What makes it 86% Solo-Friendly: The 2.6-km flat circuit, frequent keeper talks, and optional short animal encounters keep a solo visitor busy, yet paths and cafés feel safe and easy to navigate alone.
Why 3-4 hours visit duration is ideal for solo trip: Enough time for main exhibits, keeper talks, and a quick café break.
Daily Keeper Talks:
Watch animal feedings and ask questions at scheduled keeper talks.
Tip: Check the zoo’s daily schedule online and arrive five minutes early for front-row spots.
Self-Guided Walks:
Follow flat trails through open-range exhibits and the marine aquarium tunnel at your own pace.
Tip: Download the zoo map PDF to plan your route and avoid backtracking.
Short Animal Encounters:
Join 15–30 minute experiences like Curious Creatures or Owl Encounters.
Tip: Book your spot online at least a day in advance to secure availability.
Jungle Vines Café Break:
Grab coffee, pies, or snacks next to Monkey Island at Jungle Vines Café.
Tip: Visit early or late afternoon to skip the lunch queue and sit by the water.

Sampada
Had an amazing day at the National Zoo & Aquarium in Canberra! The animals were well cared for and there’s such a great variety to see. The staff were friendly and helpful, and the enclosures are clean and spacious. Perfect for a fun family outing or a day with friends. Highly recommend!
Deana Bloom
Visiting from Queensland. I love animals and make it a point to visit a zoo when I can. This zoo is amazing. It's clean and animals appear happy and cared for. We stayed for two nights in the lodge. This was a great experience. Food was fantastic and plentiful. The staff are very friendly and helpful. Just like a five star hotel. Everyone needs to visit at least once.
M L
The National Zoo & Aquarium in Canberra is hands down one of the best zoos I’ve been to in Australia! The zoo is huge with an incredible range of animals, and what made it even better was the number of opportunities to get up close and interact with them. We went in with no expectations (it was a last-minute decision), but it turned out to be one of the best choices we made on our trip to Canberr...
Lindsey Tsuya
This place is magical. If possible you'll want to stay the night. We did the giraffe tree house! We were able to watch them from our balcony and feed them. This was over my anniversary and birthday 🎂 and they absolutely made it extra special. The service is top notch the guest experience is unforgettable. If I lived here I would make this a yearly event. It's top notch 💯 they made my anniversary...
The Comment Guy
Awesome animals, but the exit had me questioning my life choices. The zoo itself is well-kept, with a great variety of animals and chill vibes throughout. Had a good time during the day — until it came time to leave. Finding the exit to Car Park 1 was surprisingly tricky. It was getting dark, the zoo was closing, and we were wandering around for over half an hour trying to figure it out. Imagin...
Plan for Canberra’s weather: summer days can be hot—visit early and pack sun protection; winter mornings are cold—bring layers; spring is best for spotting newborn marsupials; autumn offers cooler walks and fewer crowds.
Explore These Activities
| Item | Cost (Approx.) |
|---|---|
| Adult general admission | AUD 50 |
| Café snack and drink | AUD 10 |
| Short animal encounter | AUD 130 |
| Total Estimated | AUD 190 |
Note: All prices are indicative and may vary. Please check directly with the venue for the most accurate and up-to-date information.
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Address: 999 Lady Denman Dr, Yarralumla ACT 2611, Australia
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