14 Wild and Wonderful Animals You Need to See When You Visit Melbourne Zoo

High up or down under, Melbourne Zoo is buzzing with weird and wonderful wildlife creatures waiting to be discovered! Since opening its gates in 1864, it has become a holiday hot spot for families, teens, and tourists. 

Spot gentle giraffes, spotty zebras, fearsome lions, and even animals from faraway lands such as Africa and Southeast Asia. Located at the heart of CBD, Melbourne Zoo—aka Australia’s oldest zoo—is home to over 320 animal species. 

That said, we understand that it’s impossible to see everyone, which is why we’ve rounded up a list of Melbourne Zoo animals you can’t miss!

But first, here’s everything you need to know before heading out.

Great news: no lines, no crowds to spoil the fun when you book the Melbourne Zoo Australian Wildlife Tour. Instead, enjoy 45 minutes of exclusive access to Melbourne Zoo before it opens to the public. 

You’ll have a chance to meet your favourite animals and make some new furry friends. The wildlife tour starts early at eight in the morning and will take you to all seven zoo exhibits. Expect to see the best viewing spots from the Lion Gorge, Main Trail, Growing Wild, Trail of the Elephants to the Wild Sea, Australian Bush, and the Gorilla Rainforest! 

And while on tour, make sure to keep an eye out for these 14 adorable and rare animals: 

You guessed it! Lions take the number one spot in our list. The king of the savannah makes his way to Melbourne’s bustling turf. Inside the Lion Gorge, you’ll find the huge wild cats napping, roaring, and shaking their furry mane! 

 If you’re more of a tiger person, Melbourne Zoo has also got plenty of them. Sharing the same habitat as the lions, the Sumatran Tiger freely roams and steals the spotlight with their colourful coats. Sumatran Tigers, native to Indonesia, are the smallest tiger species known. These striped cats are critically endangered, with less than 600 left of them globally, so there’s no better time to visit them.   

Blink and you might miss the Snow Leopards! Masters of disguise, Snow Leopards use their patterned long fur coats to help them blend into their surroundings and hunt down their prey with a single strike. This cute but fierce animal hails from colder parts of China, Nepal, and Eastern Europe. And in Aus? You may catch them at Melbourne Zoo’s Lion Gorge…if your eyes are fast enough, that is. 

Had enough of cats? Head on over to Trail of the Elephants, where you’ll not only explore lush Asian gardens but discover tropical animals not found in the Southern Hemisphere, such as the Asian Elephant. Weighing as much as five tonnes and standing past six feet, the gentle giants are the most massive mammals in Asia. They are known for their playful and peace-loving nature, spending most of their time eating leaves, fruits, flowers, and shrubs—or cuddling their trunks around. 

While the king of the jungle lives in the Lion Gorge, you’ll find the king (or queen) of swings at the Trail of the Elephants. Swaying from branch to branch, the Siamangs are the largest gibbon species. With slender bodies and arms longer than their legs, these black furry apes can cover up to ten feet in a single swing, giving Spiderman a run for his money! Drop by the Japanese Garden inside the exhibit and you’ll catch them in full action. 

What else could be cuter than the Red Panda? Over at the Main Trail, the red panda calmly sits atop his throne and munches on his favourite snack of bamboos. During the day, you’ll see these cuddly furry pandas lazing around. Though don’t be fooled, they’re not always this carefree. They’ve come a long way from being hunted down in the Himalayan forests to being pampered and protected in Melbourne Zoo! 

Remember when we said Melbourne Zoo’s brimming with weird (but adorable) wildlife? The Malayan Tapir takes the cake, puzzling everyone with their unusual appearance. With a long, fleshy nose and distinctive black and white colours, they don’t look like any other animals you’ve ever seen, and that’s thanks to their ancient roots. Their existence can be traced back to more than 50 million years ago, even before the Ice Age. 

For a wise piece of advice, Melbourne Zoo’s very own Aldabra giant tortoise is your go-to! Thought to be over a hundred years old, these slow movers have seen it all—from the first Boxing Day in Aus to Taylor Swift’s latest album. All you have to do is pop over to the Growing Wild exhibit to meet the giant turtles up close and personal! While there, you might as well join in the Giant Toirtoses Keeper Talk, happening at 10:40 am every day. 

A fan of The Lion King? Say no more! You can visit Simba’s trusty sidekick, Timon, right beside the tortoises. Traversing across South Africa to Australia, meerkats have found their way to the bustling city and with them are old habits. As soon as the sun rises, these sociable weasels gather to forage for food. 

If you need a break from big mammals, stop by the Wild Sea and go deep underwater. Catch a fantastic showcase of sea animals and birds such as long-nosed fur seals, Australian pelican, and Fiordland penguin. Born and bred from New Zealand, Fiordland penguins are best known for their crest of yellow plums on the sides of their head and a yellow stripe down their neck that sets them apart from the others. Watch them waddle and show off tricks to impress!

Among Aus’ one-of-a-kind creatures, the Tasmanian “Tassie” Devil is high on the list of stand-out members from the Australian Bush. These mysterious marsupials let out disturbing, blood-curling screams that are louder than the crickets! Growling, sniffing, screeching—Tassies make a lot of strange noises to scare off the predators. Still, beware. Despite their size, Tasmanian Devils deliver the strongest mammal bite, powerful enough to crush your bones! 

As for native Aussie birds, you’ve got the graceful Blue-winged Kookaburra. Found in the wild Australian Bush, these large kingfishers show no mercy to the weak by hunting down mice, small reptiles, and insects.

The jungle wouldn’t be complete without its favourite primates. The zoo’s Gorilla Rainforest houses an extensive exhibit of apes, gorillas, and hippopotamus to rival the African savannahs. Among them are the cotton-top tamarins with their punk rocker ‘dos! They’re one of the smallest “new world” monkeys, and not to mention, they’re also the cheekiest primates you’ll ever encounter! 

Besides the resident apes, lemurs also inhibit the Gorilla Rainforest. The Madagascan natives spend their day sunbathing, relaxing, and feasting like a true king. And if you’ve watched the Penguins of Madagascar, then you’d know that these fabulous primates love to sing!

Get access to the city’s top attractions and things to do with the Melbourne City Attractions Pass. Discover all-time favourites such as Old Melbourne Gaol, SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium, Melbourne Skydeck, Melbourne Zoo, O’Brien Icehouse, ArtVo, Melbourne River Cruises, MCG Stadium, Legoland, Australian Sports Museum—all in one!

The only thing you need to do? Just select 2, 3, 4, and up to 5 attractions from the list for the perfect Melbourne adventure! The Pass is valid for six months so you can visit them anytime. 

Need a guide? Check out how to unlock the best experiences with the key pass!