Halls Gap Zoo sits just outside Halls Gap in Victoria, Australia, and has free-range animals and walk-through enclosures. A hard gravel track loops around the grounds. You can bring your own food and drink and cook on the free barbecues, as long as none of it goes to the animals, which are on special diets. If you’d rather buy lunch, the food van opens only on weekends, public holidays and Victorian school holidays, while the front desk sells snacks, ice creams and drinks every day the zoo is open.
The trade-off is that the closest contact costs extra. The animal encounters, from a meerkat choosing your shoulder as a lookout to otters taking food from your hands, are priced separately from general admission, several are for older children only, and the zoo highly recommends booking them ahead: they can be booked on arrival, but may already be full.
Twilight Night Zoo Tours need to be booked, and the zoo does not recommend wheelchairs or walkers on them because the gravel paths are uneven in the dark. By day, a few wheelchairs can be hired at the front desk; call ahead to reserve one.
Family FAQ
Do you need to book Halls Gap Zoo in advance?
You don't need to pre-book entry tickets, though you can.
Can you bring a stroller to Halls Gap Zoo?
A hard gravel track runs around the zoo, and the path is suitable for prams and strollers.
Can you bring your own food to Halls Gap Zoo?
Bring your own food and drink if you like, but don't feed any of it to the animals.
How much does Halls Gap Zoo cost?
Free BBQ facilities are available on site.