Melbourne Zoo
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Journey through a world of wildlife
in the heart of Melbourne

Wild encounters

Experience the thrill of a Wild Encounter at Melbourne Zoo!

Get closer than ever before to the Melbourne Zoo family with our Wild Encounters program. Whether you want to meet the Zoo's most recent characters, or hang out with some old favourites, Wild Encounters will put you in the front row.

  • Close-up Encounter

    Close-up Encounters

    Come face-to-face with one of your favourite animals – Giraffe, Giant Tortoise, Kangaroo or Meerkat. A great photo opportunity!

  • Elephant

    Elephant Behind the Scenes

    Go behind the scenes to meet Bong Su, one of our magnificent Asian Elephants, and lend a hand to enrich our elephant’s day!

  • Elephant

    Elephant Family Behind the Scenes

    Go behind the scenes and meet our magnificent Asian Elephant Family and lend a hand to enrich our elephant’s day!

  • Lion

    Lion Behind the Scenes

    Get up close with our bachelor group of three brothers, under the guidance of our wonderful keepers. Find out about the shifting dynamics of dominance that happens within a group of male lions and see the sibling rivalry that a lunchtime meal can produce.

  • Orang-utan

    Orang-utan Behind the Scenes

    Go behind the scenes with the Orang-utans at Melbourne Zoo; learn about how they survive in the wild, help with meal preparation and animal enrichment. 

  • Seal

    Seal Behind the Scenes

    Get close to the seals at Melbourne Zoo, hear their stories and find out how you can make the pledge to protect our waterways for their wild cousins.

  • Tiger

    Tiger Behind the Scenes

    Meet one of Melbourne Zoo’s five critically endangered Sumatran Tigers and the passionate keeper who cares for them. 

  • Roar 'n' snore

    Roar 'n' snore

    Roar 'n' Snore guests wine, dine and sleep where the elephants once walked. Explore the zoo at night and sleep to the sounds of nocturnal wildlife.