A 21-hectare wildlife habitat and zoo in Victoria, Halls Gap Zoo rests in the foothills of the majestic Grampian Mountains. It’s home to at least 160 species of native and exotic mammals, birds and reptiles, including meerkats, red pandas, alligators and dingoes.
You can also view rare native Australian mammals, such as the albino Kangaroo Island kangaroo, the brush-tailed bettong and red-tailed phascogale. Native and exotic birds include African fire finches, princess parrots, diamond Daves and rose-crowned fruit doves. Colourful macaws sit in canopied forest environments while wallabies and kangaroos bound around.
Check the zoo’s schedule for animal feedings and up-close encounters and see if you can spot zoo keepers bringing out non-venomous snakes for brave visitors to handle. You can also tour the exhibition centre to view fossils and other area artefacts before having a picnic or barbecue on the grounds.
Getting there
The zoo sits about seven kilometres from Halls Gap and 11 kilometres from Grampians National Park. Cyclers can rent a bike in Halls Gap and reach the zoo in about 25 minutes.