At 227,444 square kilometres, Victoria is the second smallest state in Australia, so you don’t need to travel far for some animal encounters that are supporting the preservation of rare species and the environment.
We’ve also thrown some more simple family fun into the mix – pet farm animals with the kids, play some mini golf and have a picnic on a fun day out enjoying nature and some fresh country air.
Meet the Fijian crested iguanas at Melbourne Zoo
Opened in 1862, Melbourne Zoo sits in the heart of Parkville and is spread across 55 acres, it’s home to over 320 species from different environments across the planet, including Asian elephants, lemurs, gorillas and orangutans.
Passionate keepers run free daily animal talks, where you’ll learn about the behaviours of the zoo’s residents, and hear about the important conservation work being undertaken by the teams, such as the successful breeding of Fijian crested iguana – hatchlings are being born inside the Reptile House to secure the future of this island-dwelling lizard.
For native animal lovers, in the Australian Bush section of Melbourne Zoo you can meet koalas, wombats, platypus, and kangaroos all in one beautifully landscaped precinct.
During the summer, visitors have an extra reason to linger. On selected evenings, the Zoo stays open until 9:30pm for the Zoo Twilights concert series, where the lush lawn transforms into one of Melbourne’s most beloved outdoor music venues.
If you’re visiting on a weekend or during Victorian school holidays, there’s free entry for kids under, making it a great deal for families.
To stay a little longer, book a Roar ‘n’ Snore Overnight Camp experience, where you’ll enjoy a delicious dinner, atour the zoo after dark, and then you can relax in a private tent surrounded by wildlife. The following day, it’s all about a fresh breakfast and an exclusive guided tour of the zoo before everyone else arrives. All you need to bring is a sleeping bag and a pillow.
Learn about endangered native animals at Healesville Sanctuary
Healesville Sanctuary in the beautiful Yarra Valley is home to Tasmanian devils, dingoes, wombats, echidnas, wedge-tailed eagles and many more native Australian animals. It’s also one of only two places in the world to have successfully bred a platypus in captivity – the other being Sydney’s Taronga Zoo.
The sanctuary runs breeding programs for twelve threatened species – including the critically endangered (and impossibly cute) Leadbeater’s possum, which is Victoria’s faunal emblem. One team is actively working on the recovery of the helmeted honeyeater, which is one of Australia’s rarest birds.
Visitors should fit in a Australian Wildlife Health Centre Tour, where they can learn more about the work that Healesville Sanctuary is undertaking to protect endangered species.
While you’re at the sanctuary, take the self-guided Wurundjeri Walk, which shares the stories, traditions, and deep connection to Country of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. The walk takes you past a Dreaming Place, ancient scar tree and bark canoe, while soundscapes share stories from four generations of Elders.
Go on a safari at Werribee Open Range Zoo
Have you ever had a giraffe stop your bus while it sauntered across the road? At Werribee Open Range Zoo, that’s to be expected. Just half an hour from Melbourne, this unique savannah zoo brings you face-to-face with lions, cheetahs, hippos, zebras and more.
Start by embarking on a walking safari tour, where you’ll meet elephants in their open-range home, then stop for a bite to eat from the Waterhole Cafe as you look out over the ranges from the terrace. Here visitors can sip on a barista-made coffee while watching the elephants in their open-range environment.
The menu features loaded chicken and lamb kebabs, fresh sandwiches, vibrant salads, sushi, and protein-packed poke bowls.
Board the free safari bus and enjoy a 40-minute adventure through savannah grasslands and open plains, meeting some of the world’s most endangered species. A knowledgeable guide will provide live commentary, pointing out incredible animals and sharing details about the work of communities in Northern Kenya to protect wildlife. It feels like a live-action nature documentary, and it’s included with general entry.
Upgrade to the Deluxe Off-Road Safari for closer encounters in a smaller vehicle. You can also stay overnight with the Slumber Safari package, which includes a fully hosted two-day experience with close-up animal encounters, sunset drinks, and a sumptuous African feast. Spend a night listening to animals in the wild while safe and cost in a luxury safari tent overlooking the savannah.
Have rare encounters at Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park
Only a 50-minute drive from Melbourne on the Mornington Peninsula, is Moonlit Sanctuary – an award-winning wildlife park on 25 acres of stunning native bushland.
The conservation park was founded in 2001 and is home to more than 60 Australian species, including some you’re extremely unlikely to encounter elsewhere: orange-bellied parrots, eastern quolls, feathertail gliders, and Julia Creek dunnarts, many of which are critically endangered.
At night, Moonlit Sanctuary runs extremely popular lantern-lit evening tours led by experienced guides, where you’ll see pythons, potoroos, tiny feathertail gliders and owls in their natural nocturnal environment.
During the day, keeper presentations run every 30 minutes to share surprising facts about your favourite animals. Or, to learn even more, sign up to be a keeper for the day to join the staff in the daily operations of the park. Whether it’s feeding the animals, maintaining exhibits or contributing to animal enrichment, you’ll pull back the curtain on what it’s really like to be a keeper at one of Victoria’s biggest conservation sites.
Fun for all the family at The Big Goose
A huge 60-acre farm located on the Mornington Peninsula, The Big Goose combines old-fashioned farm experiences with the fun of an adventure park. It’s the perfect day out for families, couples, and anyone who likes the sound of hand-feeding a llama.
Start by exploring the paddocks of friendly farm animals, where kids can feed and pat gentle goats, sheep, cows, rabbits and ducks while spending the day outdoors. Then head over to the Australian Wildlife precinct to meet kangaroos, wombats, emus and camels.
There’s so much included in the $92 family pass (two adults and two children), such as reptile and sheepdog shows and tractor rides. Play a round of mini golf, get lost in a tyre maze, dive into a splash park, and the kids can let off some energy on a giant jumping pillow.
Buy a bag of kangaroo food at the gate and head straight to the wildlife park. On quieter days, you’ll have dozens of roos gently feeding from your hand.
Adults after a pick-me-up can head to the Rotunda Cafe for a brew using locally roasted beans from Little Rebel Coffee in Dromana. Most visitors spend at least four hours at the park, and the first show kicks off at 11:00am, so wear your comfy walking shoes.
All creatures great and small at Wildlife Wonders
Wildlife Wonders Sanctuary is a 30-acre haven of native plants and wildlife, surrounded by a protective fence and free from introduced predators like foxes and cats. There are no cages and no enclosures – just wildlife roaming as freely.
Near Apollo Bay along the Great Ocean Road, this sanctuary is a working conservation organisation, and all profits generated support the crucial work of the Conservation Ecology Centre.
The 75-minute Walk with Wildlife follows a gentle 1.4-kilometre path through tree fern gullies and eucalypt woodlands, while the 90-minute Dusk Discovery tour includes a light meal and a cold drink.
Each tour includes binoculars and an earpiece for the guide’s talks, and you’re likely to see koalas, kangaroos, and emus, and if lucky – potoroos and bandicoots as well.
After working up an appetite, head to the Emu Cafe for breakfast or lunch using seasonal and local produce. Every sweet treat is made locally, and the there’s a delicious house-blend coffee.
Collingwood Children’s Farm teaches little ones what matters
Collingwood Children’s Farm is a not-for-profit working farm that was established in 1979. it sits on the banks of the Birrarung and has 17 acres of paddocks, towering stands of native trees, and beautifully manicured gardens.
Activities are planned by farmers at the beginning of each day and posted on the farm’s social media. Whether it’s feeding the chickens, holding and feeding guinea pigs, collecting eggs, helping with the goats, or taking a tractor ride, there’s always something exciting happening.
Dogs on leads are very welcome to join in on the family fun.
On the second Saturday of every month, the Collingwood Children’s Farm Market runs from 8am-1pm, selling local and organic produce. Entry to the farm on market days drops to just $2 per adult, making it an affordable way to spend a morning.
On the first Sunday of most months, you can attend Family Day for free pony rides, barbecues and themed activities. On New Year’s Eve, stages go up between the veggie plots and the Birrarung riverbank for outdoor celebrations.
If you’re planning to visit Melbourne Zoo, Healesville Sanctuary and Werribee Open Range Zoo, a Zoos Victoria annual membership pays for itself in roughly two visits, and gets you unlimited entry to all year-round.
If you enjoyed this article on animal encounters in Victoria, check out this story on NSW animal encounters.
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