“Absolutely fantastic! The truck is set up so well with seating so everyone gets a view and they go off road to interact closely with the animals but with respect to the animals. The guide talked about their fabulous breeding programs throughout. I would definitely recommend”

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