The National Zoo and Aquarium in Canberra is a combined zoo and aquarium that features a variety of native and exotic animals, as well as an aquarium with a large underwater viewing tunnel. Visitors can engage in animal encounters, and the facility offers unique overnight stays through its Jamala Wildlife Lodge.
The National Zoo and Aquarium (NZA) first opened in 1990 as the National Aquarium, featuring around 30 species, a restaurant, and function area, as well as a 1.5-million-litre aquarium with an underwater viewing tunnel — the first of its kind in the world.
Set across seven hectares that included trout ponds and streams, the attraction changed hands after three years due to financial challenges. The new operators expanded their focus, adding native wildlife exhibits and transforming the main aquarium from a saltwater to a freshwater facility.
To meet growing visitor demand, the site offered a uniquely Australian experience, featuring wildlife encounters, trout fishing, sheep shearing, and boomerang-throwing demonstrations.
The vision of the National Zoo and Aquarium is to inspire and support the conservation of the natural world through engaging and innovative educational experiences.
We do what we do to move towards a better future for us, and all living creatures on this planet — setting the world’s best practices in animal care and sustainability while inspiring our guests to protect the natural world.
