Werribee Open Range Zoo

It is a nice change to see animals out in the open and close to a natural setting. Of course this dose mean that you will have to walk or get on the little train but it is wonderful. If you are visiting during summer give yourself a treat and go out there on one of their night safaris. The animals are all up and about a little more than they are in the day and there are less people about so it is a win win.

Werribee Zoo is one of the best places in Australia to see African animals in a near wild habitat. The established highlights are the hippos, the rhinos and the giraffes which you view on a bus tour that is all a bit quick (about 50 minutes). I always want it to just stop for 20 minutes so we can watch for a variety of behaviour. A new highlight I discovered is a gorilla display where you can watch gorillas at distance over a moat. I would love to get binoculars and just spend a whole day watching the gorillas who seem to be acting very naturally in their open environment (compared to the barb-wire stalag at the Melbourne Zoo).

The open range zoo is a great way to see African animals out of the normal zoo exhibits. It nice to see them able to roamaround and be in a bit more space. You can take a bus ride around the zoo grounds and its a little like a safari as the bus goes into the grounds so you can get a bit closer look.