There are so many reasons to go to Melbourne zoo. It’s an amazing day out with the kids, the animal families are forever growing and Melbourne zoo is so centrally located. But what about Melbourne zoo parking and finding your way around without a clear map of Melbourne zoo? Oh yeah, the logistics of a day out at Melbourne zoo can be a little daunting. If you have never been or you are planning your next visit, here is a breakdown of the Melbourne zoo park, Melbourne zoo parking and the seasonal experiences you can enjoy throughout the year. Let’s get into it.
Melbourne Zoo map
Melbourne Zoo is an enormous 55 acres (22 hectares) and each animal enclosure is so extensive that it is very easy to get lost. Fortunately, there are very comprehensive Melbourne Zoo maps that you receive on entry, as well as Melbourne Zoo map boards placed strategically around the zoo. This is the kind of Melbourne Zoo maps you can expect to see, with the entrance and exits to these areas clearly signposted. You can also find it here.
In addition to the animal enclosures on the map of Melbourne Zoo, they have also marked in toilets, lockers, baby changing (parents’ rooms), accessible toilets, food and drink, drinking water, phone charging stations, information centres, first aid, encounters meeting point (more on that soon), train and tram access.
Melbourne Zoo parking
Any venue that appeals to families, couples, tourists and locals is going to bring a crowd. Train and tram access to Melbourne Zoo is so easy, but there is a huge volume of guests that arrive by car. There is extensive Melbourne Zoo parking around the zoo, with dedicated roads that lead to the Melbourne Zoo car park.
Melbourne Zoo parking is paid and you can easily do so with the EasyPark app (similar to the Pay Stay app). Currently, you can park at Melbourne Zoo car park for $2 for 5 hours, and going over this time without renewing your ‘ticket’ may incur a fine. There is a roundabout at the front of the Melbourne Zoo entrance for pick-ups and drop-offs, and we saw some Ubers and taxis using this spot also.
If you plan on attending Melbourne Zoo on a public holiday, you may want to consider trains or trans so you can enter and sit without having to drive for a long time looking for Melbourne Zoo parking. There is a “car park full” sign that is put out when the park reaches capacity but when we attended on a public holiday in 2023 the sign was out and we still found a Melbourne Zoo car park, and the sign was still there at 4:30 pm when most people had left. So take it with a pinch of salt!
Roar and Snore Melbourne Zoo experience
If you have long wondered what it would be like to spend a night at the Melbourne Zoo, you can stop daydreaming. The Roar and Snore Melbourne Zoo package is an overnight camping experience that includes dinner, accommodation and a Melbourne Zoo tour by night. Melbourne Zoo closes at 5pm, and from there you and other Roar and Snore Melbourne Zoo guests have the entire 55 acres to yourself. If this idea is a little bit daunting, don’t worry! You have a Roar and Snore Melbourne Zoo tour guide who will be able to take you through the zoo, enriching your Melbourne Zoo experience with stories about the animals.
So what exactly is included in this Roar and Snore Melbourne Zoo experience? The package includes:
- Dinner at the zoo and breakfast the following morning
- Your own tent and mattress
- Admission to the zoo the next day with a private tour
All you need to bring is your sleeping bag and any other creature comforts that you might need to sleep through the Roar and Snore Melbourne Zoo experience. This package will not be offered every day of the year, so check out the Melbourne Zoo website to see when this is available.
Melbourne Zoo Accommodation
If the Roar and Snore Melbourne Zoo experience isn’t exactly what you are after, there is other Melbourne Zoo accommodation nearby. Now, that’s not to say that this accommodation is official Melbourne Zoo accommodation, but it is close to Royal Park where the zoo presides and will set you up nicely for a central stay. Accommodation near Melbourne Zoo may suit travelling families who live in regional Victoria (or in Geelong or Werribee) or even in another state. It may also be ideal for those attending a Melbourne Zoo birthday party or Melbourne Zoo wedding. This saves you from having to make the trek from Melbourne CBD.
Here are the closes Melbourne Zoo Accommodation options:
- Quality Hotel Carlton
- Naughtons Hotel
- Mercure North Melbourne
- Miami Hotel Melbourne
- The Nunnery Accommodation
Note, there are some smaller motel varieties in the area, but we thought the above accommodation near Melbourne Zoo was a more versatile offering that had quality reviews. You can take a look at the Melbourne Zoo map to see just how close they are and can visit the hotel websites to see if they offer parking near Melbourne Zoo.
If you’re planning a trip to Melbourne Zoo, here is all the information you need to know where you are going, where to park and all the Melbourne Zoo accommodation options. You can also check out our other Melbourne travel reviews.
