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.
Price Guide
| Price Type | Price Per Person (Starting From) |
|---|---|
| Day Delegate Package (DDP) | $ 90 |
| Half Day Delegate Package (HDDP) | $ 80 |
| 2 Course Menu | $ 80 |
| 3 Course Menu | $ 90 |
| 3 Hour Canapes | $ 85 |
| 3 Hour Beverage Package | $ 43 |
Please note, that pricing may be subject to change without notice. We recommend confirming with the venue prior to booking to ensure you have the most up-to-date information.
Reviews for Melbourne Zoo
Tash V
If you have a young kid and couldn’t recommend the zoo pass more! We have been four times this year, and it’s fascinating to watch my daughters' interest and observations of the animals change each time we visit. It’s wonderful that the different walking tracks have lots of different foliage and trees to observe, statues and other interactive play equipment to burn off energy along the way. The zoo pass is great value, money-wise, and provides a great day out for the whole family.
Sean Robinson (Seany)
I have been to quite a few zoos all around the world from Chester to Chiba and I think this one is up there with the best of them. Great exhibitions with multiple view points which were wonderful. A great collection of animals throughout the zoo so you do need a bit of time to get around to all of them. I felt like the enclosures are well thought out and appropriate sizes. I enjoyed the animal talks I managed to catch. I also enjoyed seeing the animal art as you can see from the photos. If I were to provide feedback 1. Maybe better signage. Something like colour coded animal paw prints towards each section? 2. Maybe a little more to help keep kids engaged and learning. Perhaps a checklist booklet parents could buy for them? Thanks for the day out, we’d love to visit again in the future.
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!
Simba XX
If you are visiting Melbourne, the Melbourne Zoo is an absolute must-see. We recently spent a full day here and were thoroughly impressed by the variety of wildlife, the beautifully maintained enclosures, and the genuine commitment to animal conservation. It is easily one of the best zoo experiences we’ve had. 1. A Captivating Journey Through Global Wildlife The sheer variety of species at Melbourne Zoo is staggering. One of the major highlights for us was the Lion and Tiger enclosures. Seeing these majestic big cats so active and well-cared-for was a thrill. The tiger, in particular, was prowling through its lush, jungle-like habitat, providing some incredible photo opportunities. We also loved the Gorilla exhibit. Watching the troop interact, especially the younger ones playing together, was a fascinating look into their complex social lives. The Giraffes were another standout—standing tall against the backdrop of the park, they are always a crowd favorite and look incredibly graceful in their spacious environment. 2. The Iconic Australian Experience Of course, no trip to an Australian zoo is complete without seeing the locals. The Koala exhibit was peaceful and well-designed, allowing us to get a great look at these sleepy icons among the gum trees. It’s a perfect spot for families to teach children about Australia’s unique biodiversity. 3. The Star of the Show: The Adorable Snow Leopard Cubs! The absolute highlight of our visit was seeing the Snow Leopard cubs. These little ones are beyond cute! Watching them clumsily pounce and play under the watchful eye of their mother was a heart-melting experience. They are incredibly active and undeniably the stars of the zoo right now. If you’re visiting soon, make sure to head to their enclosure early, as they are a popular sight—and for good reason! 4. Family-Friendly and Educational The zoo is laid out perfectly for families with children. The paths are easy to navigate, there are plenty of shaded spots to rest, and the educational displays are engaging for all ages. We appreciated how the staff are always nearby to share interesting facts about the animals and their habitats. Summary: Melbourne Zoo offers a perfect blend of adventure, education, and conservation. From the roaring lions to the tiny, playful snow leopard cubs, every corner of the park offers something special. Whether you’re a local or a tourist, this is a 5-star destination that delivers a memorable day out for everyone. We can’t wait to come back!
Charli Linz
Such a large and wonderful zoo! Also one of the cheapest gift shops in have seen at a zoo or museum in quite some time. All the animals look happy and healthy and all the amenities were clean
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