Calling all animal lovers – this is your chance to become immersed in the daily lives of our most fascinating residents. Photo: National Zoo and Aquarium.
If you live in Canberra, chances are you’re quite familiar with the National Zoo and Aquarium’s stunning animal enclosures, viewing platforms, leafy pathways and guest facilities.
But there’s also a secret side to life at our local zoo, tucked away in places most guests never get to see.
Enrichment and habitat workshops, feeding stations, sleeping spots, training and rehabilitation areas … this network of special facilities is where the real magic happens.
Ready to get closer than you’ve ever been? Guided tours offer visitors a glimpse into the zoo’s hidden world.
“We have a range of tours and encounters to explore, but Curious Creatures is a great place to start,” marketing manager Will Tran says.
“It’s a two-hour experience that gets visitors involved in one of the most important tasks around the zoo – designing, building and delivering enrichment.”
Depending on the day, you could be working with sun bears, meerkats, otters, monkeys or even Steve the Lace Monitor (who’s more than a little famous around the zoo).
You’ll get to chat with an education officer about the animals’ needs and enjoy an exclusive tour of the enrichment workshop before diving in.
“We have a whole building dedicated to creating toys and interests for our animals, so we’re really excited to get visitors involved,” Will says.
“Puzzles, toys, games and other forms of mental stimulation are just as important as physical exercise. They have to be tailored to each species, so making them can be a big job, but it’s quite fun!
“There’s nothing like hearing an otter whistle and coo for a toy you’ve made or watching a monkey figure out your puzzle in seconds and race over asking for more.”
Keen for a full day? The Wonders of Wildlife tour takes guests on a journey through almost every enclosure at the zoo.
You’ll get to meet, observe and feed a variety of animals, participate in enrichment and training activities and enjoy exclusive access to off-display enclosures.
“This is the most in-depth experience we have,” Will says.
“We’ll have a custom itinerary planned that gets you up close and personal with cheetahs, giraffes, rhinos, meerkats, lemurs, otters, tree kangaroos, lions, tigers, bears and more.
“Some of these interactions are exclusive to Wonders of Wildlife guests. For example, reptile lovers can check out off-display species, including our new baby reticulated python.”
If you’re not quite up to a full day, check out the Family WOW tour, which runs for five hours and is designed for zoo visitors six years old and over.
Every tour, encounter and exclusive interaction at the National Zoo and Aquarium supports its vital conservation efforts.
Funds raised through activations like these have helped the team donate more than $1 million in cash and kind to wildlife charities, conservation groups and animal welfare organisations in Australia and around the world.
“Zoo tours aren’t just about giving our guests an awesome day out,” Will says.
“Being able to get up close and connect with each species really drives home just how special they are.
“We want everyone to walk away with a better understanding of what’s happening out there in the wild and how they can help protect our world’s most iconic and vulnerable species.”
The National Zoo and Aquarium is open from 9 am to 5 pm every day except Christmas Day, at 999 Lady Denman Drive, Yarralumla. To book an experience or find out more, visit National Zoo and Aquarium: Tours & Encounters.
