The Werribee Zoo

Visit the Werribee Zoo, around 32 kilometres south-west of Melbourne for a truly magic African themed adventure. There are 3 zoos that make up 'Zoos Victoria', Werribee Zoo, Melbourne Zoo and Healesville Sanctuary.

The open range zoo has been built on approximately 560 acres and is located on the Werribee River in Werribee Park. The Werribee Mansion lies directly adjacent to it.

The children are allowed to get in free, which is a wonderful bonus for when it comes to school holiday activities.

This is one of those family fun activities that you will never forget.

All your family can spend the whole day here as there is so much to see and take in.

You can get so close to these wonderful and unique African savanna animals. They are sometimes only feet away from you.

In Australia we do have natural savanna grasslands not dissimilar to those found on the African savanna.

However the savanna animals that graze on the African savanna grasslands are very different to the kangaroo, emu etc that are native to Australia.

Here at the Werribee Zoo, you really get the feeling that you could be out there on the open plains of Africa. Now that is really an awesome experience.

Male And Female Werribee Zoo Lions

Where Is The Werribee Open Range Zoo and how to get there?

The drive to the Werribee Open Plains Zoo is around 30 minutes south west of Melbourne on the Princes Freeway. It is a short 30-minute drive from the city over the Westgate Bridge or via the Geelong Road. (Take the Werribee South exit to K Road.)

Travelling by Public Transport

• From Melbourne
  Catch a train from the Melbourne CBD to Werribee station (travelling on the Werribee Line).
  From Werribee station catch Bus 439 Werribee South to the Zoo.
• From Geelong
  Catch a train from Geelong to Wyndham Vale station (travelling towards Melbourne).
  From Wyndham Vale station catch the Bus 190 Werribee Station to Werribee station.
  From Werribee station catch Bus 439 Werribee South to the Zoo.

Entry includes one of the totally enthralling and exciting Safari savanna tours.

This will take you past African zebra, giraffe, waterbuck, ostrich, rhinos, camels, oryx and other savanna animals.

Zebras Grazing On The Open Plains At Werribee

The Tour takes about an hour, bring your camera as there are lots of great opportunities to take some great pictures.

The tour driver runs a totally captivating commentary throughout the session and you are able to ask questions and really get involved with the whole experience.

Rhino Grazing The Werribee Open Range Plains compliments of http://www.flickr.com/photos/ssandars/3142011/

The Werribee Zoo's Bachelor Pad

The Werribee Zoo has a new $3.6 million bachelor pad which is the home to three male gorillas - silverback Motaba and his two sons Yakini and Ganyeka.

The three boys have come from the Melbourne Zoo and now live in a 6,000 square metre state-of-the-art gorilla enclosure. This is a modern and innovative design with fantastic viewing platforms and play areas.

Lowland Gorilla At The Werribeee Zoo - Melbournne - Australia

The new exhibit is located on Core Island near the Zoo's front entrance.

The enclosure will also promote Zoos Victoria's mobile phone recycling campaign which highlights the plight of gorillas in Africa whose habitat is being destroyed because of the illegal coltan mining - a mineral used in the production of mobile phones.

The Kubu River Hippos

Hippopotamus And Baby At The Werribee Zoo

You can stroll 120 metres of boardwalks and come eye-to-eye with the hippos from a partly-submerged barge, the Kubu Queen.

After exploring on foot, the safari bus then takes you across the Kubu River ford in one of the world's only drive-through hippo experiences.

There is an adventure trail here, an archeological dig site and a hippo water play section with life sized hippopatamus.

These Creatures are incredible...one of the world's most dangerous when found in the wild.

They look like gentle giants, but don't be deceived.

Hippopotamus At The Werribee Open Plains Zoo

When you arrive back at the Meerkat Licensed Bistro, you can spend some time watching these amazing little creatures as you enjoy a cuppa and a bite to eat.

Their antics will have you enthralled for ages.

Meercats At The Werribee Open Plains Zoo

There is also a take-away food Kiosk next door to the Bistro and courtyard seating for convenience.

Refreshed and ready for your next experience, just follow the directions and wander along the pathways that will take you to some of the most amazing encounters that you will ever experience.

The Exciting Lions On The edge Experience

Follow the path of a lion through an African village and the savanna grasslands to his pridelands.

There are interactive elements to this walk, like sitting in the jeep and looking directly into the face of the king of the beasts.

Separated by what appears to be just a thin pane of glass, you are fearful to move an inch!

He appears out from nowhere, he will jump up onto the front of the jeep, sit down facing you and opened his huge mouth to yawn!

Those Teeth.

He'll lick his Lips, looked at each one of you, shake his beautiful mane, then appear not interested as he slowly hops down and proceeds on his way.

Feeding The Lions At The Werribee Open Plains Zoo

African Animals Bookstore

Meerkats (African Animals)

The Wildlife of Southern Africa: A Field Guide to the Animals and Plants of the Region

Animals of Africa

Zebras (African Animals)

Animals of Africa

Endangered Animals of Africa

Some Exciting Speciality Tours

"Come see me"

Africa right on your doorstep...couldn't ask for more exciting, thrilling and amazing things for kids to do.

Book one of the special Werribee Open Range Zoo Tours or just rock on up to the entrance and take yourself and your loved ones on an adventure they will always remember.

There are Specialty Tours at the Zoo that operate daily.

Up to date details on the prices for these tours along with the times that the Zoo is open and other relevant information that you may require can be found here at the Werribee Zoo Website

These tours include...

• The Open Vehicle Adventure Tour at the Werribee Zoo - Awesome if you dare!
• The Rip Roaring Feed Tour. Watch the keepers feed the lions with this behind the scenes tour. Now this is really a spine tingling experience. You can smell the beasts and hear them roaring.
• The Slumber Safari. Camp overnight with the animals. You will be comfortable in the very accommodating safari tents. Camping around the open fire out on the plains enjoying a delicious BBQ and listening to the fun stories provided by your host. Awake to the sounds of the savanna, the roar of the lions and the smell of an African plains cooked breakfast.
  

Lions Waking Up At The Werribee Zoo

Lions Waking Up At The Werribee Zoo

• The Tall Order Giraffe Encounter. Very up close and personal, eye to eye with one of the world's tallest mammals. A fascinating and incredibly memorable experience.
• The Raising Rhino Tour. A close encounter with the Southern White Rhino. Special informative commentary on the challenges of breeding this magnificent creature. A very personalized guided tour through special lower grazing areas for these and other African animals.

iVenture Card Melbourne Flexi Attraction Pass

Werribee open range Zoo gorilla

Wanting to visit multiple Melbourne attractions but can't find an attractions pass that best suits you?

The best value and most customizable Melbourne attractions pack on the net is available right here! Save up to 40% on entry to some of the top attractions in and around Melbourne - this iVenture card allows YOU to make YOUR ideal itinerary from a choice of 26 of the most popular hotspots for adult and family fun.

Whether it be zoos, sightseeing tours, river cruises or many more, the pack is completely customisable to your tastes, and ensures you don't pay for any unnecessary attractions you don't want to visit.

Attractions and activities included

• Ashcombe Maze and Lavender Gardens - Single Entry
• Cook's Cottage - Single Entry
• Eureka Skydeck 88 - Single Entry ('The Edge Experience' is a separate experience and is not included within this ticket)
• Healesville Sanctuary - Single Entry
• Left Bank Melbourne - $25.00 off any meal
• Meat Market South Wharf - $25.00 off any meal
• Melbourne City Sightseeing - City Sightseeing Hop On Hop Off Bus Ticket (You must collect your ticket from City Sightseeing Office in federation square before joining the tour)
• Melbourne Cricket Ground & National Sports Museum - Guided Tour
• Melbourne River Cruises - 1 hr Cruise
• Melbourne Star Observation Wheel - Flight
• Melbourne Zoo - Single Entry
• Moonlit Sanctuary - Daily Entry ($20 payable for night entry)
• Moonraker - 2 hour Dolphin Adventure Cruise
• Old Melbourne Gaol - Single Entry
• Polly Woodside - Single Entry
• Queen Street Rescue - $25.00 off any meal
• Rippon Lea House and Garden - Single Entry to House and Garden
• SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium - Single Entry
• Tennis World Melbourne Park - Rod Laver Arena Tour (not available during event days)
• Werribee Open Range Zoo - Single Entry
• Werribee Park Shuttle - Return Transfer between Werribee Zoo & Melbourne
• Legoland Melbourne - Single Entry

Werribee Zoo on Instagram

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