Ranked Australia’s best zoo by international travellers, Melbourne Zoo is also the country’s oldest, first opening in 1862. Today, it’s home to more than 5,000 animals from over 300 species, spread across 22 hectares of leafy grounds and immersive enclosures. Despite its long history, the zoo feels anything but dated — and it’s impressively close to the city. Located just 15 minutes from Melbourne’s CBD, it’s easily reached by train to Royal Park station, followed by a short walk. You'll have roaring good time as the Melbourne Zoo is one of the best zoos in Australia for lion spotting. Melbourne Zoo’s Lion Gorge is a standout, multi-million-dollar precinct and one of the best exhibits of its kind in the country. Alongside the pride of lions, you can also spot African wild dogs and Philippine crocodiles in this dramatic, open-air setting.

If koalas are at the top of your wildlife wish list, Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is a must-visit. Located in Brisbane, it’s the world’s first and largest koala sanctuary and plays a leading role in research and conservation to protect these iconic marsupials. Lone Pine sits around 12km from Brisbane’s CBD and is easy to reach by car or public transport, with bus routes stopping nearby. For a more scenic journey, you can also arrive by river cruise from South Bank — a popular and memorable way to visit. This is one of the best wildlife sanctuary for koalas. Home to more than 130 koalas across several natural habitat zones, Lone Pine is a true haven for anyone keen to get up close with Australia’s most beloved animal.

Another Queensland favourite is Australia Zoo, founded by wildlife legend Steve Irwin — the country’s much-loved Crocodile Hunter. Today, the zoo is run by the Irwin family, including his children, Bindi and Robert, who continue his conservation legacy. Australia Zoo is located in Beerwah, around 25 minutes from Caloundra on the Sunshine Coast, or about an hour’s drive north of Brisbane along Steve Irwin Way, also known as the Glass House Mountains Tourist Drive. True to Steve Irwin’s passion, Australia Zoo offers some of the country’s most impressive crocodile encounters, including daily shows where you can learn why these ancient reptiles were so close to his heart.

For a taste of the African plains without leaving Australia, head to Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo. Unlike traditional city zoos, its open-range design gives animals vast, naturalistic habitats, creating one of the most immersive wildlife experiences in the country. Set across expansive grounds, the zoo features a six-kilometre circuit that you can explore by bike or car, passing roaming herds with only moats separating you from the animals — a setup that feels closer to safari than zoo. One of Taronga Western Plains Zoo’s standout experiences lets visitors hand-feed these gentle giants, offering a rare and memorable close-up encounter.

Penguins might not be the first animals you associate with Australia, but along the southern coast — especially in Tasmania and Victoria — these tiny seabirds thrive. One of the best places to see them is Phillip Island, around 90 minutes from Melbourne. Night after night, the famous Penguin Parade delivers one of Australia’s most reliable and endearing wildlife encounters — complete with a countdown to their arrival on the Phillip Island website. Each evening at sunset, little penguins emerge from the sea and waddle back to their burrows in a charming, near-clockwork procession. Purpose-built viewing platforms offer excellent vantage points, and for a sneak peek, the park’s app features live webcams and behind-the-scenes footage.

Second only to Melbourne Zoo in age, Adelaide Zoo is one of Australia’s oldest zoological attractions. It’s home to more than 2,500 animals from over 250 species, including one of the country’s rarest wildlife highlights: giant pandas. Adelaide Zoo is the only place in Australia where you can see giant pandas, home to the much-loved pair Yi Lan and Xing Qiu. Set within a leafy green belt beside the River Torrens, the zoo sits just north of Adelaide’s CBD and is only a five-minute drive from the eastern end of Rundle Mall. The neighbouring Adelaide Botanic Garden makes it easy to turn your visit into a full day immersed in nature.

Set in one of Australia’s most celebrated wine regions, Hunter Valley Zoo offers a refreshing break from vineyard hopping and cellar-door tastings (with semillon as the local speciality). Smaller than many of Australia’s major zoos, its compact size adds to the charm, making it easy to wander at a relaxed pace while spotting exotic birds, mammals, primates and reptiles. You’ll find the zoo in Nulkaba, between Cessnock and Rothbury, conveniently located near Ernest Hill Wines — ideal for pairing wildlife encounters with a Hunter Valley escape. It's a top Australian zoo for cheeky meerkats. Hunter Valley Zoo offers an upgrade experience that lets you step inside the meerkat enclosure — and fair warning, they’re known for climbing onto visitors’ hats.

Dating back to 1916, Taronga Zoo Sydney is one of Australia’s most iconic wildlife attractions. Perched in Mosman overlooking Sydney Harbour, the zoo is home to around 4,000 animals and offers more than 20 daily keeper talks and shows. Some enclosures come with unbeatable backdrops, with views stretching across the water to the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge. One of the most memorable ways to arrive is by ferry from Circular Quay, gliding across the harbour before disembarking at the zoo’s wharf. Taronga Zoo’s popular Roar & Snore experience lets visitors stay overnight in safari-style tents, spot nocturnal animals at their most active, and wake up to harbour views — a truly unique way to experience the zoo after dark.

Like Dubbo’s open-range zoo, Werribee Open Range Zoo gives its animals far more space than a traditional city zoo. African wildlife takes centre stage here, with giraffes, big cats, hippos and gorillas among the standout residents. For a truly immersive experience, safari tours allow visitors to venture into the enclosures and get remarkably close to the animals. Werribee is home to one of the world’s largest gorilla enclosures, spanning more than 6,000 square metres. Daily keeper talks and multiple viewing platforms offer fascinating insights into how these majestic primates live, feed and play. Werribee Open Range Zoo is located around 35km south-west of Melbourne’s CBD, roughly halfway to Avalon Airport, making it an easy day trip from the city.

Around 220 kilometres south-west of Perth, Busselton Jetty offers one of Australia’s most unique wildlife experiences — an underwater ‘zoo’ unlike any other. Often described as the country’s greatest artificial reef, the jetty supports more than 300 marine species, with colourful sponges, corals and schools of fish thriving beneath the surface. Busselton Jetty is one of only five underwater observatories in the world, offering ever-changing views depending on the season. Even on low-visibility days, VR experiences provide a glimpse of the marine creatures that call this reef home. Eight metres below the water and 1.7km along the jetty, the Underwater Observatory allows up to 48 visitors at a time to peer directly into this vibrant marine world. Above the water, the jetty itself is an attraction, holding the title of the longest wooden jetty in the world.