Sleepy Koala sitting at the top of a cut off tree looking towards the camera.

Accessibility

At Zoos Victoria, we believe in universal accessibility. We are committed to meeting the needs of all our visitors, regardless of their circumstances.

We are always happy to discuss any requirements you may have to make your visit more enjoyable. Where we cannot accommodate your wishes, we will endeavour to provide suitable options.

Welcoming assistance animals

Zoos Victoria aims to make its venues as easily and broadly available to all visitors as possible. We welcome visitors with assistance animals (such as guide dogs) certified by a registered authority.

At each zoo there are identified exhibits and areas where assistance animals will not be permitted. This is due to quarantine restrictions and safety risks to Zoo animals and staff, or to the assistance animals and their users.

Admission staff can provide information about these areas as you arrive at our Zoo.

Wheelchair hire

We have wheelchairs to hire at three of our zoos. You can request a booking for a wheelchair via these links:

Healesville Sanctuary >>
Melbourne Zoo >>
Werribee Open Range Zoo >>

Discounts for Carer and Companion Card holders

We have free entry at our zoos for all carers accompanying a person with a disability who is a holder of a Child Disability Allowance Health Care Card, a Disability Pension Card or a Companion Card.

We also have a 10% discount for a holder of a WeCare Card who is not accompanying a person with a disability.

Guided mobile tours

Zoos Victoria Volunteers offer free guided tours at Healesville Sanctuary and Werribee Open Range Zoo in an electric buggy to better assist visitors with accessing the zoo grounds. This service is not currently available at Melbourne Zoo.

This buggy can carry up to three passengers and travels at walking pace so those unable to ride can join the tour on foot.

Guided mobile tour run for approximately 1.5 hours and while they are unable to access all areas of the zoo, they do provide a wonderful experience with our expert guides.

Buggy tours must be booked 48 hours in advance so that a trained volunteer can be rostered for the day.

Changing Places facilities

All four of our zoos have a Changing Places facility equipped with extra features such as a tracking hoist, full-sized change table, larger-than-standard accessible toilets and more space to meet the needs of people with a disability. This can be accessed with a Master Locksmith Access Key (MLAK).

At Melbourne Zoo, the MLAK is held at reception.

MLAKs can also be ordered from the Master Locksmiths Association Ltd by completing the MLAK Order Form. The key can be purchased by people with disabilities, their carers, assistants and support workers to provide access to a network of facilities, including many Changing Places: changingplaces.org.au/build-a-facility/mlak-key/

Complimentary passes

Zoos Victoria receives thousands of requests each year for free or discounted entry and other zoo products for community groups, charities and other worthy causes. As a not-for-profit conservation organisation we too rely on donations and sponsorship for our continued operations and conservation programs.

Ensuring our zoos are accessible to the community is very important to us.

Our four zoos are free of charge for children under 16 years on weekends and Victorian government school and public holidays thanks to the Victorian Government. We also support our community partners including Mission Australia, a number of Aboriginal community organisations, Make-a-Wish, the Starlight Foundation and the Victorian Youth Mentoring Alliance.

If you would still like to forward a request, you may do so via email but please note we have very limited capacity to provide support to other community organisations and charitable causes.

Please email contact@zoo.org.au to request a complimentary pass for your organisation or fundraising activity.

Sensory maps

Access sensory maps to plan your visit around high and low sensory areas.

Social Scripts

Social Scripts are visual documents to help prepare kids and neurodivergent visitors for what they may experience and encounter during their visit to the zoo. Our new Social Scripts were created in consultation with Amaze, the peak body for autistic people and their supporters in Victoria.

Accessible learning

Our schools programs cater for students with accessibility requirements, including mobility and learning difficulties.

For more information on the different programs provided or how we can accommodate your needs, please contact our Customer Engagement Team on 1300 966 784.

Accessibility in our function and venue rooms

For general accessibility enquiries about our function and venue rooms please contact us.

Melbourne Zoo and Werribee Open Range Zoo
Zoo Events - Restaurant Associates
Tel: (03) 9274 9519

Healesville Sanctuary
Tel: (03) 03 5957 2837

Website accessibility

Zoos Victoria is committed to improving the user experience and ensuring that our website is accessible to all users.

Our website and web templates aim to meet the standard WCAG 2.1, Level A and AA criteria of the Victorian Government Accessibility Standards.

If you have any problems accessing the Zoos Victoria website or require PDFS or any other information in a different format, please email contact@zoo.org.au