National Zoo & Aquarium

Fantastic experience: Thank you to Jamala wildlife lodge. We had the best time with our family and your gift to my husband and myself will be a wonderful memory we will share with our daughter and her two children for the rest of our lives. You are doing such a wonderful job of protecting and persevering the animals, their enclosure’s are wonderful & they all seem so happy. The lodge is beautiful and our lemur room was just so beautiful with the lemur’s out one window and out the other side we could see across the park. We saw the lions, and white lions and even the heads of the giraffe. The whole park is like a wonderland. Having dinner and having the white lions right there on the other side of the glass was just beautiful. The food is just delicious. We met the park owner Richard Tindale who is a lovely man. We were made to feel special by every one who worked at Jamala. They all loved working there, they advised us, and why wouldn’t you it’s just a magical place. Thank you for your generosity, it will always stay in our hearts.

Fantastic experience: I was very surprised by the zoo; I already knew it would be great, but the landscaping blew me away. Everything is very beautiful, and the well-defined paths make seeing everything much easier.

Negative experience: I am not generally a frequent zoo-goer but I found myself with some extra time and got a 6-month membership. I visited about twice in that time (always kind of intending to visit again soonish, but y'know, life happens). In early November, I received a reminder that my membership was ending soon on "2025-12-11". I thought "oh! December 11 is only about a month away! Better schedule in some times to go the zoo!" and so I did. I continued to receive the membership email newsletters and updates as usual. A couple of weeks later I head in as planned but, when I get to the counter, I'm informed that my membership expired on the 12th of November (rather than the 11th of December like I thought). Dejectedly, I return to my car, somewhat confused. I scour through my emails and find the reminder email to discover that this disaster is in fact the fault of none other than the wretched YYYY-DD-MM date format, decidedly the worst date format possible. I decide to go back to the counter to give some feedback on this (a simple fix, one would think) and am informed that this issue has affected many people, and unfortunately it's due to the American provider of their software systems and thus (as I understood it) not that easily changed. The staff explained that I could pay for a full entry for the day or renew my membership. Maybe I should have requested to be let in anyway or something given that it was nearly the end of the day, but I was surprised and disappointed and am polite by nature so it did not occur to me in the moment to do so. I know that they're redoing their membership systems at the moment, so maybe it'll be better going forward?? Who knows. But there is something deeply disappointing about looking forward to something and planning for it but to get there and have it not work out. Honestly, it ruined my day and just made me regret spending money on the membership in the first place. Anyway the actual zoo is fine. It's kind of an expensive experience, but it's nice.

Positive experience: Nice Zoo with great facilities. Entrance facilities were pretty poor on the day we visited, with only gate 4 open (at the extreme end of the access road, with no signage to tell us that) and problems with the new booking software. The staff member on the window had barely a clue regarding processing an experience we had booked and took over 15 minutes to get us in. The regular window staff member was instead making coffees?? All in all though, a good day and the Cheetah encounter was absolutely sensational. If you're thinking about it, just do it - you'll have a lifetime memory.

Positive experience: Good zoo but expensive for the animals that can be seen

Fantastic experience: A great zoo, the animals look well cared for and it has more of a family friendly atmosphere.

Fantastic experience: My kids (12 and 9) and I had such an amazing time on the family world of wildlife tour with Josh. We always enjoy going to zoos, but this was next level. We got to feed otters, sharks, zebras, giraffes, siamangs, sun bears, meerkats, an emu and birds as well as interact with fairy penguins, reptiles and rhinos. The behind the scenes tour to see how the food is prepped was so interesting. Those zoo keepers are certainly busy taking the best care of the animals. Whilst the lions preferred to chill instead of having a feed, we got to see tigers up close as they feasted on their meal. We certainly felt privileged to be able to enter enclosures and have close up interactions with these beautiful animals. An informative, fun and enjoyable experience. Definitely recommend!

Fantastic experience: Beautiful zoo, all the animals have large spacious homes that are filled with enrichment and things that would be in their natural habitat! Absolutely loved the layout of the tiger and Sri Lankan leopard enclosure. All the animals looked happy and active. We also had the pleasure of doing the Cheetah Boys encounter where we got to meet Viking, Asani and Zambi - the ambassadors!! They’re so beautiful, and a delight to pat. Kudos to their devoted keepers!

Positive experience: I got a season ticket which has easily made its worth. We come along at least once a month to get out of the house and sometimes just to pop in for a coffee and a play at the park. Would recommend anyone in Canberra coming along and definitely consider becoming a member.

Fantastic experience: Best zoo I've ever been to! Well signed and layed out. Enclosures all get you up close with the animals.

Fantastic experience: Great for school kids and families

Fantastic experience: I was delighted to take part in the Awesome Roarsome Tour and the African Savannah Tour with Abby. I just loved it all so much! So many up-close interactions with the beautifully well-kept animals, in well-maintained grounds. I enjoyed learning about them and seeing their unique traits and funny antics first-hand in person! Especially Jake the Diva lol! I appreciate it all very much and would highly recommend doing these tours if you get the chance, you will not be disappointed! I definitely plan to come back to Canberra for this Zoo!

Fantastic experience: Great zoo. Very well laid out and landscaped, mainly flat and good animal enclosures with multiple viewing points. Plenty of parking and multiple entrances so that you're not forced to walk all the way back to the main entrance from carparks 2, 3 and 4. Well worth the cost.

Positive experience: Big area to walk. The early the better. Good entertainment for families and friends.

Fantastic experience: The zoo ia lovely witj lots to see. I came back to do the Awesome Rawsome Tour and the African Safari and thoroughly enjoyed both. We got to feed several big cats, hyenas, and so on but the highlight was patting Echo the rhino. I'm South African and have never beem so close to an adult rhino. Abby, our guide, was amazing. If you're doing the experiences, book them back to back for 20% off.

Fantastic experience: What a fantastic zoo, up close to the animals. Follow the paths around.

Positive experience: Canberra Zoo & Aquarium was a great day out! Lots of animals up close, friendly staff, and a relaxed vibe. The aquarium’s small but cool. Perfect for families or an easy weekend adventure. Only negetive i would say, its a bit expensive and require a bit modernisation.

Fantastic experience: One of our favourite places in Canberra. Animals are very visible and zoo is not too big. We are there every week.

Fantastic experience: I did most zoo in Sydney and this one is the best I have visited so far

Fantastic experience: Absolutely beautiful at the Canberra Zoo.

Positive experience: Very nice zoo, peaceful and nice walk trail for my 2 year old. Very imprised. However the entry price is so hight. I went with my brothers so 4 aldult tickets made me bankcraft.

Positive experience: The animal inclosures were quite busy with shrubbery, probably needs a tidy, hard to see most of the animals. Aquarium was disappointing, not a lot to see. Cafe and bistro was decent, coffee was bland, but food was good with average pricing.

Fantastic experience: It was great I went with my youngest daughter and she loved it ❤️ I was lucky enough to hear the male African lion do this weird bellowing noise over and over it was very surreal it almost sounded like it was coming out of speakers you also have the option to pay for over night packages where you can sleep with lions,cheetahs and other animals right at your bedroom windows it's amazing you actually can also eat dinner and have the animals come up to you hand feed the wild animals its obviously not cheap but worth it also there is a baby lion I believe it's a girl if I remember so all round great experience for the family or even you and the Mrs

Fantastic experience: Totally worth it allow the whole day especially if you have young kids the playground is excellent

Positive experience: This large zoo and aquarium is popular with ACT folk and tourists. It is located on 25 hectares of land and near Canberra. It is privately owned and hence entry fees are on the higher side. It is nevertheless a good place to visit and we found that the guide map with numbered exhibits was particularly useful as you may miss out on an exhibit otherwise. Fair bit of walking around though some spots are under shade. The terrain can be uneven. Wear comfy shoes, take water, wear hat, sunscreen. Toilets available. Cafes and restaurants available around the zoo. Lovely place for picnic. Parking is easy and plentiful though can be crowded at peak times. Best to go there early to avoid the heat and crowds. The aquarium has nice exhibits too and it popular with children. Great place for photography. Takes about 2 to 3 hours overall to visit

Fantastic experience: If you are looking for a great day out in Canberra head here! The zoo is well presented and has a excellent variety of well kept animals

Fantastic experience: Its amazing but the adventure trail was a bit confusing. Didn't lead to white lion.

Negative experience: Very expensive for the value. The aquarium held a few fish, that was all. The map is incredibly confusing and inaccurate. Several displays featured animals that seemed distressed, rocking, pacing, hiding. All in all not a good experience

Negative experience: I don’t like this zoo. We came all the way from Melbourne and I have enjoyed nearly every zoo I’ve seen so far, but this one, just couldn’t get motivated to walk around, don’t bother coming! The staff in the gift shop/cafe/entry aren’t friendly at all. And the zoo itself is annoying, all their enclosures are behind huge barriers so you can’t see or get photos as the actual enclosures are either wire, mesh, or glass that you can’t see through due to all the reflections. We saw the full aquarium. It was rather disappointing, the animals there are cute but some seem as if they aren’t cared for properly and a lot of the fish they advertise aren’t there, such as the humphead wrasse. I got a bit sick just of coincidence or maybe exhaustion as it was a bit hot and this is a really big zoo, so haven’t seen the whole thing. But it seems like it would have been a waste of time and effort to walk around such a huge zoo just to see nothing anyway. I’d never visit again. And I don’t recommended it. P.S entry fee is so expensive. Asked for a refund due to not enjoying it and feeling sick, they won’t even consider it and seemed rather disgusted. Save your money and go see something nicer.

Negative experience: As annual Silver Card family members, we spend most weekends in the zoo with our children. However, we didn’t expect today's incident OUTSIDE THE ZOO has completely ruined our experience and trust We were walking our dog on the Bicentennial National Trail, which runs right alongside the zoo fence that OUTSIDE THE ZOO. We noticed a tiger in an enclosure about 20 meters away behind 2 separate fences. we were surprised so stopped on the trail to take a few photos for a minute. We were silent, and our small dog was also quiet and leashed. As we were leaving, a zoo vehicle sped over inside the perimeter. An overweighted male staff shouted at us extremely rudely: "Don't let your dog teasing the tiger! We have cameras everywhere and we are watching you!" This was shocking and confusing for several reasons: 1️⃣ We were on a public national trail OUTSIDE THE ZOO, a space shared with kangaroos, horses riders, cyclists, and other dog walkers. 2️⃣ If me, my kid and a quiet, leashed dog standing 20 meters away on a public path OUTSIDE THE ZOO behind 2 separate fences is considered a "teasing," it indicates a serious flaw in the zoo's enclosure design and security. 3️⃣ There are no warning signs whatsoever along the trail advising visitors of any risk or prohibiting stopping. The zoo relies on a simple fence facing a major public trail instead of a solid barrier or relocating the enclosure. Instead of addressing this design issue professionally (by building a proper wall, adding signage, or moving the exhibit), your staff's first response is to aggressively intimidate and threaten loyal members and public trail users. We will not be renewing our membership until significant changes are made to secure the perimeter facing the public trail. We also advise other trail users to be cautious when passing the zoo. We will certainly reported this public safety and staff conduct issue to the relevant management authorities.

Negative experience: The staff at this zoo did not make us feel welcome and had the bare minimum of manners. Saying they didn’t want to make us milkshakes for no specific reason. They were making many rude and blunt comments. They really dragged the energy of this zoo.

Fantastic experience: Great day out for the Family and my son loves it. Buying the Annual pass was the best. When we add up the cost of the play centres we use during the week. The one off Annual pass was so worth it and 1/3 the cost overall.

Fantastic experience: The National Zoo & Aquarium in Canberra is hands down one of the best zoos I’ve been to in Australia! The zoo is huge with an incredible range of animals, and what made it even better was the number of opportunities to get up close and interact with them. We went in with no expectations (it was a last-minute decision), but it turned out to be one of the best choices we made on our trip to Canberra. I can’t recommend it highly enough! Tip: Start your visit from car park 1 or 4 and loop around the zoo at a steady pace. We made the mistake of starting at car park 2, got a little lost trying to find the aquarium, and found it tricky to navigate at first. All in all, an amazing experience and a must-visit when in Canberra!

Fantastic experience: Pretty awesome place we went throughout the week on a Friday it was nice not busy at all there is a big park area for the kids to play the first kiosk was a let dow they only sold pies and sausage rolls but it wasnt until we got to 3/4 of the way did we see the bistro definitely wait until you get to that one as they have better food, I didn't really see a lot of keepers around sadly as I always love saying hi to them but the place was very clean and well maintained animals looked happy and lots of enrichment for the animals I would imagine this is a huge operation to manage overall I had a good time and didn't get a chance to hear any keeper talks but happy overall. Great work been wanting to come for years.

Fantastic experience: Absolutely love this zoo

Fantastic experience: A very nice, clean zoo. One of the few zoos where I felt physically closer to the animals. Their enclosures were clean and accessible. Well marked paths so you could make out a good route to go around.

Fantastic experience: Excellent place to enjoy with family and friends

Fantastic experience: Other than the unhappy lemurs it was really good. White lions were very tired and slept while we all looked on. Cheetahs were easy to see and one striding up and down. The giraffes were pretty cool too looking at us like he was talking to us. Loved the tiger who prowled around back and forth with his beautiful face.

Positive experience: A pleasant little zoo unfortunately let down by a confusing layout finding the exit to park #1 was crazy lots of basic animals but definitely worth a visit just don't expect Taronnga Zoo quality

Fantastic experience: Always a wonderful day out. The upgrades are amazing. Rhino cafe is always a must stop at.

Fantastic experience: What an amazing zoo! Do not underestimate this place, it’s full of beautiful animals, with spacious enclosures and brings a very safe atmosphere for both animals and visitors. Absolutely loved this place, and can’t believe I haven’t been before. Highly recommend.

Fantastic experience: Well set out zoo and gardens. Reasonable prices with friendly staff. Had a great time!

Fantastic experience: Awesome zoo and the accommodation experience is well worth the money

Fantastic experience: Well kept, compact zoo but the space has been utilised well. They just need better food availability. Pack your own food if you have children

Fantastic experience: Really enjoyed our visit to the National Zoo. There was a wide variety of wildlife and an impressive aquarium. The animals were active and well cared for, housed in large well-maintained enclosures. Definitely worth a visit!

Fantastic experience: A really fun day out. Shame about the rain but meant for a quiet zoo. The park is well laid out and thoughtfully put together. There are little adventure walks as you go round and a fab playground. It’s such a lovely setting.

Fantastic experience: Impressive walk through of displays of animals. Kiosks provide good food.

Fantastic experience: We had the best day out at the National Zoo & Aquarium. The entrance fee is extremely reasonable. I paid extra for my boys (ages 13 & 19) to do the Meerkat Experience and it is worth every dollar. It is a memory that my boys will have forever. Cheers to Connor the Meerkat handler for his expertise and knowledge.

Fantastic experience: A must-visit in Canberra! The National Zoo & Aquarium offers an amazing mix of wildlife and marine life, with up-close animal encounters, friendly staff, and beautiful enclosures. Perfect for families and animal lovers alike!

Negative experience: As a long time member of this zoo, I’m consistently disappointed by the customer service and the way members are treated. The membership gates always have issues, they’re difficult to use and it takes forever to be let in. The staff are often rude especially in the rhino cafe near the adventure playground. The food is overpriced. Last time I got chips, they filled the paper container halfway which is such a ripoff considering we all know how cheap chips are. They invest a lot in the playground which is clearly a money spinner for the zoo and it is quite good but theres always broken items in that area. This time there was a broken latch in the toddler section so my toddler couldn’t walk around freely. Another thing is they always get the membership expiry wrong on the newsletter, every single year. When I email them they don’t even respond. I think it’s a good place for a day trip for tourists but they need to treat their members a bit better.

Fantastic experience: Edit: Changed review to reflect below response. Thank you for explaining the situation, it just made feel upset in the moment but I can understand now the behaviour of the animals.

Fantastic experience: Lots of animals and granddaughters loved hearing the lions roar! Yes, it was freezing but the animals still came out. The meerkats are a personal favourite.

Fantastic experience: Went to the zoo recently with my mum, partner and our 9 month old daughter. Such a well presented zoo with a great amount of animals to see including the dinosaur section :) one of the best zoos in Australia

Fantastic experience: Family yearly pass is well worth it if you live in the area. I will often take the kids to just visit one area of the zoo fot a few hours. It saves having to rush or spend the whole day there.

Fantastic experience: Fantastic zoo. Great atmosphere and wonderful staff

Fantastic experience: Fabulous zoo, the zoo staff are so friendly & knowledgeable. I did the sunrise visit experience, feeding the Tiger, Hyena, Meerkats, Otters, & got to hold a non-venomous Python!! Highly recommended.

Fantastic experience: Great day out for the family or if you are on your own.

Fantastic experience: Great day at the capital’s zoo. Not crowded at all and it just felt very nice to be here! Beautiful variety of animals.

Fantastic experience: Great little zoo, but still took us hours to see everything, worth the visit, really enjoyed ourselves. . Do it

Fantastic experience: We had an absolutely fantastic day. Animals are well kept and happy (especially the tassie devils who were having fun chasing each other around). Great variety of different animals and set out very well. The staff are lovely and very informative. It wasnt overly busy when we went so was great to be able to see the animals without huge crowds and being able to socially distance. Set out very well, was easy to traverse the park pregnant and with a toddler. Update 6/25 There's a lot of renovations happening especially in the aquarium (which is always my fav part). It will be amazing when its finished! Playground has been expanded since we last came and is huge and great for all ages!

Fantastic experience: Third time in three years I've been here, loved every time, the number of animals on display looked well looked after and the place was easy to walk around. Wish I knew more about that lemur with the amputated arm though, I could've sworn there were 2 at one time!

Fantastic experience: We had a fantastic day at the national zoo and aquarium. We did the cheetah walk and then did the enrichment tour. Both were amazing. The staff were all knowledgeable and friendly and we got so much out of the enrichment tour.

Positive experience: Went early in the day. Cooler, overcast day and being early meant animals were more active and easy to spot. No crowds. Good coffee, yummy snacks. Really enjoyed our stroll through the zoo and the aquarium. It is more expensive entry than other zoos but a nice outing nonetheless.

Positive experience: I've never seen a zoo and aquarium like national zoo and aquarium where you can take a close look and most of the animals are not in cages so yeah highly recommend for families, school kids etc.

Fantastic experience: My family and I absolutely loved our afternoon here. Bit of a walk around, so make sure you have comfortable shoes on. We were there the wknd that they were celebrating their 10th anniversary, so we were able to join in the happy birthday singing and cake sharing after some yummy hotdogs and burgers in a beautiful parklike area of the zoo. It's worth a visit for sure!

Positive experience: I was starting to worry that noone liked working at the zoo, dirty glass on the exhibits, looking very tired and not cared about BUT we went yesterday and it is a new place, the feeling is much better, it is cleaner and much better. I would like to know why the staff don't make eye contact though... Is it a rule that they shouldn't speak to visitors? We went with our three year old granddaughter who thinks the zoo is magical and she was ignored by every single staff member who walked past us.. . It was a bit strange.

Fantastic experience: We stopped by the National Zoo & Aquarium and were pleasantly surprised at how well set out it was. Easy to follow directions and beautifully landscaped areas for viewing & also in the animal enclosures & surrounds. Like most zoos, you won’t spot every animal, but even when not as active, you do get to see a lot. Kids will love the playground area and also the Dinosaurs hidden amongst the trees and bushes. Keep your eyes open for the T-Rex. It’s huge. If you are looking for something a bit more special, book an experience whilst you are there. I can recommend the rhino experience, where you go behind the scenes & get up close. I’d recommend booking in advance any experience as they do sell out quickly. The carved wooden sculptures along the way are good to see as well. Lastly if you can afford it, consider staying at the Jamala Wildlife Lodge. We didn’t stay as it was way out of our price range, but whilst walking around the zoo you get to see where people stay and how close they are to the animals. Looked like a once in a lifetime experience.

Fantastic experience: Our family visited the zoo with two children (9 and 15). Arrived at opening and spent around 4 hours at the zoo. The range of animals and the information on how they were cared for was excellent. We used the zoo map for orientation which was informative. The zoo had accomodation options and many different places. Mid morning our girls had an ice block as we walked around. The area of the zoo was pretty big but it was reasonably flat and wheel chair was accessible. I would suggest to have a hearty breakfast and a good set of walking shoes. Pro the predators and big animals cons the native animals ie kangaroos and wombats etc exhibits was not great. I have been to a number of zoos in Australia and overseas and this was the best one. We purchased the Canberra tickets (3 entries) which was a good deal for us.

Fantastic experience: What a fabulous place. The animals were so close and the customer service amazing

Fantastic experience: We recently visited the National Zoo & Aquarium in Canberra for the second time, and once again, we had an amazing experience! There is such a wide variety of animals to see, including some really unique species, all housed in large, thoughtfully designed enclosures that allow them plenty of space to roam. One of the highlights for us was the fantastic play area – it’s huge and perfect for kids to burn off energy. Ours could have spent the entire day there! We also loved the picnic areas near the café, shaded by trees, which made for a relaxing and comfortable spot to take a break. We definitely recommend arriving early to avoid the crowds and make the most of your visit. It’s a great day out for families and animal lovers alike, and we’re already looking forward to our next trip!

Fantastic experience: A wonderful experience with family, we visit the zoo more than once every year. Always refreshing to see the amazing animals. Highly recommend

Fantastic experience: Braved a very chilly morning start of 730 for the amazing "Awesome Roarsome Tour" a 90min spectacular. Enjoy the guided experience of feeding some of natures beauties. Share with yourself, and those close to you. On the 90 min guided tour you get to be up close with creatures you don't normally get to see every day. Given a personal rendition of each animal we encountered, their hierarchies and pet hates. Then the privilege of being able to feed the first morning snack of the day to such wonderful animals is an amazing experience to to not only part take in but also see your loved ones enjoy as well. We got to hold a corn snake, We fed The Alpha Hyena, We fed Jake the white lion. He let us know how displeased he was once the snacks ran out. We also got to feed very cute otters, One of the two brother Tigers, A still quite large but of the smaller of the Leopard types as well. A lovely beautiful female sun bear. She loved her sweet potato. And also gaze apon the meerkats after feeding them. And enjoy their shenanigans. My older teen and a younger say 8+ got to experience feeding each animal more then once, not sure if this was planned or not. Did make it seam more special. I definitely would rate this a 12 out of 10 ☆'s !! The wonder and amazement in my daughters eyes was well worth the money. Its an Experience they will always remember. Definitely not for toddlers. Once the tour is over your welcome to continue to look around the rest of the zoo. Check out the Aquarium and Reptiles and the Giraffes and more. Also a gift shop/cafe and a bistro as well. I would strongly suggest bringing a hot thermos of warm drinks with you in the colder months as the Cafe is not open before or during the tour. Please think eco smart and reduce waste by not bringing disposable coffee containers from outside the zoo. Wear sensible shoes. And appropriate clothing for Canberra's weather. You will not be dissapointed by what the NZ&A have to offer. They also advise to let them know of anything needed to aid or to be aware of ahead of time, to help visitors of all abilities get to experience the NZ&A. I will definitely be back again!

Fantastic experience: We love the zoo! My son is almost 20 months and he loves the lion and the aquarium. Plenty of parking, way too much to see and do in one day, the kids playground is the best I've ever seen, staff are super friendly and helpful, and it never feels crowded because it's so spacious. We bought the annual membership and we go several times a week so the little man can check out his favorites during the afternoon scaries. It really helps get through that hard afternoon period when little kids are cranky.

Positive experience: Animals never disappoint. The only issue was there is no public transport to and from here.

Fantastic experience: Superb complex! Animals are very well looked after! They are well fed and obviously cared for with a lot of love. Animal enclosures are excellent!

Fantastic experience: Had a fantastic day at the National Zoo and Aquarium! The enclosures are beautifully maintained and the animals all look healthy and well-cared for. We especially loved the meerkats and tree kangaroos, so adorable! The donation EFTPOS is located inside the small shelter next to the tree kangaroo enclosure. Feel free to drop by and show your support! The staff were friendly, knowledgeable, and happy to answer questions. It’s a perfect place for families or anyone who loves animals. Planned to visit for a day and bought single -day tickets, decided to upgrade an annual pass! Highly recommend spending a few hours here!

Positive experience: Beautiful zoo with a very natural feel. Animals were very active and easy to see. Not enough toilets around for the kids

Positive experience: Travelled from NSW to see the place. Recommend buying tickets online (cheaper and quicker). Ample free parking is available on site. The enclosures are large but not many animals around (at least when I went). Our favourite attraction was the Sri Lankan Leopard. Don't recommend the "close encounters" as it's not value for money. Can cover the zoo in half a day, only a Cafe is open at the main entrance so it's ideal to bring liquids and food with you. The best toilet is located within the Aquarium.

Fantastic experience: As longtime fans of Taronga Zoo, we thought we’d already experienced the best when it came to zoos. But on our recent trip to Canberra, we decided to visit the National Zoo and Aquarium—and it completely exceeded our expectations. From the moment we arrived, we were struck by the sense of space and openness. The layout gives you the feeling of being immersed in nature, and the family-friendly atmosphere was evident throughout. The animals were impressively active, and the keeper talks were informative and warm. The kids’ play area was a huge hit—not just for the little ones, but for adults too! It’s clear a lot of thought has gone into making the experience engaging for all ages. The staff were incredibly welcoming, and a special shout-out to Finn, who went above and beyond to assist us with a few questions. We left feeling thoroughly impressed and can confidently say it’s one of the most enjoyable zoo visits we’ve had. Highly recommended for families visiting Canberra!

Fantastic experience: Excellent zoo- a lot of diverse animals for a relatively small zoo, and a great aquarium section. The paths were really easy to traverse, the animals looked happy and well taken care of. Would definitely recommend.

Fantastic experience: Amazing experience. Little one had so much fun. Place is really organised well with tracks and directions. Only issue is cafe. Best to be prepared to have some food for kids as Cafe was closed before 3 PM where all the food was expected.

Fantastic experience: Best place for kids and adult . We spent about 4hours walked around, eating inside , shop at the gift shop. There are plenty of resting area and toilet.

Negative experience: Not worth 58 dollars, Not easy to find direction Cage is always empty, hard to find animal Parking is easy Beginning is boring Last places animals are rare Aquarium is small and boring

Fantastic experience: Great layout to access the animals from almost 360degrees, the playground at the end was so much fun and an attraction in its own. We were also surprised when we came across the interactive dinosaurs! This zoo has it all really. My kids are 2 and 3 and were able to walk the whole day no problem. Highly recommend. Also very clean and well maintained.

Positive experience: Good experience would recommend it Plenty of parking but you have to make sure you get there early can take few hours to get through the park

Fantastic experience: Very organised zoo and lots of animals to see. You can spend a whole day here.

Fantastic experience: Awesome Dey hours spent so close to the animals, the open sites where you can get so close to the marsupials are brilliant. A must for all

Fantastic experience: Visit with my son multiple times. He love visiting every single time. Adventure park is lovely, very clean and green environment. Recommended for kids and young families.

Fantastic experience: We have been members at the Zoo for 3 years now. We absolutely love it. It has an amazing playground in the middle that is the best playground in Canberra, hands down. It has some animals that I'd never seen in captivity before, leopards, hyenas etc, and has really great little activities off to the side of the pathways to keep the kids entertained on the long walk.

Fantastic experience: Had an amazing Wild Night Zoo venture in the electric vehicle. Our guide and driver was delightful, well informed and fun. All the other staff were very friendly and helpful. The food was delicious. I highly recommend a visit to this very impressive zoo.

Fantastic experience: Came here with my partner for my 30th and had the best time ever. We did the Awesome Roarsome and Savannah tours, where we got to free all different types of animals. We also got to have an in person experience with the barking owl and the three cheetah brothers, where we actually got to go into the enclosure and pat them!

Fantastic experience: So many animals, I love that they have the zoo and an aquarium, staff are very friendly and helpful, easy to navigate with the map, price is a little high, paid $108 for 2 people but other than that I really enjoyed it.

Fantastic experience: Most aesthetic zoo I've ever seen - trees, pathways, sculptures, etc. Lots of interesting areas for kids to play, and typically several viewing points for each enclosure so you can get a good look for every animal. The range of animals is also very impressive. Make sure you set aside at least 4hrs for your visit, or else you'll be run off your feet because it's so large.

Fantastic experience: I've been to many zoo's and have to say this one goes down as my all time favorite. I'm so proud that this is our National Zoo. Well set out, a wonderful relaxing stroll through the habitats and surrounding landscapes and the animals are healthy and relaxed. Such a lovely day. Would recommend .

Fantastic experience: Amazing. Brilliant zoo especially the jungle exhibits with tigers, leopards etc. very relaxing walk around the adventure trail. And the adventure playground is one of the best I've seen.

Fantastic experience: Canberra Zoo & Aquarium is a fantastic destination for a fun-filled day with family. The well-maintained enclosures allow for an up-close experience with a diverse range of animals, making it both exciting and educational. The friendly and knowledgeable staff enhance the visit, ensuring a welcoming atmosphere. The zoo's layout is easy to navigate, with plenty of shaded areas and seating to relax. Whether you're watching majestic big cats, hand-feeding giraffes, or exploring the aquarium, there's something for everyone to enjoy. Highly recommended for a memorable day out!

Fantastic experience: One of the best zoos we've been to. Well set out. Loads for the kids to do. The dinosaur area was a great surprise. Highly recommended when in Canberra

Fantastic experience: I recently did the Awesome Roarsome Tour and the African Savannah Safari. These were both such great experiences, I would highly recommend! With both tours we got to feed multiple animals and had a great tour guide who was very charismatic and knowledgeable, answering any questions we had. I loved getting to see the gorgeous animals up close and getting to feed them!

Fantastic experience: Something very special about this zoo. You feel so close to the animals in a beautiful setting. A delight to experience

Fantastic experience: Wife meets a cheetah, awesome experience. Well worth the $$$$. Loved the zoo, really great.