Blog

Werribee Open Range Zoo Works Update – Meerkat Bistro

Starting Monday, 15 July 2024 the Meerkat Bistro at Werribee Open Range will be working to enhance the Bistro’s Kitchen. During these works, the Bistro will remain open, however the menu will be reduced temporarily.

Thank you for your patience and understanding during these works.

Published 13 July 2024

The Bravest Platypus We’ve Met

An important reminder to always safely dispose of fishing hooks and wire! This little cutie swam into some trouble and was found tangled in debris on a creek bed in Victoria's northeast.

Despite grim looking X-rays, vets at Healesville Sanctuary's Australian Wildlife Health Centre worked quickly, placing the Platypus under general anaesthetic, snipping off the tip of the hook and sliding the metal back through the piercing hole.

After some much needed rest and rehabilitation, the platypus was able to return back to its home. The best outcome we were hoping for.

Zoos Victoria and the Victorian Fisheries Authority are working together to untangle the threats to aquatic wildlife by installing Seal the Loop bins to prevent potentially harmful materials entering the water. There are more than 300 brightly coloured bins all around Victoria’s coastlines and waterways.

*Warning: video contains medical footage*

Published 13 July 2024

Spirits of the Sky

From Monday 15 July 2024 to Friday 20 September 2024 Healesville Sanctuary’s will only be running the 12pm presentation of Spirits of the Sky during weekdays.

The 12pm and 3pm presentations will continue to run as normal during weekends and public holidays.

Published 13 July 2024

NAIDOC Week: Keep the Fire Burning

City of Melbourne (CoM) annually acknowledges NAIDOC Week through its public programs, activities and events that facilitate opportunities for people to come together and learn, understand and value Australia’s Aboriginal heritage and cultures, and work together to address Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander disadvantage.

Melbourne Zoo is proud to host one of this year’s City of Melbourne NAIDOC Week events on Sunday 14th July.

For more information: head to the website.

Published 13 July 2024

New digs for Waru

Kyabram Fauna Park has recently opened the new upgraded and expanded Koala Habitat. Kyabram Fauna Park’s newest resident, Waru has moved across to the newly completed Habitat.

Published 13 July 2024

Werribee Open Range Zoo Works Update - Deluxe Safari

While works are underway at Werribee open Range Zoo to build the new Elephant Habitat, Deulxe Safari Adventures, Giraffe Experiences, and Early Morning Savannah Tours will depart from the old Safari Station.

The old Safari Station can be found at the end of the Meerkate Bistro (past the sand-pit).

Published 13 July 2024

Starting on Monday, 8th of July 2024, the regular schedule for the Penguin talks at Melbourne Zoo will be shifting to 4 pm instead of the usual 3:45 pm. This alteration is anticipated to remain in effect for a duration of 3 months.

Good News from the Zoos - July 2024

Your July 2024 edition of "Good News from the Zoos" is packed with exciting updates and giant achievements. From constructing the new Asian Elephant habitat at Werribee Open Range Zoo to a species release of epic proportions, this issue is sure to bring you all the feels. You'll also learn about a recent addition to Werribee Open Range Zoo's savannah and why one tall friend had a special trip to the dentist. Plus, see how Healesville Sanctuary's cutest residents begin their hibernation.

Get your dose of Good News

Wrap up the school holidays with Dinos After Dark

We know it feels early to talk about the end of the school holidays, but we love planning ahead for epic adventures! Picture this: Dinosaurs glowing under mesmerizing lights, carousel rides, marshmallow roasting, and airbrush tattoos. Plus, groove at the Wild Seas silent disco and treat yourself to yummy food at Lakeside Plaza. Perfect for wrapping up the school holidays with a bang, don't miss out on this incredible adventure before it disappears!

Have you booked your Office Christmas party yet?

It can be a jungle out there trying to secure the perfect spot for your office Christmas party. But don't worry; our Zoo Events team is here to make it a breeze. With fantastic event spaces at Melbourne Zoo and Werribee Open Range Zoo, we have everything you need for an unforgettable celebration. Whether it's festive drinks or a fun training day, we'll help you create memorable experiences surrounded by stunning gardens and incredible wildlife. Click the button below for more info.

Book your Zoo Event here.

Get your double discount for overnight adventures at Melbourne Zoo!

Get your double discount for overnGet ready for an unforgettable night at Melbourne Zoo with a double discount on our overnight experiences! For a limited time, members get 20% off when they book a Swags Under the Stars or Roar 'n' Snore at Melbourne Zoo during September 2024.

Get out into nature and discover the magic of an overnight adventure at Melbourne Zoo. Sip on some bubbly, enjoy a tasty dinner, and join the Melbourne Zoo team for a guided night tour to see what the animals are up to after dark.

This exclusive member offer is valid only for bookings made for September 2024. Starting 1 October 2024, member bookings will receive the standard member discount of 10%. Spots are limited, so seize your double discount before it's gone!

Published 4 July 2024

Enjoy 20% off at Oaks and Avani Hotels & Resorts

Zoos Victoria has partnered with Oaks Hotels, Resorts & Suites and Avani Hotels & Resorts to give Zoo Members 20% off when they book anywhere in Australia or New Zealand until 30 June 2025. So next time you're visiting an interstate zoo with your Zoos Victoria membership, make sure you take advantage of this amazing exclusive member offer!

Booking is easy. Simply click the button below to visit the Zoos Victoria Hotels & Resorts partner webpage. Then choose to visit either the Oaks Hotels, Resorts & Suites or Avani Hotels & Resorts website. Once on the selected partner website, search your holiday destination, travel dates and apply your unique member promotional code.

Your unique member promotional code is: ZOOSVIC2468

But that's not all! To celebrate the partnership, you could WIN A TWO-NIGHT STAY FOR TWO at any participating Oaks Hotels, Resorts & Suites. Book a stay between 27 June 2024 and 27 July 2024 and enter the code ZOOSVIC2468 at checkout to enter the competition.

Published 29 June 2024

Join The Mik Maks at Werribee Open Range Zoo these School Holidays

Mark your calendars for Saturday 6 July and Saturday 13 July for a special event at Werribee Open Range Zoo. The Mik Maks will be performing with shows at 10am and 12pm each day. This family band featuring Al, Joel, Ava and Drums the Panda, will deliver a special animal-themed musical extravaganza perfect for children aged 2-8 years. You never know where a Mik Maks show will take you, and this one is no exception! Don't miss this exciting event during school holidays. Free with admission.

Published 29 June 2024

Dinos: Say What?

Time's running out to see Dinos at the Zoo. Don't miss the ultimate dinosaur adventure at all four of your zoos before they leave 14 July 2024. Experience large, moving dinosaurs in a setting like no other, surrounded by lush zoo gardens and all your favourite animals. Get a sneak peek at Dinos at the Zoo and see what members and visitors are saying about their Dinos at the Zoo Experience

Published 29 June 2024

Meet Amy-Rose, our Animal Welfare Research Officer

With the support of our friends at Petstock, this role assists many of the welfare initiatives for the animals who call our zoos home. One of these animals is Sam, the Platypus at Melbourne Zoo. Keep watching to find out exactly how this role can help our understanding of this gorgeous species.

Published 29 June 2024

Crunchy or Smooth?

A common household favourite condiment is winning the hearts of animals at Werribee Open Range Zoo. Peanut butter is on the menu at the Zoo, with keepers revealing Western Lowland Gorillas, Vervet Monkeys, Plains Zebras and Slender-tailed Meerkats like to tuck into the iconic tasty treat.

Published 29 June 2024

70 Spotted Tree Frogs released!

70 juvenile Spotted Tree Frogs bred at Melbourne Zoo and Healesville Sanctuary were recently returned to the slopes of Mt Beauty as part of the species’ conservation breeding and release program.

Black Summer destroyed 50% of known Spotted Tree Frog habitat in Victoria so a key part of their conservation is ensuring healthy population numbers in mountain stream habitat across the state.

Zoos Victoria is part of a Recovery Team working to protect the Spotted Tree Frogs from extinction. Thank you to all our partners and donors for supporting this important work!

Published 29 June 2024

DINOS AFTER DARK AT MELBOURNE ZOO MEMBER PRE-SALE

Visit the captivating world of Dinos After Dark at Melbourne Zoo, when the sun sets, our dinosaurs awaken to transport you to a realm of prehistoric wonder under mesmerizing lights.

Explore Carousel Park and delight in complimentary carousel rides, marshmallow roasting, and temporary airbrush tattoos.

Dance In The Deep of Wild Seas at our silent disco then savour delectable food and drink offerings in Lakeside Plaza.

Join us for an unforgettable evening of exploration and excitement!

WHEN: Friday 5 & Saturday 6 July, Friday 12 & Saturday 13 July

Win 1 of 5 Family Passes to 1859!

Want to enjoy a match day in a premium family space? It’s as simple as submitting your details and you’ll be in the running to win 1 of 5 Family Passes to 1859, the Geelong Cats' newest premium membership offering. Featuring exclusive Lounge access and Level 2 seating, bar and dining facilities, and a Kids Zone, it’s the perfect place to experience the atmosphere with footy fans! Click the button below and enter your details to be the draw.

Published 13 June 2024

Big Moves: An Elephant Migration

Join keeper Sandrine as she prepares a variety of fresh greens and browse for members of the Asian Elephant herd – five adult females and three calves. She also explains the features of our elephant habitats at Melbourne Zoo and how the team is preparing the herd for their big move to Werribee Open Range Zoo at the end of 2024.

Published 13 June 2024

MELBOURNE ZOO WORKS UPDATE

Melbourne Zoo’s Reptile House will be closed on Monday 17 June 2024 from 1.00pm onwards for cleaning. We apologise for the inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.

Published 11 June 2024

Ravi's Health Check: A Slithering Success

Getting a 4-metre-long python to stay still for an x-ray is no easy feat, but Ravi at Kyabram Fauna Park was in good hands with our veterinarian team! The good news is that Ravi is as healthy as ever, tipping the scales at 24.5kg with no abnormalities found.

Published 11 June 2024

VCAA's voices survey now open

The VCAA (Victoria Curriculum Assessment Authority) is now conducting an online survey to capture the voices of parents/legal guardians, and their children, to inform the revision of the VEYLDF (Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework) and support resources.

The survey has 2 parts. Both parts take 15– - 20 mins to complete.

Part 1: Family voices. Engages the child’s parents/legal guardians and collects information around what is important to them about their child’s health, wellbeing, learning and development.

Part 2: Children’s voices. Engages the parents/legal guardians together with their child. While engaging in play, their child is asked a series of survey questions around what is important to them about their health, wellbeing, learning and development.

You can access the voices survey here, and it will be open until 22 November 2024.

To find out more about the VEYLDF Revision and stay connected with the VCAA please go to the VEYLDF Revision website and sign up for the Early Years Update.

For further information, please email: veyldf@education.vic.gov.au

Published 11 June 2024

Get to know the Spotted Tree Frog

Get to know our current Totes for Wildlife species: the Spotted Tree Frog (Litoria spenceri).

These special frogs live camouflaged amongst the rocks and vegetation alongside mountain streams in alpine Victoria and New South Wales.

Reaching 6cm in length, with usually bumpy (spotted) skin, they feature fantastically individual colouration ranging from bright green to dark brown and everything in between.

They have beautiful golden features; a gold stripe runs along the side of their body and their eyes feature a golden iris around their pupil.

Females lay an average cluster of 400 eggs attached to rocks under the water's surface during spring/summer, with tadpoles metamorphising to froglets approximately 3 months after hatching.

Healthy frog populations need healthy waterways. Due to several threats, such as chytrid fungus, predation by introduced fish species and habitat disturbance, including bushfires, Spotted Tree Frogs have disappeared from around 50% of their known habitat.

You can help the Spotted Tree Frog by buying your Totes for Wildlife bag now. Over 14,000 totes have been sold so far this year, with funds going directly into the conservation of these special frogs.

Published 11 June 2024

Member exclusive: Eyelash Viper Habitat

Reptile Keeper, Boyd, has created an amazing habitat for Melbourne Zoo’s colourful little Eyelash viper. The habitat has lots of unique features, like ‘living’ walls and uses plants from Central and South America that make up the snake’s habitat in the wild. Members can see the Eyelash viper in Melbourne Zoo’s Reptile House along with heaps of other interesting snakes, lizards and frogs.

Published 11 June 2024

Correction: Pride Cookies

We had previously advertised that each day in June we'll be giving the first 20 members who purchase a coffee at Melbourne Zoo and Werribee Open Range Zoo a complimentary Pride Month cookie with a purchase of coffee to celebrate pride month. Please note, when claiming a Pride Cookie at Melbourne Zoo these will only be available at Meerkcat Café.

Published 11 June 2024

Snow Leopard Experience Update

A big thank you to everyone who booked a Snow Leopard experience. You've made it one of the fastest-selling experiences in Zoos Victoria's history, with all sessions sold out until the end of December 2024.

Animal welfare is of the utmost importance to us, so while there are no immediate plans to release additional dates, we encourage those who missed out on the Snow Leopard experience to keep an eye on the website for cancellations or future release dates.

For those still seeking a unique feline encounter, Werribee Open Range Zoo has a variety of big cat experiences available to book online, including an up-close Lion experience (places limited), behind the scenes look at Kulinda the Cheetah’s Training experience, and a unique African Cat experience like no other.

Thank you again to all our fabulous Zoo Members. Your support means the world to us, and we couldn't fight wildlife extinction without your help.

Published 11 June 2024

Member DINOSAUR Scavenger HUNT - DOUBLE ENTRIES

To celebrate Dinosaur Day this Saturday (June 1, 2024), we're giving members double entries into the Members' Dinosaur Scavenger Hunt. Simply visit any of your four zoos between Saturday, 1 June - Sunday, 9 June and fill in your answers to our Dino quiz and you'll automatically get an extra entry into the draw. We've already given away 9 Prehistoric Prize Packs and with 6 more to give away, we can't wait to see who the next lucky winners will be!

RECONCILIATION WEEK AT HEALESVILLE SANCTUARY

This week is Reconciliation Week. Zoos Victoria acknowledges and respects the Traditional Owners as the original custodians of the land and waters, their ability to care for Country, and deep spiritual connect to it. We honour Elders past and present whose knowledge and wisdom has ensured the continuation of culture and traditional practices.

We would love to invite you to connect to culture at Healesville Sanctuary this coming Saturday 1 June and Sunday 2 June. We’ll be hosting multiple activities including Welcome to Country by Wurundjeri Elder Murrundindi, Indigenous Art Exhibition by students at Worawa Aboriginal College, weaving with Indigenous artist Nikki Browne, Serendipitous Culture with Lisa Hodgson, interactive art workshop with Indigenous artist Angie Cleaver and conversations with Aunty Sherree as she shares her culture and artefacts, plus more. 

Published 30 May 2024

MELBOURNE ZOO WORKS UPDATE

Maintenance works will be happening at Growing Wild and Binturong habitats from Wednesday 22 - Thursday 23 May 2024. These works are not expected to impact animal visibility during these times. We apologise for the inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.

Published 22 May 2024

Get to know our Snow Leopard family!

We're giving members a week-long presale for our limited Snow Leopard experience. Join our keepers and head behind-the-scenes to learn how we care for these incredible animals and the steps being taken to protect them in the wild. From food preparation to training sessions and enrichment, you'll learn all about Kang-Ju or Miska's personality and behaviours. This experience is only available for a limited time, so secure your spot before the experience opens to the general public on Monday 27 May 2024!

Published 20 May 2024

Join us for Pride Month: Free Rainbow Cookies at your Zoos

This June, Melbourne Zoo and Werribee Open Range Zoo are joining in on Pride Month celebrations with colourful rainbow-themed cookies. Each day we'll be giving the first 20 members who purchase a coffee a complimentary Pride Month cookie. To claim your cookie, just show your member card at time of purchase. It's just a delicious way to show your support and spread the love this Pride Month.

Published 30 April 2024

Zoos Victoria Careers Expo

Join Zoos Victoria experts on Friday 12 July 2024 at Melbourne Zoo for a full-day Career Expo. Designed for students in Years 9-12, this full-day event invites young minds to delve into the diverse world of wildlife, conservation, animal welfare, and more. The day will include: engaging panel discussions led by Zoo Specialists, exhibitors from scientific and educational institutions, and chances to win behind-the-scenes animal experience prizes. Attending students will also receive a welcome pack and itinerary and a 10% discount at zoo retail outlets on the day. To learn more and to book your ticket head to our website.

Published 20 May 2024

Stay and Save with BIG4 Yarra Valley Park Lane

Stay at BIG4 Yarra Valley Park Lane Holiday Park during Healesville Sanctuary’s 90th anniversary celebration and receive a Zoo Member exclusive 10% off your booking plus complimentary late checkout!

Simply, use the code ‘HS90’ when booking online or over the phone to receive your 10% discount. This offer is valid for any stay between Wednesday 22 May to Wednesday 29 May, and for all accommodation styles.

Published 20 May 2024

Members-only competition: Visit and Win an Animal Experience

We’re giving Zoo members the exclusive chance to win your choice of a Kangaroo or Koala experience at Healesville Sanctuary for 4 people.

To enter, simply visit Healesville Sanctuary anytime during their 90th Celebration weekend from Saturday 25 May 2024 to Sunday 26 May 2024. Scan your member card at entry and you’ll automatically be in the draw to win, it’s that easy!

Published 20 May 2024

Healesville Sanctuary's 90th Celebration High Tea and BRUNCH

Celebrate Healesville's 90th anniversary in style with an atmospheric High Tea surrounded by stunning wildlife. Served in the Brolga Room, guests can wander the beautiful gardens, see the amazing animals, and then join us for a brunch or afternoon tea! Bookings essential. Places are limited.

Published 20 May 2024

Healesville Sanctuary's 90th Anniversary Celebration

Mark your calendars for an unforgettable weekend on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 May at Healesville Sanctuary!

We're holding a weekend of festivities to celebrate the Sanctuary's 90th anniversary, and you're invited! Get ready for live music, tantalizing food and drink options and an action-packed schedule of keeper talks.

Published 20 May 2024

You're Invited!

Zoos Victoria warmly welcomes you to our free End of Financial Year Campaign event. Join us on 15th May 2024 at Melbourne Zoo's Leopard Lodge or online via livestream to learn how Zoos Victoria is helping secure the future of the Victorian Grassland Earless Dragon. See how, with your support, we are working to put the Victorian Grassland Earless Dragon on the fast track to downgrade its Critically Endangered status by 2030. 

Published 10 May 2024

The Members' Scavenger Hunt Just Got Easier

The Members' Dinosaur Scavenger Hunt is still open, and we're drawing one Prehistoric Prize Pack every week, each worth a whopping $100. We've already rewarded 5 lucky winners, and there are still 10 more opportunities to win big! Plus, we've made entering the competition even easier. Thanks to your feedback, we've included some handy hints to help you track down the answers. Head to your zoo and hit the Dino Trail to start your Dino Scavenger Hunt. 

Published 10 May 2024

Members' Photo Competition Closing Soon

It's the beginning of May, and that means that there are only 8 weeks left to get your photos in for the Members' Photo Competition. So get snapping and get your entries in before 30 June 2024 for your chance to have your photo included in the next Zoo Calendar.

Head to the website to submit your photos and read some handy tips from Zoo Photographer Jo on capturing amazing animal photos!

Published 10 May 2024