The short answer
Melbourne Zoo is in Royal Park, Parkville, a few minutes north of the city. It is open every day of the year from 9 am to 5 pm. Adult tickets are from $58, and children aged 4 to 15 go free on weekends and holidays ($29 on weekdays). Take tram 58 or the Upfield line train to Royal Park.
Melbourne Zoo at a glance
- Where: Royal Park, Parkville, minutes north of the city centre
- Open: 365 days a year, 9 am to 5 pm
- Cost: adult from $58; child (4 to 15) free on weekends and holidays, $29 on weekdays; under 4 free
- Getting there: tram 58 to Stop 26 Melbourne Zoo, or the Upfield line to Royal Park Station
- Time to allow: half a day; the free keeper talks run from 10.40 am to 4 pm
- Step-free access: yes, with an easy path system, wheelchair hire and a Changing Places facility
Checked on 14 Nov 2026 at zoo.org.au. Prices vary by date, so check before you visit.
Key takeaways: 7 essential facts
- Every day: the zoo is open 365 days a year, 9 am to 5 pm.
- Kids free: children 4 to 15 enter free on weekends and holidays.
- Book early: Zoos Victoria says booking ahead gets the best price.
- Free talks: 15 keeper talks a day, from baboons at 10.40 am to penguins at 4 pm.
- Cheap parking: $2 for five hours in the council car park.
- Train: Royal Park Station is across the road from the rail gate entrance.
- Quiet time: weekdays from 3 pm to 4.30 pm are usually quietest.
Melbourne Zoo opening hours
The Zoos Victoria page for the zoo says the zoo is open 365 days a year, from 9 am to 5 pm. That includes public holidays. Arrive early on weekends and in school holidays, when it gets busy and the car park fills.
If you prefer fewer crowds, Zoos Victoria says its zoos are usually quietest between 3 pm and 4.30 pm on weekdays. In those hours it also tries to cut down on loud sounds such as PA announcements and vehicle movements.
Melbourne Zoo tickets and prices
These are general admission prices from the official prices page, checked on 14 November 2026. Adult and concession prices start at the amounts below and can be higher on busy days, so booking early is cheaper.
| Ticket | General admission |
|---|---|
| Adult | from $58 |
| Child (4 to 15) | Free on weekends and holidays; $29 on weekdays |
| Child (0 to 3) | Free |
| Concession | from $44 |
| Seniors | from $52.50 |
The free child entry has conditions, listed on the prices page. A Zoos Victoria membership (from $149 a year for an adult, with children free) gives unlimited entry to this zoo, Werribee Open Range Zoo, Healesville Sanctuary and Kyabram Fauna Park. Carers of Companion Card holders enter free.
Free Melbourne Zoo keeper talks
Keepers give free talks across the day about the animals’ personalities and the zoo’s conservation work. The animal talks page lists:
| Time | Talk |
|---|---|
| 10.40 am | Baboons |
| 10.45 am | Orangutans |
| 11 am | Koala |
| 11.30 am | Giraffe |
| 11.45 am | Snow leopard |
| 12.20 pm | Seal |
| 12.30 pm | Lion |
| 1.15 pm | Gorilla and meerkat |
| 1.45 pm | Giant tortoise (Growing Wild) |
| 2 pm | Komodo dragon |
| 2.30 pm | Pygmy hippo |
| 3.10 pm | Butterfly (weekdays in school term) |
| 3.30 pm | Tigers (Forest of Wonder) |
| 4 pm | Penguin |
Talk times can change on the day, so check the signs at the zoo.
Melbourne Zoo talk planner
Pick your arrival time and day to see which keeper talks are still ahead of you. It uses the talk list above and runs only on this page.
Keeper talk planner
Talk times from zoo.org.au, checked 14 Nov 2026.
Choose your arrival time.
Source: Zoos Victoria animal talks page, checked 14 Nov 2026. Times can change on the day; check before you visit.
Melbourne Zoo animal experiences
For a closer look, the zoo sells small-group animal experiences on its animal experiences page. They include tiger, orangutan, koala, kangaroo, gorilla, giraffe, lemur, meerkat, otter, seal and butterfly experiences, a new spider monkey experience, and the Roar ’n’ Snore overnight camp. Zoo members get 10% off.
| Experience | Price | When | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tiger Experience | $89 per person (zoo entry extra) | Daily, 9.15 am, 25 minutes | Ages 10+; under 16s with a paying adult; max. 8 people |
| Ultimate Experience | $349 per person (entry included) | Weekdays outside school holidays, 8 am to 1 pm | Ages 5+; 2 to 4 people; one adult per child under 16 |
Prices were checked on 14 November 2026 and can change. Enclosed shoes are required, and experiences can be adapted for wheelchair users if you call 1300 966 784 before booking.
Melbourne Zoo map and animals
The official Melbourne Zoo map shows the exhibits, food outlets, toilets and the two entrances (the main gate and the rail gate). Zoos Victoria also offers a sensory map that marks louder and quieter areas.
The talk list gives a good idea of what you can see: baboons, orangutans, koalas, giraffes, a snow leopard, seals, lions, gorillas, meerkats, giant tortoises, a Komodo dragon, pygmy hippos, butterflies, tigers and penguins. There is also a play space for younger children, and Keeper Kids sessions run daily in school term, included with entry.
Getting to Melbourne Zoo and parking
- Train: Upfield line from Flinders Street to Royal Park Station, across the road from the rail gate entrance.
- Tram: route 58 to Stop 26 Melbourne Zoo. The zoo is outside the Free Tram Zone, so tap on.
- Bus: route 505 (Moonee Ponds to Melbourne University) stops outside.
- Car: the zoo car park, run by the City of Melbourne, costs $2 for five hours. Pay with the EasyPark app to skip the queue. About 20 minutes from Melbourne Airport.
- Overflow parking: Melbourne Sport Centre, Parkville (about 8 minutes’ walk to the rail gate), street parking on The Avenue and Royal Parade, and Ikon Park (about 15 minutes’ walk to the main gate).
Access and facilities
- Paths: an easy path system suits wheelchairs and strollers.
- Hire: wheelchairs (book ahead) and strollers ($20 single, $35 double for non-members).
- Parking: six accessible bays at the main entrance and seven at the rail gate.
- Toilets: accessible toilets around the zoo and a Changing Places facility (MLAK key from reception).
- Planning aids: a sensory map, a social script for children and an Access Key guide.
- Lockers: from $5 for the first 4 hours, near the main gate.
Questions people ask
What are the Melbourne Zoo opening hours?
The zoo is open 9 am to 5 pm, 365 days a year, including public holidays.
How much is Melbourne Zoo entry?
Adults are from $58, concessions from $44 and seniors from $52.50. Children 4 to 15 are free on weekends and holidays and $29 on weekdays.
Is there parking at Melbourne Zoo?
Yes. The council car park costs $2 for five hours, and there are overflow options nearby.
How do I get to Melbourne Zoo by public transport?
Take the Upfield line to Royal Park Station or tram 58 to Stop 26 Melbourne Zoo. Bus 505 also stops outside.
Is there a Melbourne Zoo map?
Yes. Zoos Victoria publishes a zoo map online, plus a sensory map.
What time are the animal talks?
Keeper talks run from 10.40 am (baboons) to 4 pm (penguins). The seal talk is at 12.20 pm and the lion talk at 12.30 pm.
What animal experiences does Melbourne Zoo offer?
Paid small-group experiences include tigers, orangutans, koalas, giraffes, seals and more, plus the Ultimate Experience and the Roar ’n’ Snore overnight camp. The Tiger Experience costs $89 per person plus zoo entry.
Melbourne Zoo: the bottom line
Visit on a weekend or in the holidays if you have kids, since under-16s go free. Book online, take the train to Royal Park, and plan your day around the keeper talks. Prices change by date, so check before you visit.
Sources
All checked on 14 November 2026.
- Zoos Victoria, Zoo home page: opening hours
- Zoos Victoria, Prices: general admission and membership
- Zoos Victoria, Animal talks and Zoo map
- Zoos Victoria, Getting here and Accessibility