Perth Zoo, Perth

Perth Zoo is a lovely family destination located at the banks of the majestic Swan River in South Perth, Western Australia. It is spread over a huge 41-acre area and is only five minutes from the heart of the city, Perth CBD. This Zoological Park was opened in 1898 and since then it has never closed for a single day. It boasts of housing more than 1300 animals of approx. 164 species and has a widespread botanical collection. It is also a prominent member of ZAA (Zoo and Aquarium Association) and WAZA (World Association of Zoos and Aquariums) and this is one of the best Perth sightseeing places.

Perth Zoo is a famous iconic destination in Perth and is also one of the most visited destinations in Australia. It is known for its natural beauty, lush gardens and marvelous display of wildlife from all over the globe. The varieties of animals include Asian, African, Australian, South American and many more. The ambience here is perfect and the conditions are also made suitable for all sorts of animals. This is to make the environment appear as natural and original as possible. Visitors from all over the world flock to this beautiful natural paradise and get a chance to experience the beauty of wildlife through interactive and natural appearances.

Here you get the chance to explore the insights into the lives of animals as the zoo offers an array of tours, including the Elephant Walk, Rhinoceros Tours, Zebra Car Tour, etc. The zoo is huge and needs at least half of the day to explore its massive collection of the flora and fauna. Also, it organizes various interesting events and exhibitions like free zookeeper sessions, animal feeding presentations, educational programs, and many more, and takes you closer to these wild animals. Here you can also learn about the vital conservation work that the zoo is involved in.

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• Perth Zoo is home to over 1,200 animals from over 150 species, including exotic and native species. It is a great place to see a wide range of animals and learn about their habits and behaviours.
• The zoo offers a range of educational programs and events, as well as animal encounters and keeper talks. It is a great place to learn about animals and conservation.
• In addition to its role as a tourist attraction, Perth Zoo is involved in a number of conservation and research projects, including breeding programs for endangered species and research into animal behaviour and habitat. Visiting the zoo is a way to support these efforts.
• Perth Zoo is a popular destination for families, with a range of activities and experiences suitable for children. It is one of the great places to visit in Perth to spend a day with the whole family.

Perth Zoo is easily accessible from Perth Airport as there is an array of public and private transport means available on this route.

Bus: The most cost-effective way to reach Perth Zoo from Perth Airport is taking a line 40 bus which takes 59 min. The buses are run by Transperth and leave from Snook Rd Before Ross Dr station.

Taxi: Easiest and quickest way (14 minutes) to reach Perth Zoo but is heavy on pocket as the fares are a bit on the higher side.

Car: If you have your car then it is the most convenient and cheapest way to reach the Perth Zoo and the journey is pleasant too.

Perth Zoo lies in Western Australia and the climate here is a fair Mediterranean style with hot & dry summers and wet but mild winters.

Summer (November to April): Summer season is scorching in the mornings but cools down in the evening. Humidity is minimal but you can explore the beauty of wildlife if you can brave the heat.

Autumn (March to May): Autumn is a good season to visit as the temperatures are cooler with an average high of 25 degrees Celsius and an average low of 13 degrees Celsius.

Winter (June to August): Winter season is generally mild but with expected heavy downpours. This is considered to be the off-season in Perth and a perfect time for solitude lovers and who wants to explore Perth Zoo without much crowd.

Spring (September to November): Spring is beautiful with sunny days and gorgeous bloom all around. It is also the peak season and the best time to visit Perth Zoo. The temperatures are mild and best suited to visit the open park.

Location: 20 Labouchere Rd, South Perth, WA 6151

Timings: Monday to Sunday 09:00 to 17:00

Entry Fee:

Adults: $33.00
Children (4-15 years): $16.50

Distance from Perth Airport: The road distance between the Perth Airport and the Perth Zoo is approximately 13.3 KM. You can easily reach Perth Zoo from the airport through any of the available means of transport means (cabs, taxis, town cars, shuttles or buses)

Visitor's Facilities Provided by Perth Zoo

Information Hub: It is just next to the entrance and the volunteers present there are always ready to help you with the directions, tips, and news about the Perth Zoo. It is open till 3 pm and provides you with all the details you need about exhibits, presentations or animals.

Toilets: A total of eight toilet facilities are present on the premises and one is situated just behind the information hub. The way to toilets is clearly marked on signage and the map and they are easily accessible.

Parenting Facilities: Several feed and change facilities are present near the information hub, Main Lawn, and Nocturnal House. Also, the accessible toilets have fold down change-tables suitable for children. There is also a baby feed courtyard behind the parenting room near the Nocturnal House.

Wheelchair Hire: This facility is available at a refundable deposit of $10 to make the Zoo accessible to disabled or elderly visitors.

Wagon Hire: You can also book a two-seater children’s pull-along wagon for your young kid at $13 for a day.

Lockers: You can keep your belongings safely in the lockers which are located near the Information Hub and are available at $6 only.

Carousel: It lets your kids enjoy a spin at historic carousel at $4 per ride and the experience is overwhelming.

History of Perth Zoo

Perth Zoo has established itself from a place of entertainment and attraction to one of the best places to educate, preserve, and motivate in the realm of wildlife conservation. In over 120 glorious years, the zoological park has seen lots of magnificent developments and the addition of new species and facilities that make it a prominent focal point in Western Australia.

The planning for a conservational space for both Australian and European animals started in 1896 but this Perth Zoological Garden started its operation on 17 October 1898. The Western Australian Acclimatization Committee invited Mr. Albert Le Souef and his son to decide the site for this project and the work began in 1897. As soon as the site was selected, the development of the park was carefully done to make it suitable for the wild animals.

It took almost 2 years to change the barren land into a garden filled with rose beds, lupin greens, palm trees, and fascinating tropical plants. The area was developed into the best-suited accommodation for bears, monkeys, and mammals and crops (Lucerne, lettuce, carrots, onions, alfalfa, etc.) were also grown to feed the animals.  Initially, an orangutan, four ostriches, a tiger, two monkeys, and two lions were brought to the Zoo and since then the zoo has seen lots of new additions in the wildlife family. It attracted loads of visitors since its opening and saw a record fifty-three thousand visitors in the nine months following its opening on 17 October 1898.

Animals at Perth Zoo

1. Amphibians: Sumatran Tiger, Cane Toad (Australia, South America), Green Tree Frog (Australia), Splendid Tree Frog Australia), Tammar Wallaby Australia) and Tasmanian Devil like amphibians stay here in Perth zoo. While the Asian Sumatran tiger is critically endangered, the Tasmanian Devil is an endangered species.

The Tasmanian Devil is Australia’s largest carnivorous amphibian and has strong paws and teeth like that of a dog. Sumatran tiger is the smallest among the tiger subspecies and is a water-loving cat.

2. Birds: There is a wide range of exclusive Australian, Asian, European and American birds that found the place to be a suitable habitat for them. The range includes penguins, Australian Pelicans, Australian Shoveler, Baudin's Cockatoo, Black Swan, Black-necked Stork, Black-winged Stilts, Blue-billed Duck, Bridled Tern, Brolga, Brush Bronzewing, Bush Stone Curlew, Carnaby's Cockatoo, Eastern Great Egret, Eclectus Parrot, Elegant Parrot, Emu, Glossy Ibis, Golden Pheasant, Green Pygmy Goose, and many more. Out of these

3. Invertebrate: Scorpion, Australian Tarantula, Spiny Leaf Insects are the invertebrate class creatures that you can find in Perth Zoo. Australian Tarantula is an Australian Bird-eating spider and ambushes its prey using its muscular body. Whereas, Scorpions have crabs like claws and a long tail with a sting at the tip.

4. Mammals: Perth Zoo provides the perfect ambiance to the endangered Asian Elephant, Numbat, African Painted Dog, Dibbler, Golden Lion Tamarin, Goodfellow's Tree Kangaroo, Javan Gibbon, Nepalese Panda, and Ring-tailed Lemur.

It also helps in the conservation of vulnerable species of African Lion, Giraffe, Sun Bear, Asian Small-clawed Otter, Bilby, Binturong, Dingo, Ghost bats, Long-nosed Potoroo, and Quokka.

5. Reptiles: Various reptile species are also present in Perth Zoo and it is playing an important role in the conservation of endangered Mertens Water Monitor species. Other reptiles present in this zoo are Galapagos Tortoise, Komodo Dragon, and Olive Python, which are vulnerable and need preventive measures to stop them from being endangered.

Black-headed Python, Centralian Blue-tongue Skink, Corn Snake, Death Adder, Dugite, Estuarine Crocodile, Freshwater Crocodile, and many more species of snakes are also present in Perth Zoo.