Werribee Open Range Zoo
Werribee Open Range Zoo
Werribee Open Range Zoo
4.5
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Experience an African adventure just 30 minutes from Melbourne. You'll find an amazing array of animals living on 225 hectares of wide, open savannah. On the Pula Reserve Walking Trail, come face-to-face with amazing gorillas, a pride of lions, see monkeys and cheetahs at play and feel the sand between your toes at the new Hippo Beach! Included in your admission price is a 40 minute safari tour where you will find rhinoceros, giraffes, zebras and antelopes grazing together on the picturesque savannah. Experience Slumber Safari, where you stay overnight in our luxury safari tents overlooking the savannah. Your stay includes amazing close-up animal encounters, drinks and dips at sunset, and a sumptuous African feast!
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from $28.96
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
1,960 reviews
Excellent
1,120
Very good
593
Average
164
Poor
54
Terrible
29
Aussie_2012
Melbourne, Australia924 contributions
Apr 2021 • Family
This place is something that has always been a bucket list place to go and finally we got there. Get there for opening as this place gets very busy particularly with lots of children. I suggest to get the free Safari bus first thing then do it again straight away but this time sit on the opposite side. If you catch the bus in the afternoon they don’t stop as often and it is also very noisy with excited children so you can’t hear the tour guide.
You can do close up encounters and longer bus tours however they cost more so it can be quite an expensive day. There are plenty of food options so you don’t necessarily have to eat at the big eatery near the entrance. There are other options scattered throughout the zoo such as the Hippo Beach Cafe which is smaller but plenty of food options.
Remember these are wild animals so you’re not always going to see the animals up close however the enclosures are very good so you will get to have some great closeups now and then.
The Australian section isn’t no where as fantastic as places like Healesville sanctuary or Maru Koala park but remember this is mainly about African animals so the focus isn’t as much on Animals like kangaroos and koalas.
The traveling Dinosaur exhibit which finishes at the end of April 2021 was fantastic albeit not real. The life sized animatronic dinosaurs were quite impressive.
Overall a great place and well done. Just note that this isn’t a peaceful day out.
You can do close up encounters and longer bus tours however they cost more so it can be quite an expensive day. There are plenty of food options so you don’t necessarily have to eat at the big eatery near the entrance. There are other options scattered throughout the zoo such as the Hippo Beach Cafe which is smaller but plenty of food options.
Remember these are wild animals so you’re not always going to see the animals up close however the enclosures are very good so you will get to have some great closeups now and then.
The Australian section isn’t no where as fantastic as places like Healesville sanctuary or Maru Koala park but remember this is mainly about African animals so the focus isn’t as much on Animals like kangaroos and koalas.
The traveling Dinosaur exhibit which finishes at the end of April 2021 was fantastic albeit not real. The life sized animatronic dinosaurs were quite impressive.
Overall a great place and well done. Just note that this isn’t a peaceful day out.
Written April 4, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Steven W
5 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
Very disappointed that the staff didn't look at the weather forecast and cancel/reschedule due to poor weather. It is definitely NOT a wet weather event. Being confined to one's lodge listening to the rain tumble down was very down heartening. (You cannot even watch the rain as the lodges all face directly into the south-west - which is the direction from which Melbourne's worst weather comes. You can't do any of the activities if it is raining.....
Advice for anyone else considering coming: - look at the weather forecast 2 days ahead and see if you can reschedule.
Staff were rude and totally not interested in taking about rescheduling or a refund.
Written January 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Steven,
Thanks for your feedback. We're sorry to hear you were disappointed.
Although the rain hindered your experience, the activities and entry to the zoo remains open to enjoy rain or shine. It does mention on our website that Slumber Safari is an all-weather program. It also states that transfers to an alternate date must be made no less than 7 days prior to the camp date.
We're sorry to hear you had a negative experience with our staff, we'll pass that feedback onto the relevant teams.
Kind regards,
Zoos Victoria
Written January 14, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Heather87
714 contributions
Mar 2020
This was my second visit Werribee Open Range with the first one nearly 4 years ago. It’s part of Zoos Victoria (together with Melbourne Zoo and Healesville Sanctuary) so with a membership, you can get free access to any of the three parks.
What makes Werribee Open Range Zoo different to Melbourne Zoo, however, is it’s strong focus on African animals (although it does have a native Australian animal section) and the way it’s been designed to try and resemble an African village between huts, painted totem poles and other props. A picture is worth a thousand words so rather than try to describe/explain it all, I’ll include some pictures with the review.
One of the things I particularly love about Werribee Open Range Zoo is the way it engages so many senses. If you count buying and eating food from one of its eateries, I’d say it engages all 5 senses. Two examples: the lion enclosure and Hippo Beach. I love the way the former has a jeep where the bonnet is surrounded by glass of the enclosure; you can sit up close and get great views of the lions, especially when one of the keepers puts meat on the bonnet as per my picture. I’m in my 30s and enjoy sitting in and mucking about in the jeep so I can only imagine how it would add to the excitement for kids. Same with Hippo Beach: apart from viewing the actual hippos, one can enjoy playing with the sculpted hippos and that, I do. When the water sprinklers come on in summer one could almost think they were frolicking amongst herds of hippos in an African river.
The other favourite activity: close up encounters. These come at an extra cost and can be quite costly although the money goes right back into the zoo. NB: There are minimum age requirements for these experiences so not recommended for families with babies or toddlers. That aside, the experiences are AMAZING! Today, I did the gorilla one and emerged quite smitten with Yakini. I’ve also done the serval (African cats) a few years ago and included pics of it with this review. These close encounters are not circus shows or anything; rather, you get to see the keepers work directly with the animals to acclimatise them to handling in case they need to be handled by vets; also getting them to respond to certain stimuli. I thought Paul, Cathy and Tamzin (?) were very engaging and professional.
So if you’re an animal lover and looking for a way to add some zest to your day whilst supporting wildlife conservation, Werribee Zoo is the place for you to visit.
What makes Werribee Open Range Zoo different to Melbourne Zoo, however, is it’s strong focus on African animals (although it does have a native Australian animal section) and the way it’s been designed to try and resemble an African village between huts, painted totem poles and other props. A picture is worth a thousand words so rather than try to describe/explain it all, I’ll include some pictures with the review.
One of the things I particularly love about Werribee Open Range Zoo is the way it engages so many senses. If you count buying and eating food from one of its eateries, I’d say it engages all 5 senses. Two examples: the lion enclosure and Hippo Beach. I love the way the former has a jeep where the bonnet is surrounded by glass of the enclosure; you can sit up close and get great views of the lions, especially when one of the keepers puts meat on the bonnet as per my picture. I’m in my 30s and enjoy sitting in and mucking about in the jeep so I can only imagine how it would add to the excitement for kids. Same with Hippo Beach: apart from viewing the actual hippos, one can enjoy playing with the sculpted hippos and that, I do. When the water sprinklers come on in summer one could almost think they were frolicking amongst herds of hippos in an African river.
The other favourite activity: close up encounters. These come at an extra cost and can be quite costly although the money goes right back into the zoo. NB: There are minimum age requirements for these experiences so not recommended for families with babies or toddlers. That aside, the experiences are AMAZING! Today, I did the gorilla one and emerged quite smitten with Yakini. I’ve also done the serval (African cats) a few years ago and included pics of it with this review. These close encounters are not circus shows or anything; rather, you get to see the keepers work directly with the animals to acclimatise them to handling in case they need to be handled by vets; also getting them to respond to certain stimuli. I thought Paul, Cathy and Tamzin (?) were very engaging and professional.
So if you’re an animal lover and looking for a way to add some zest to your day whilst supporting wildlife conservation, Werribee Zoo is the place for you to visit.
Written March 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Suebyyyy
Welshpool, Australia113 contributions
Mar 2021 • Friends
A group of 6 of us stayed the night from the time of arrival the staff were so very welcoming especially Matt we felt very comfortable from the start.
Rhonda was also very attentive she took us on the Safari bus she was so informative about the zoo animals we loved the Safari.
Amee the chef well she certainly made sure there was plenty of delicious food we could not fault any of it absolutely enjoyed it.
Our glamping tent was awesome and spotlessly clean beds were comfortable and our exclusive tours were fabulous we loved and enjoyed every bit of our stay I highly recommend this stay over it was worth every dollar we paid for it thank you for our wonderful stay we will be back.
Rhonda was also very attentive she took us on the Safari bus she was so informative about the zoo animals we loved the Safari.
Amee the chef well she certainly made sure there was plenty of delicious food we could not fault any of it absolutely enjoyed it.
Our glamping tent was awesome and spotlessly clean beds were comfortable and our exclusive tours were fabulous we loved and enjoyed every bit of our stay I highly recommend this stay over it was worth every dollar we paid for it thank you for our wonderful stay we will be back.
Written March 21, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Robyn G
Townsville, Australia89 contributions
Jan 2020 • Family
We hadn't been to this zoo in 15 years since moving interstate. We originally allocated ourselves half a day here so that we could visit the Mansion afterwards. We never made it to the Mansion as there was too much to see at the zoo! Although it was school holidays and quite busy, lines for the tour buses moved quickly and lining up to order food from the cafes was pretty quick considering the amount of people - and the food on offer was nice quality. Kids and adults of all ages will love a day out at the Werribee Zoo and the ostriches were hilarious! I highly recommend this for all ages.
Written January 26, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
maryjoemm
Shepparton, Australia63 contributions
Jan 2021 • Family
We had been here about 8 years ago when my girls were little and had great memories, so I decided to take the family again while staying in Geelong. It wasn’t as I remembered. I feel that there were less animals, only cards accepted due to COVID ☹️ a bit understandable. food was not good at all and over priced. I don’t mind paying as long as I get something decent. The only good thing was the bus tour around the park except for the fact that the zoo workers were telling us to bunch up at the gates while waiting for the bus. First you don’t accept cash because of COVID and then you want us all gathered up like a heard of sheep to get on the bus 🤨.
Written January 13, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
wesso3
Werribee, Australia106 contributions
Jan 2020 • Family
When visiting Werribee a must see is the open plain zoo in Werribee where U can see a great range of all wild animals roaming free in great vast inclosures. A safari bus will travel through the complex so U can get up close to the majority of animals and watching them go about their daily activities. Great food outlet where U can enjoy resteraunt and take away food. The resteraunt will also convert to wedding, and many other functions. Close by a winery,golf course and close by the Werribee beaches a must for all visiting Werribee
Written March 25, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RmG
Melbourne, Australia81 contributions
Apr 2022
I attended the Giraffe Feed Encounter at this zoo. I'd highly recommend it, if it's something that strikes your fancy. Be aware though that it is down the animals choice whether they want to take part or not, which is how it should be. We were lucky in that though it was a windy day, we were told that the Giraffes typically don't like the wind but they came over all the same . We were given what i think was sweet potato & lettuce to hand feed them, plus browse (leaves on twigs). We were also shown behind the scenes and given a tour of where the animals sleep at night.
The experience lasts 1.5hrs, which includes a decent amount of time on the Savannah itself to see the Giraffes post-feed and doing their thing. We also got to see numerous other species like Rhinos, Zebras etc. The host keeper Eden or Egan (?) was really nice, personable and very knowledgeable.
It's fairly costly at $84, but worth it. Bear in mind it doesn't include zoo entry so you'll need to purchase a separate ticket. Handy tip though, if you're a Zoos Vic member like me entry to the zoo is free and the encounter is discounted. I'd still suggest it though, it's all in aid of looking after the animals & conservation plus you'll get some great photos and memories.
The experience lasts 1.5hrs, which includes a decent amount of time on the Savannah itself to see the Giraffes post-feed and doing their thing. We also got to see numerous other species like Rhinos, Zebras etc. The host keeper Eden or Egan (?) was really nice, personable and very knowledgeable.
It's fairly costly at $84, but worth it. Bear in mind it doesn't include zoo entry so you'll need to purchase a separate ticket. Handy tip though, if you're a Zoos Vic member like me entry to the zoo is free and the encounter is discounted. I'd still suggest it though, it's all in aid of looking after the animals & conservation plus you'll get some great photos and memories.
Written April 14, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Desley R
Melbourne, Australia27 contributions
Apr 2021 • Family
I visited today with my husband and 2 daughters. The queue to get in was not too long and we went directly to the safari bus station. Despite being advised that buses left every 20 minutes, we waited in a queue to board the bus for over an hour. There was no explanation for the lack of buses coming in. The tour was enjoyable and the driver informative, although a little muffled. Although the website advises that bookings for the bus are not available, that is clearly not true. Large groups of children entered the buses without bothering to queue. Following our bus tour we hurried to the site of the advertised hippo keeper talk which was scheduled for 1.10pm. No keeper came to give a talk. There was no notification or information provided to explain this cancellation. The directional signage is whimsical and cute. However, it is not abundant or helpful. There is no signage in the carparks which point to any exit. People were driving up and down the rows looking for the way out. Despite these failures of planning and execution, we enjoyed our day. The staff are friendly and try to be helpful.
Written April 8, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jen M
Wodonga, Australia40 contributions
Mar 2021 • Couples
Come down to Werribee just for the night safari tour.
No need to get there early you will have to queue, just make sure you are there before the 7, the zoo isn't open to wander through and the staff are friendly but had no real direction of telling people what to do. In saying all this, the bus tour was perfect and Animals were not disappointing, about 45mins in park.
Finish by 9 pm.
Good for school aged children too.
No need to get there early you will have to queue, just make sure you are there before the 7, the zoo isn't open to wander through and the staff are friendly but had no real direction of telling people what to do. In saying all this, the bus tour was perfect and Animals were not disappointing, about 45mins in park.
Finish by 9 pm.
Good for school aged children too.
Written March 6, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Are there lockers?
pushprag
New Zealand22 contributions
Did not specifically look for one.
Magret R
Warragul, Australia20 contributions
is there bbq you can use and bring your own food??
PhoebeNJ
Australia4,997 contributions
Not sure. You are allowed to bring your own food. According to their website a BYO picnic is welcome. There is also a CHEETAH BBQ facility for hire at $200 just ring 1300 966 784
Is there lockers to store your bags whilst walking around zoo
sandm4ever
Werribee, Australia77 contributions
Hi, I think I can remember smaller size lockers, but probably worth checking in case you need to book:
1300 966 784
Sorry couldn’t say for sure no information on website or map.
hazelmomo03
Singapore, Singapore68 contributions
May I ask which timings for Off Road Safari would be recommended?
Kitty
Melbourne, Australia60 contributions
As you enter the zoo, make your way to the safari bus area as early as possible. It’s at the back of the zoo, on the right hand side. The lines can get long, but the advantage is there is more than one safari bus going at the same time. So the wait is not unbearable.
Enjoy 🐘
Yann
1 contribution
Hi, do i need to buy the offroad safari tickets to go around and experience the safari ? does the admission tickets allows me to experience the safari too? its quite a steep fee for the offroad for a family of four
Kid_U_Not58
Melbourne, Australia786 contributions
A 40 minute free safari is included with your entry. It travels a dirt track. The offroad is another experience where your small vehicle goes off the track, very close to the animals. The free safari is wonderful. Enjoy!
Can I hire a car for the walking section of the zoo?
Kid_U_Not58
Melbourne, Australia786 contributions
Wheelchairs are available for $20 refundable deposit and photo ID. There is a golf buggy driven by volunteer guides to take you around the paths, which is best if booked before your visit.
品品 李
New Taipei, Taiwan
If I arrive at 3pm, can I catch up the safari bus?
What time is the last safari bus work?
Thanks a lots.
lei k
Hong Kong, China996 contributions
hello, I am not sure the last safari bus work, if the zoo closes on 5pm, the safari tour takes around 40 mins, guess the last safari bus will be 4pm.
730matthew
Sydney, Australia170 contributions
How can I get to the zoo from the Werribee mansion?
We are planning to visit both the zoo and the mansion in Werribee
Also we are based in Melbourne city near the southern cross station .. how can I get to the zoo from there by public transport
Many thanks
Deb C
Bendigo, Australia76 contributions
Its hard to get there by public transport - you can get a train easy enough - get the Werribee train - but you then have to find a way to the zoo which is a good couple of kms from the station (I believe there is a bus but unsure of times and bus number so you may need to check with bus co.) alternatively get train to Werribee and catch a taxi from the station. enjoy
730matthew
Sydney, Australia170 contributions
How can I get to the zoo from the Werribee mansion?
We are planning to visit both the zoo and the mansion in Werribee
Also we are based in Melbourne city near the southern cross station .. how can I get to the zoo from there by public transport
Many thanks
Cheryl R
Werribee, Australia52 contributions
Hi Matthew. Welcome to Melbourne. If you get a train to Werribee Station, you can catch a bus which goes to The Mansion AND the Zoo. The bus route number is 439. Good luck and I'm positive you'll enjoy both venues.
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Claim your listingWerribee Open Range Zoo - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)
Frequently Asked Questions about Werribee Open Range Zoo
- Werribee Open Range Zoo admission prices can vary. Entrance tickets currently cost $28.82, while a popular guided tour starts around $19.65 per person.
- According to Tripadvisor travelers, these are the best ways to experience Werribee Open Range Zoo:
- Werribee Open Range Zoo General Admission Ticket (From $28.82)
- Deluxe Safari Adventure at Werribee Open Range Zoo - excl. entry (From $38.65)
- Melbourne City Card (3 Days): Visit Unlimited Attractions! (From $176.20)
- The Ultimate Melbourne Attractions Pass (From $73.23)
- Melbourne City Card (2 Days): Visit Unlimited Attractions! (From $136.90)
- Hotels near Werribee Open Range Zoo:
- (0.48 mi) Lancemore Mansion Hotel Werribee Park
- (1.36 mi) Quest Werribee
- (1.16 mi) Werribee Park Motor Inn
- (5.68 mi) Quest Sanctuary Lakes
- (1.46 mi) Holiday Inn Werribee, An IHG Hotel
- Restaurants near Werribee Open Range Zoo:
- (0.02 mi) Meerkat Bistro
- (0.81 mi) Shadowfax Winery
- (0.56 mi) Joseph's Restaurant & Bar
- (0.80 mi) Wyndham Cache Cafe
- (1.45 mi) Black Seed Cafe
- Attractions near Werribee Open Range Zoo:
- (0.01 mi) Werribee Visitor Information Centre
- (0.29 mi) L.M. Spa
- (0.56 mi) Werribee River Park
- (1.12 mi) Victoria State Rose Garden
- (0.41 mi) Werribee Park