Melbourne Zoo
Elliott Avenue, Parkville VIC 3052, Australia
Zoo
•Why you'll love Melbourne Zoo
- Be amongst the Animals and enjoy nature and natural surroundings.
- Unique location with outdoor spaces that can host a large number of different types of functions.
- Offers exceptional cuisine and a beautiful setting.
About the venue
As a function venue, Melbourne Zoo stands alone. Seriously - are there many venues that can boast the things the Zoo holds in its grasp? First off, it’s a zoo. With real live animals. Secondly, as a function space, the Zoo can accommodate groups numbering between 10 and 3000. Thirdly, it’s a zoo. Aside from the obvious fact that Melbourne Zoo is a veritable wonderland of animals like lions and gorillas and bears and snakes, our city’s zoo also sports a number of function spaces for events that range from the end-of-year party time variety to the kid's birthday kind, or the breed of event more conducive to fostering business relationships with clients (in a unique setting). There’s the Lakeside Room, overlooking the zoo’s award-winning Japanese gardens. Then there’s the Leopard Lodge, located a lion’s roar from the big cats and fitting up to 500 guests. Then there’s the Bong Su Room with its own private tree kangaroo exhibit, found in the heart of the Elephant Trail. Also the Rainforest Room with its own tamarin monkey enclosure. Melbourne Zoo is (in case you live under a rock, and are in desperate need of a reconnection with your childhood) found along Elliott Avenue in Parkville. That’s just off Royal Parade, surprisingly close to Melbourne University, and a veritable stone’s throw (train ride) from the city and Citylink.
Melbourne Zoo Function Rooms
Bong Su Room
At the heart of the Elephant Trail lies the Bong Su Room. With its indoor and outdoor spaces, floor to ceiling windows, bold dark timber panelling, private views over our animal exhibit, and hidden location among the bamboo forest, the Bong Su Room is an experience. This room is perfect for conferences with an inbuilt screen and projector, seated lunches and dinners, wedding receptions and birthday celebrations.
Lakeside Room
With picturesque views over the award-winning Japanese Garden and lake, the Lakeside Café is an evening-only venue to enjoy that features an outdoor terrace connecting to the main function room. Room for a spacious dancefloor, makes this venue ideal for Christmas, birthday or engagement parties, wedding receptions and corporate functions such as gala or award dinners. The Lakeside Café comfortably holds 120 guests standing or 80 seated, and is available to hire from 6:30pm onwards.
Leopard Lodge
Situated close to both the big cat’s habitat and the beloved Carnivores’ Trail, the Leopard Lodge is the largest and most versatile of the four function rooms. You and your guests can share a toast to the sound of lions roaring against a backdrop of some of the Zoo’s finest gardens and lawns. Comfortably hosting 350 guests standing or 200-240 seated, the Leopard Lodge is conveniently located close to the trams and trains of the Railgate entrance. Here, greenery on all sides creates the sense of celebrating in the heart of a jungle, and a paved outdoor terrace allows your guests to spill into the landscape. A purpose built bridal suite makes this a particularly fitting function space for wedding receptions. With its screen, stage and AV capabilities, it's the perfect conference venue.
Rainforest Room
The Rainforest Room is a location of pure beauty. With views over the award-winning Japanese Garden and Lake, the outside terrace is an ideal place to sample a glass of sparkling while savouring the tranquil surrounds. The inside of this light-filled venue features its own private animal exhibit – the lush forest habitat of the playful Tamarin monkeys. Perfect for corporate conferences, cocktail parties and dinners or wedding receptions, this space holds up to 110 guests standing or 80 guests seated.
Reviews for Melbourne Zoo
karam pack
We really enjoyed our visit to Melbourne Zoo and had a wonderful day overall. The atmosphere was very pleasant and well maintained, making it a great place to spend several hours. The zoo has a wide range of animals, and the aquatic animals were especially beautiful and enjoyable to see. Some of the animals were hiding or inactive during our visit, which is understandable, so we couldn’t see everything — but this didn’t take away from the overall experience. The reception team were friendly and welcoming, which made a great first impression. I would suggest for the entry fees to be reconsidered, i think it will encourage more attractions. Overall, it was a lovely experience and definitely worth visiting. Highly recommended for a relaxing and enjoyable day out!
Adi G
Melbourne Zoo is one of the best places to visit in the city, perfect for families, couples, and nature lovers. The zoo is well maintained with spacious, natural-style enclosures that make it enjoyable to see animals up close while still respecting their habitats. There is a great variety of wildlife from around the world, including native Australian animals and exotic species. The walking paths are clean, easy to navigate, and surrounded by greenery, making the visit relaxing as well as educational. Informative displays help visitors learn more about conservation and animal care. Facilities like cafés, rest areas, and amenities are well placed throughout the zoo. Overall, Melbourne Zoo offers a fun, educational, and memorable experience and is definitely worth a visit for anyone exploring Melbourne.
W M
One of Melbourne's most iconic zoos, just 10 minutes from City, a must-visit! The zoo has a clear layout, a quick walk around the paths will take you to the main animals without getting lost. It's clean, with minimal odors, a significant improvement in hygiene compared to many zoos. The koalas were mostly sleeping, but they're undeniably adorable. The kangaroos were also sleeping. Highlights include the Tasmanian devils, emus, and snow leopards.
Hailee TRAN
Happy Australia Day! 🇦🇺🦒🦘🦭🦝 We visit Melbourne Zoo in Parkville today. We literally enjoy nature and wildlife. What we love the most is the architecture here- so unique compared to other zoos in Victoria. Animals from all around the world, including native Australian wildlife. There are many cafe’, playgrounds and rest areas around the zoo. 10 out of 10
Lawrence Mitchell
It is a really good zoo. Lots of happy animals. Often there are little presentations just going on that you can just join in on; today there was a butterfly room presentation, my kid loved it. There are a few cafes scattered around the place and limited food options pies etc. I advise getting an annual pass to get access to all 4 zoos which are also good days out.
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