Plan your visit
Thank you for choosing Zoos Victoria as a learning destination. You will find everything you need here to plan your excursion at Healesville Sanctuary, Kyabram Fauna Park, Melbourne Zoo, and Werribee Open Range Zoo.
Our inspiring education programs are included with your admission price and support the Victorian Curriculum and the VEYLDF.
Cost and supervision ratios
Admission prices and supervision ratios vary by age group to ensure affordability and safety. Costs include zoo entry and access to our education programs. You can browse programs offered at each property here.
| Education level | Admission cost (includes education program) | Kyabram Fauna Park admission cost (includes education program) | Adult-student ratio (recommended) |
| Early Childhood Centres and Kindergartens | $26.50 |
$16 |
1 for every 3 children |
| Foundation to Year 12 | $26.50 |
$16 |
1 for every 5 students |
| Tertiary | $40 |
$24 |
1 for every 10 students |
| Student from Special Development School (SDS) | $5 |
$5 |
1 carer/ integration aid per student with additional needs |
Cost for teachers
- Teachers and adult helpers are admitted free of charge within the program’s recommended student to adult ratio.
- Additional adult helpers outside recommended ratios need to pay the reduced adult concession rate of $40 ($24 at Kyabram Fauna Park), or can use Zoos Victoria Adult Membership for free entry.
Please Note:
- The minimum number of students for an education program is 12 (exceptions made for SDS schools).
- SDS schools will need to pay a minimum of $60, then $5 per additional student.
- Home school students can access the school admission price to participate in education programs with a minimum of 12 students attending.
- Prices are in Australian dollars and are valid from 1 January to 31 December of that year.
- Zoos Victoria Memberships are not valid for tertiary, school, early childhood centre and kindergarten visits.
- Self-guided excursions mean you and your students can choose your own adventure and wander the zoo at your leisure.
- School excursions are only available on weekdays during the Victorian school term.
- Tertiary excursions are only available on weekdays, excluding public holidays.
Risk Assessment & Safety Information
Download our risk management policies below.
Payment & Cancellation
Ready to book your excursion? Here's everything you need to know about securing a booking.
Some schools and education centres may be required to pay on the day and will be informed prior to their visit. Please check with your school/education centre Finance team BEFORE your day at the zoo to see whether you are required to pay upfront.
The following payment methods are accepted:
- Debit or credit card
Payment on the day can be made by debit or credit card. A tax receipt will be issued.
- Invoice
You may be able to have an invoice issued after your visit. Zoos Victoria’s ABN 969 139 590 53.
Payment must be made in one transaction and will be based on the number of students and adults visiting the zoo on the day.
Cancellation of an excursion must be made at least 10 business days prior to your booked visit.
If not, a cancellation fee of $200 will be invoiced.
The fee will be waived due to extreme weather or if the booking is rescheduled.
Getting Here, Accessibility & Inclusion
Plan your visit with ease using our links for directions, maps and sensory resources.
We provide social scripts and sensory maps for students who require additional support to help them prepare for their visit to our zoos. We have also created welcome videos so students and teachers meet some of the staff and plan their visit to the zoo.
Bus and coach parking
Free parking is provided for buses and coaches in the zoo car park. Follow signage for directions. Where possible we recommend using the drop off and pick up bays.
- Melbourne Zoo Map You can also collect a printed map when you arrive, however in the interest of sustainability and waste minimisation, printed maps will only be given to the adults leading the excursion. Program-specific maps can be found on the excursion pages.
- Sensory Map
- Social Story
- Plan Your Visit Video
- Plan your route to Melbourne Zoo
- Werribee Open Range Zoo Map You can also collect a printed map when you arrive, however in the interest of sustainability and waste minimisation, printed maps will only be given to the adults leading the excursion. Program-specific maps can be found on the excursion pages.
- Sensory Map
- Social Story
- Plan Your Visit Video
- Plan Your Route to Werribee Open Range Zoo
- Healesville Sanctuary Map You can also collect a printed map when you arrive, however in the interest of sustainability and waste minimisation, printed maps will only be given to the adults leading the excursion. Program-specific maps can be found on the excursion pages.
- Sensory Map
- Social Story
- Plan Your Visit Video
- Plan Your Route to Healesville Sanctuary
- Kyabram Fauna Park Map You can also collect a printed map when you arrive, however in the interest of sustainability and waste minimisation, printed maps will only be given to the adults leading the excursion. Program-specific maps can be found on the excursion pages.
- Sensory Map
- Social Story
- Plan Your Visit Video
- Plan your route to Kyabram Fauna Park
Supervision
Our terms and conditions of entry apply. Please consider the following guidelines:
- Children and students remain the responsibility of the teacher at all times. This includes during workshops, while walking the trails and on the Safari Bus.
- Groups are asked to move through the zoo respectfully and consider animals and members of the public
- Students and adult helpers should understand the needs of the animals and behave accordingly – loud noises and sudden movements can upset the animals. For this reason, ball games and whistles are not permitted
- At the Healesville Sanctuary and Kyabram Fauna Park Shop, six students may enter at a time with a supervising teacher. Please leave student bags outside
- Zoo staff have emergency management systems in place to handle missing students, first aid and medical emergencies.
Animal experiences
Zoos Victoria animal experiences discuss and observe animals and interpret their behaviours. We prioritise animal welfare and wellbeing and we do not touch animals. When we develop experiences for visitors, our animals have the choice to participate or not, which supports positive animal welfare outcomes
Find out more at Zoos Victoria's Guiding Principles for Animal Experiences.
Know before you go
Here are some FAQs to know before visiting a Zoos Victoria property.
- Children and students remain the responsibility of the teacher at all times, including during the Education program.
- Please refer to the teaching guide and student workbook before your excursion. These resources will guide you on what to do to prepare your students for the excursion, what you can do at the zoo and what you might like to do when you return to school. The teacher guide links to the student workbook. The student workbook is editable. Please ensure that you have class sets of the student workbook printed and available for students to use during their excursion. *note: student workbook is only for year 7-12 programs
- Student admission cost includes the education program. There is no extra cost to do an education program.
- Self-guided excursions mean you and your students can choose your own adventure and wander the zoo at your leisure.
- Please download the student booklets and print class sets for your students.
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Please ensure students dress appropriately for all outdoor weather conditions as they will be outside all day. If extreme weather is predicted, we encourage you to reschedule your visit.
- Keeper Talks are available for all zoo visitors including school groups to attend- there is no need to book. Refer to the zoo map for Keeper Talk times. *Note: some keeper talks have limited capacity
- Yes, we encourage you to have your first aid kit with you throughout the day. We also have First Aid Officers onsite - any staff member or volunteer will have a radio so you can approach them and they will radio for a First Aid Officer.
- We recommend to book just one education program for your class and enable some time for students to be able to explore the Zoo.
- Please notify us if you are bringing more students or significantly less students than what you booked for. If bringing slightly fewer students than what booked for, it is okay to let us know on the day.
- Please call the Customer Engagement Team on 1300 960 784. If you are late for an Education program, it is likely the program will be cancelled. You may proceed to enjoy your day moving around the zoo.
- Teachers and adult helpers are admitted free of charge within the program’s recommended student to adult ratio (located at the top of this page). Additional adult helpers outside recommended ratios will need to pay the reduced adult concession rate of $34.50 ($22.50 at Kyabram Fauna Park), or can use Zoos Victoria Adult Membership for free entry.
- You may visit the zoo to complete a risk assessment prior to your visit. Please bring evidence of your school booking to show to the Admissions team.
- You will need to stick to your booked workshop/program/safari time as these cannot be changed. The itineraries can be used as a guide to plan your day and you are most welcome to plan out your own itinerary. There is a lot to see at our zoos. It is not likely you will be able to cover it all in one day. We recommend that you aim to at least try and cover 2 of the Zoo trails with your students and at least 1 keeper talk with breaks in between.
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We recommend students carry their bags with them while they explore the zoo. While we do have limited lockers available, access cannot be guaranteed.
- If you are visiting Kyabram Fauna Park, there is a room available to store bags for the day.
- Yes, students can purchase their lunch at our on-site cafe.
Our zoos are currently cashless. Payment at the food and drink outlets can only be made by credit or debit card.
- You will receive an email before your visit with property-specific arrival instructions, including parking information and where to meet.