Encounters & experiences

Make your visit extra wild

Taronga Western Plains Zoo has immersive encounters and behind-the-scenes tours that connect you with incredible wildlife and inspiring conservation stories. Book one today or buy one as a gift.

Make your visit extra wild

Taronga Western Plains Zoo has immersive encounters and behind-the-scenes tours that connect you with incredible wildlife and inspiring conservation stories. Book one today or buy one as a gift.

Tours

Wildlife Hospital Tour
Go behind the scenes at the Wildlife Hospital and see how our vets care for and protect wildlife.

Bookings essential
Pride Lands Patrol
Hop aboard our safari truck to see our nine-strong lion pride, including cubs Kaari, Mzuri and Nguvu, up close.

Bookings essential
Early Morning Walk
Start at dawn as the Zoo wakes up, with a leisurely-guided walk past exotic and endangered animals.

Bookings essential
Savannah Safari
Climb aboard our safari truck for a guided tour among herds of giraffes, rhinos, zebras and more.

Bookings essential

Animal encounters

Make your Zoo visit even more memorable with an animal encounter that brings you closer to wildlife through unique, behind-the-scenes experiences. Every encounter supports Taronga’s vital conservation work, helping protect wildlife for the future. Bookings essential.

Giraffe Encounter

Daily
Encounter the world’s tallest land animal and come face to face with these gentle giants. Feed giraffes from the Zoo’s Boardwalk as Keepers share fascinating insights.

Hippo Encounter

Daily
Step behind the scenes to safely feed a Hippopotamus with an expert Keeper, while learning about this powerful and iconic African animal.

Black Rhino Experience

Tuesday, Thursday & Friday
Ride by electric cart behind the scenes to visit the Black Rhino conservation breeding facility.

Greater One-horned Rhino Encounter

Monday, Wednesday & Friday
Go behind the scenes to meet Dora the friendly Greater One-horned Rhino.

Tiger Encounter

Tuesday, Thursday & Weekends
Meet a Keeper and head behind the scenes to come eye-to-eye with a Sumatran Tiger. You’ll feed the Tiger whilst learning all about this critically endangered species.

Meerkat encounter

Daily during School Holidays.

Not available Wednesdays outside School Holidays.

Enter the Meerkat habitat with a Keeper and let these curious, energetic animals come to you.

Elephant Experience

Friday, Saturday & Sunday
Extra days during school holidays
Watch Keepers bathe an Elephant and learn about the care and connection behind this remarkable species.