As some of you may know, we LOVE zoos. At the moment of writing (Aug 2015) we visited zoos in Melbourne, Ballarat, Adelaide, Perth and in Sydney. And when I am talking about zoos I mean classic ‘zoo’, not a wildlife park (we love and visit them on every occasion as well).
Today I am going to share with you a lifehack how to receive a free entry for a year to most major zoos around Australia.
The answer is simple: become a Zoo Member. Major Zoos around Australia (Perth Zoo in Western Australia, Taronga Zoo and Western Plains Zoo in New South Wales, Melbourne Zoo, Werribee Open Range Zoo and Healesville Sanctuary in Victoria and Adelaide Zoo and Monarto Zoo in South Australia) have an option to join their membership program. To become a member you have to pay a once-off fee & then receive free entry for a year to ANY of them (this will especially save you $$ if you are in Sydney as Taronga's prices are through the roof).
Note that the membership price is different depending on the zoo where you are going to buy it.
- https://taronga.org.au/zoo-friends/join-zoo-friends/annual-pass-rates
- http://www.zoossa.com.au/product/membership/
- http://perthzoo.wa.gov.au/shop/join-zoo-friends-the-benefits-are-wild/
- http://www.zoo.org.au/members
As an example, at the moment of writing, the cheapest option for a single adult is in Perth Zoo. The cheapest option for a family will be to get the membership from Zoos Victoria (btw, we are proud to be Zoos Victoria Members for 3 years in a row, it is worth it!). The membership also includes a subscription to the quarterly member's magazine Zoo News and monthly Member e-Newsletter, VIP member invites to new exhibits, experiences and special events, and discounts at all Zoo shops and on selected behind-the-scenes experiences and school holiday programs.
If you’d like to know more about these fantastic zoos, please read about our experience below:
- A day in Melbourne Zoo
- Healesville Sanctuary: Explore a bushland haven for Australian wildlife
- Werribee Open Range Zoo: Lets Go Safari
- Taronga Zoo (to be published)
- Adelaide Zoo (to be published)
- Perth Zoo (sneak peak here).
So don't pay too much - and say hi to the monkeys who only pay peanuts to be there!
