Canberra Zoo
Reporter: Mike Whitney
Mike’s being blown away by the “Walk on the Wildside” WOW Tour. He takes getting “up close & personal” with the animals at the National Zoo & Aquarium to a whole new level.
National Zoo and Aquarium
The National Zoo and Aquarium is set on 17 acres of land, just 5 minutes from the centre of Canberra. It’s Australia’s only combined zoo and aquarium and boasts the largest collection of big cats in Australia. The zoo also plays a big part in breeding programs for some of its 34 endangered species on site.
Animals you’ll see at the zoo include:
- Aquarium - houses several species of shark, a variety of fish and corals, eels, turtles, crustaceans and other amazing water dwelling animals.
- Big Cats - largest collection in Australia... tigers, lions, snow leopards, a leopard, the only tigons in Australasia, cheetahs and pumas.
- Bears - The European Brown Bears, and the Sun Bears - second most endangered bear in the world.
- Monkeys - Variety of different monkeys native to South America and Africa.
- Australian wildlife - koalas, dingos, wombats, emu, kangaroos, wallabies, and penguins.
- African Waterhole - Learn about the world's most striking horse (zebra stallion) & largest antelope.
- Otters - The 7 male Oriental Small-clawed otters are named Happy, Sneezy, Grumpy, Doc, Sleepy, Dopey and Bashful - after the 7 dwarves.
- Red Pandas - Considered one of the world’s most endangered animals, these gorgeous little panda’s inhabit one of the most attractive and spacious Red Panda exhibits in the world.
- Birds - The National Zoo & Aquarium is home to several exotic and Australian Native birds. These birds can be seen either free ranging, or in area-specific aviaries.
- Reptiles - the reptile and amphibian collection includes several types of frog, lizard and python.
Walk On The Wildside Tour
The tour visits a majority of our animals at some stage throughout the day and activities may include:
- Playing soccer and ball chasing activities with our cheetahs
- Sharing a gourmet lunch with our 2 giraffe
- Weighing a lion
- Hand feeding a shark
- Teaching our brown bears to open their mouths for teeth inspections
- Playing games and designing puzzles for our monkeys to work on and solve.
And that is just some of the things you may get to experience throughout the day.
The tour runs 7 days a week from 8am till 3.30pm (subject to availability.).
The tour cost includes gourmet lunch, morning tea and memories that last a life time.
Participants get a gift pack at the end of the tour, which has a certificate saying that they “walked on the wild side” and voucher for the gift shop.
The tour is limited to a maximum of 4 people. Bookings are essential. You must be at least 12 years of age and 150cm tall.
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More Information
National Zoo & Aquarium
Scrivener Dam, Yarralumla, Canberra Telephone: (02) 6287 8400 General Admission: Adults – $26.50, Kids - $14.50 Walk on the Wild Side Tour $550.00 per person |
Prices correct as at 29/12/07