Melbourne Zoo Hours, Tickets & Tips (2024)

Melbourne Zoo (Royal Melbourne Zoological Gardens) in Parkville, 4 km from CBD, is Australia's oldest zoo (1862).

Opening Hours

• Summer (Oct–Apr): 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (last entry 4:00 PM)
• Winter (May–Sep): 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM (last entry 3:30 PM)
• Open daily including Christmas (reduced hours)
• Twilight events: Select summer evenings (Zoo Twilights concerts)

Admission (2024, AUD)

Online booking recommended (guaranteed entry, cheaper). Zoos Victoria members: free entry.

Signature Experiences (Extra Cost)

• Close-up Encounters: Lemur, giraffe, meerkat, seal, tiger ($60–120)
• Keeper for a Day: $495
• Roar & Snore (overnight): $350+
• Wild Encounters (VIP): $295

Getting There

• Train: Upfield line → Royal Park Station (5 min walk)
• Tram: Route 58 (West Coburg → Toorak) → Melbourne Zoo stop
• Bus: 505 (Moonee Ponds → Melbourne Zoo)
• Car: $2/day parking (limited); bike racks available

Must-See Highlights

• Trail of the Elephants (Asian herd, barn view)
• Lion Gorge (predator-prey dynamic)
• Orangutan Sanctuary (elevated boardwalk)
• Wild Sea (penguins, seals, fiddler rays)
• Butterfly House (tropical walk-through)
• Frog Conservation (captive breeding for endangered spp.)

Accessibility

Wheelchair hire (free), accessible trails (90%), sensory map, Changing Places facility, assistance animals welcome.