Rainforest Room at Melbourne Zoo
Elliott Avenue, Parkville VIC 3052, Australia
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.
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Reviews for Melbourne Zoo
Rebeka Toth
It was our first time visiting Melbourne Zoo. During our visit, the newest additions were four baby snow leopards and two baby giraffes. It was difficult to see the snow leopard enclosure because there was a huge queue due to high interest. Since they are still small and sleep a lot, they stayed in a darker area where visibility wasn’t very good, but they were super cute. The two baby giraffes with their mother were also adorable and quite active, we really enjoyed watching them. We were pleasantly surprised to discover a dinosaur section in the zoo. There were many different dinosaurs, and their size and skin texture looked quite lifelike. They even made sounds, which made the experience fun for us as adults. What impressed me the most was the butterfly house, a tropical, greenhouse-like building where hundreds of butterflies fly freely. For me, it felt like a fairy tale, and I could relive my childhood dreams. Overall, this zoo was a wonderful experience. For my husband and me, the giraffes, dinosaur section, and butterfly house were the most memorable parts. It is very child-friendly, with many options for young children. In addition, there are informative boards for each animal where you can read interesting facts. I would gladly recommend this zoo to everyone!
StreetVloggеr
We had an amazing day at Melbourne Zoo! I went with my wife and our three kids and it was such a great family experience from start to finish. The zoo is really well set out, making it easy to walk around and see everything without feeling rushed. The kids absolutely loved seeing the lions, and especially the monkeys they didn’t want to leave! Staff were friendly and helpful, and the whole place felt clean, safe, and well maintained. There were plenty of shaded areas and spots to sit and relax, which made the day really comfortable for our family. It’s a perfect day out for families with kids – educational, fun, and full of great memories. We’ll definitely be coming back again soon!
Brandon
One of the best and most unique zoo’s in the world. Has the perfect blend of classic old school vintage zoo layout paired with an immersive winding path that guides you through each animal area. Very inspiring talks by local zoo keepers, decent food options, I wish they had more water available at the vending machines, highly recommend bringing your own water for this reason, they have good cafe and coffee locations, but the experience of the entire zoo is really beyond special. Highly recommend to solo travelers for a peaceful walk but also perfect for couples and families.
Jaz Explores
Melbourne Zoo is one of those places that delivers a wonderful family day out every single time. Located in Parkville just a few kilometres north of Melbourne’s CBD, it’s incredibly easy to access whether you’re driving or using public transport. The Route 58 tram stops right at the zoo entrance, making it one of the easiest attractions to add to your itinerary if you’re already exploring the city. Royal Park Station is also nearby for those travelling by train. My kids absolutely love it here and there always seems to be something happening. As Melbourne locals, we eventually purchased an annual membership and honestly it represents excellent value. You only need to visit a handful of times across the year before it pays for itself compared to buying individual tickets each visit. The zoo is exceptionally pram friendly with wide pathways, accessible facilities, plenty of family-friendly dining options and lots of opportunities for little ones to stop, play and rest throughout the day. For our family there are a few must-do attractions every single visit. The beautiful heritage carousel, which has been operating for more than 100 years, is always a favourite. We never miss the elephant precinct and the immersive butterfly house, and more recently the Dinosaur Trail has become a huge highlight. My three-year-old son is absolutely obsessed with the dinosaurs and talks about them long after we’ve gone home. There are also some fantastic spaces for children to burn off energy between animal encounters. Near the carousel you’ll find a large playground which naturally becomes a gathering point for families, and throughout the zoo there are lovely grassed areas, shaded seating and quiet spaces to take a break, enjoy a snack or simply plan your next stop. Parking is available onsite, however it fills quickly during weekends, school holidays and special events. During particularly busy periods the zoo opens additional overflow parking areas nearby. If you’re travelling with a pram, young children or anyone with mobility challenges, it can sometimes be worth dropping passengers at the entrance before parking the car. Not essential, but a handy tip on busy days. I also recommend bringing snacks and water if you’re looking to save a little money. The food and beverage options are perfectly good and I wouldn’t describe them as overpriced by attraction standards, but prices are similar to what you’d expect at major events and tourist destinations around Melbourne. One thing I do love is that they make an effort to include fun touches for children. On our most recent visit the kids’ meals came with DIY cookies and decorating pens which kept the little ones entertained, and the cafés also sell adorable koala-shaped cookies that are always popular. Overall, Melbourne Zoo remains one of the most reliable and enjoyable family attractions in Victoria. Whether you’re visiting Melbourne for the first time or you’re a local family looking for a great day out, it’s absolutely worth adding to your list.
Shannon Griffin
Reccomend Melbourne Zoo for a nice day out of the city with fresh air. Plenty of space to wander around and a handful of food venues should you wish to buy a meal or snack. Easily accessible from tram, bus, train and car. Reccomend buying tickets online to avoid queueing on entery. Also suggest visiting in the morning to see the animals more active and attend the speaker talks throughout the day. Speaker talk times can be found on the map handed out at entry or online.
Other spaces at this venue
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.