Perth Zoo

Perth Zoo sits on 17 hectares of landscaped grounds in South Perth, just five minutes from the CBD across the Swan River. Opened in 1898, it is one of Australia's oldest zoos and remains one of Western Australia's most visited attractions. The zoo is home to around 1,300 animals across 164 species, with exhibits spanning African, Asian, and Australian wildlife. Beyond public display, Perth Zoo runs nationally significant breeding programs for critically endangered native species, with animals bred here regularly released into the wild.

Things to See at Perth Zoo

The zoo is divided into distinct geographic zones, each designed to replicate natural habitats. A full visit takes three to four hours at a comfortable pace, though families with young children often spend the better part of a day.

African Savannah

The African Savannah is the zoo's largest precinct and one of its most impressive. A raised boardwalk loops through open grassland enclosures where giraffes, zebras, and white rhinoceros share space in a mixed-species exhibit that mimics the East African plains. The lion exhibit sits adjacent, with viewing windows at ground level that bring visitors within a metre of the pride. Meerkats occupy a smaller enclosure nearby, and their sentinel behaviour draws crowds throughout the day. Painted dogs - one of Africa's most endangered predators - can be seen in a purpose-built enclosure with elevated viewing platforms.

The Savannah works best in the morning when animals are most active. Keeper talks are scheduled daily and typically cover giraffe feeding or lion enrichment, both worth timing your visit around.

Asian Rainforest

The Asian Rainforest precinct replicates the dense tropical forests of Southeast Asia. The centrepiece is the orangutan exhibit, a sprawling multi-level enclosure with ropes, platforms, and dense vegetation. Perth Zoo has a long history with Sumatran orangutans and has contributed to international breeding programs for decades. The sun bears occupy an adjacent exhibit with a climbing structure and pool, and their playful behaviour makes them a consistent visitor favourite.

Asian elephants are housed in a large exhibit at the rear of the precinct. The elephant viewing area includes an underwater window where visitors can watch the animals wade and bathe. Smaller exhibits in this zone feature red pandas, otters, and Sumatran tigers.

Australian Bushwalk

For interstate and international visitors, the Australian Bushwalk offers something genuinely distinctive. The open woodland setting features free-ranging kangaroos along a shared path, alongside dedicated exhibits for some of Western Australia's rarest marsupials. Numbats - the state's faunal emblem and one of the most endangered mammals on earth - are displayed here, as are bilbies and dibblers. These are species most Australians will never encounter in the wild, and Perth Zoo is one of very few places where they can be reliably seen.

Quokkas, famous globally from Rottnest Island selfies, have their own enclosure in this section. Koalas, wombats, and Tasmanian devils round out the Australian collection. The Bushwalk is shaded and flat, making it the most accessible section of the zoo for prams and wheelchairs.

Nocturnal House and Penguin Plunge

The Nocturnal House is a darkened building where the light cycle is reversed, allowing visitors to observe Australia's night-active species during zoo hours. Exhibits include ghost bats, bilbies, quolls, and pygmy possums. Eyes take a few minutes to adjust, so allow time before expecting to spot the smaller species.

Penguin Plunge houses a colony of little penguins - the world's smallest penguin species - in a climate-controlled exhibit with an underwater viewing tunnel. Feeding sessions happen twice daily and are among the most popular scheduled events at the zoo. The Reptile Encounter sits nearby, showcasing Australian and exotic reptiles including saltwater crocodiles, Komodo dragons, and a variety of venomous snakes. The Primate Trail connects several smaller primate exhibits, including cotton-top tamarins and ring-tailed lemurs.

Main Lake, located centrally, provides a resting point between zones. Pelicans, black swans, and other waterbirds inhabit the lake, and shaded seating lines its banks.

How to Get to Perth Zoo

Perth Zoo is located at 20 Labouchere Road, South Perth. The most scenic approach is the ferry from Elizabeth Quay in the CBD - a short crossing of the Swan River that drops passengers at the South Perth foreshore, from where the zoo entrance is a flat 10-minute walk along Mends Street. The ferry runs frequently and is covered by standard Transperth fares.

Bus routes 30 and 31 stop directly outside the zoo on Labouchere Road. Both services connect to the Perth CBD and Elizabeth Quay bus station.

For drivers, there is paid parking on zoo grounds with approximately 300 spaces. The car park fills early on weekends and school holidays, so arriving before 10am is advisable. Street parking along Labouchere Road and surrounding residential streets is available but time-limited. If you are planning a broader Western Australian itinerary, Perth Zoo pairs well with a day exploring South Perth and the foreshore - use the trip planner to map it into your route.

Tickets and Prices

Standard admission is approximately $38 for adults and $19 for children aged 4 to 15. Children under 4 enter free. Concession and family passes are available, and annual memberships offer significant savings for locals who plan to visit more than twice a year. Tickets can be purchased online in advance or at the gate. Online booking is recommended during school holidays to avoid queues.

Perth Zoo is a member of the Zoo and Aquarium Association, and reciprocal entry discounts may apply for members of other accredited Australian zoos.

When to Visit

Perth Zoo is open from 9am to 5pm every day of the year, including public holidays. Last entry is at 4pm.

The best months for a visit are April to October, when Perth's mild autumn and winter temperatures make outdoor walking comfortable. Summer visits between December and February can be uncomfortably hot, with temperatures regularly exceeding 35°C. If visiting in summer, arrive at opening time and plan to be indoors or in shade by midday. Many animals retreat to sheltered areas during peak heat, reducing visibility in outdoor exhibits.

Weekdays during school term are the quietest times. Saturday mornings are popular with families, and school holiday periods see the highest attendance. Keeper talks and feeding sessions run daily on a published schedule - check the zoo's website on the morning of your visit for exact times.

Conservation Programs

Perth Zoo's conservation work is arguably its most significant contribution, and it is a global leader in breeding endangered Western Australian species for release into the wild. The zoo's breeding programs have produced thousands of animals that have been reintroduced to native habitats across the state.

The numbat breeding program is the most prominent. With fewer than 1,000 numbats remaining in the wild, Perth Zoo breeds animals each year for release into predator-controlled reserves in the wheatbelt and south-west. The western swamp tortoise program is equally critical - this species was once thought extinct before a small population was rediscovered in the 1950s. Perth Zoo has bred and released hundreds of tortoises into protected wetland sites north of Perth.

The dibbler, a small carnivorous marsupial found only in Western Australia, is another species that has benefited from the zoo's breeding expertise. Dibblers bred at the zoo have been released onto predator-free islands off the south coast.

These programs are funded in part through zoo admission and through the Perth Zoo Wildlife Conservation Action program, to which visitors can make additional donations. Information boards throughout the zoo detail current conservation projects and release outcomes.

Tips for Visiting

• Allow at least three hours. Four to five hours is realistic if you want to see everything and catch a couple of keeper talks.
• Wear comfortable shoes. The zoo is mostly flat but covers a large area on paved and compacted gravel paths.
• Bring water. Drinking fountains are available throughout the grounds, but carrying a refillable bottle saves time.
• Food options. The zoo has a main cafe near the entrance serving hot meals, coffee, and snacks. A kiosk near the African Savannah offers lighter fare. Picnic areas with shaded tables are located near Main Lake and the Australian Bushwalk - BYO food is welcome.
• Gift shop. Located at the zoo entrance, the gift shop stocks plush animals, books, and conservation-themed merchandise. Proceeds support the zoo's wildlife programs.
• Accessibility. The zoo is largely wheelchair and pram accessible, with sealed paths throughout most exhibits. Wheelchair hire is available at the entrance. The Nocturnal House has limited accessibility due to narrow corridors.
• Pram and wheelchair hire. Available at the main entrance on a first-come basis.

Nearby Attractions

The South Perth foreshore is directly accessible from the zoo and offers walking paths, playgrounds, and views of the Perth city skyline across the river. The Old Mill, a restored colonial windmill from 1835, sits at the western end of the foreshore and is open for guided tours on Sundays.

Sir James Mitchell Park, stretching east along the river from the foreshore, is one of Perth's best picnic spots and connects to a continuous cycling and walking path that runs to Canning Bridge. Elizabeth Quay, accessible by ferry, offers restaurants, public art installations, and the Bell Tower. Kings Park and Botanic Garden, the 400-hectare bushland park overlooking the city, is a 10-minute drive from the zoo and pairs well for a full day of outdoor activities in Perth.