I understand that going to a zoo is not for everyone. But as a parent that has been travelling with kids all over the world, sometimes they are the coolest attractions of a city or country.
For the most part, gone are the days of wild animals in small cages. While some countries are still emerging with guidelines around keeping animals, there are come great animal conservation programs around the world that are run from zoos.
Check out our Top 8 Zoos that we have visited and are animal AND family-friendly approved
Australia Zoo Sunshine Coast, QLD, Australia
The Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin, made Australia Zoo famous. The zoo is located one hour north of Brisbane on the Sunshine Coast, in Queensland Australia. Australia Zoo is said to be one of the most popular tourist attractions in Australia as it allows visitors to get up up and personal with species such as koalas, wombats, and kangaroos!
The zoo is set up to take you on an animal conservation tour around the world. In the African Savannah, see giraffes, rhinos, zebras, cheetahs, and meerkats. In the Southeast Asia area, see gorgeous tigers and red pandas.
The area known as Bindi’s Island is home to free-roaming ring-tailed lemurs, enormous Aldabra tortoises, colourful macaws, and more! In the daily Wildlife Warriors presentation, see the saltwater crocodiles Steve was known for loving dearly, and tour the world’s busiest Wildlife Hospital, where you can see the work that goes into the zoo’s veterinarians save endangered Australian creatures.
Our Opinion
I love this zoo for what it represents to Australians. Steve Irwin was a national treasure and did so much for animal conservation and the environment . It was his life work which is family are still continuing to this day. I highly recommend all visitors to Queensland make the trip to Australia Zoo. All the money that the zoo makes, goes back into it, and this is evident. One piece of advice DO NOT miss the Croc show. There is nothing else like it in the world!
San Diego Zoo , San Diego, USA
Noted for its lush, naturalistic settings, San Diego Zoo covers 100 acres and offers visitors one-of-a-kind animal interactions. Over 3,700 rare and endangered animals representing around 660 species and subspecies are cared for here, as well as a famous botanical collection with over 700,000 plants.
San Diego Zoo seen in a variety of ways, including wandering down trails, via aviaries, and through bio-climatic zones, or the famous bus tour. The 35-minute Guided Bus Tour provides a good overview of the Zoo, and an Express Bus stops at several locations to assist guests in getting to different areas. However, we recommend that you take the Guided Bus Tour when you arrive to familiarise yourself with the various areas where you might want to spend more time.
The San Diego Zoo truly is a one-of-a-kind walking experience that showcases animals in their natural habitats, with shows and animal presentations added throughout the day for added entertainment.
Our Opinion
We took the children there when they were 2 and 4 and it was so easy to get around and have plenty of breaks through out the day. Use the bus as much as possible so little ones can get out of the pram (or in our case out of the carrier). I highly recommend considering San Diego Zoo if you are heading to California.
Antwerp Zoo, Antwerp, Belgium
Zoo Antwerpen, is a zoological garden in Antwerp, Belgium, with one of Europe’s largest and most diverse animal collections. It holds around 6,000 specimens from over 1,160 distinct species, including over 300 reptiles and 1,700 fish. An easy zoo to walk around, it is a great stop in the city before a day of shopping and great food.
The rare Père David’s deer and white rhinoceroses are among the most famous parts of the conservation here. In 1843, the Antwerp Zoo was opened to the public for the first time, and now spans a 10-hectare (25-acre) property located literally right in the city!
Becoming popular in the 1920s as a breeding ground for the then-newly discovered okapi and Congo peafowl, the zoo bought 36 hectares (90 acres) in 1936. This was used to build a conservation centre for endangered and unique animals including the bongo antelope and Indian rhinoceros. That land is now a zoo itsel, which is known as Zoo Planckendael.
Antwerp Zoo is perfect for families with young children, with plenty of playgrounds and plenty of space. There are many indoor attractions, making it a suitable zoo to visit all year round.
Our Opinion
This was another zoo we had a membership for. Antwerp was only an hour and a half from where we lived in The Netherlands, so why not? I loved that you could just easily walk around this zoo with a coffee before heading into town. They also have some great conservation and breeding programs here for lesser know species like the okapi. Pram friendly and great value, this needs to be a stop if you are doing a road trip around Belgium.
Bali Zoo, Bali, Indonesia
For families with children, the Bali Zoo is a wonderful day out. Bali Zoo is located around 11 kilometres south of Ubud and is easily accessible from Sanur and Kuta.
From colourful tropical birds and lions. To elephants and playful orangutan. The Bali Zoo is designed like a beautiful rainforest garden. A variety of animal shows and presentations are included in the admittance ticket. For those with younger children enjoy the miniature Water Park and petting zoo.
There are some great interactive experiences available, with the additional money from these tickets going towards animal conservation. Check out the Elephant Mud Bath, or Orangutan Breakfast.
Our Opinion
I can honestly say I had heard mixed reviews about Bali Zoo. But on arriving I can see that those reviews and opinions were outdated. They truly look after the animals and grounds here and put the environment first. When we went in 2019, there was a great dinner and show experience where you had dinner with the elephants. Getting up close to these wondrous creatures showed me how well they are looked after. So I highly recommend families check it out when you are in Bali.
Singapore Zoo, Singapore
Singapore Zoo is known to put the planet first. Visitors from all over the globe will be inspired by the marvels of nature and wildlife. This stunning rainforest atmosphere, is peaceful. You see the animals in their spacious, manicured surroundings that mimic their native habitats.
The Singapore Zoo is a fun educational wildlife experience. Every exhibit now includes interactive, instructional information. Guests may learn more about our animals and wildlife conservation initiatives in an entertaining way through these interpretive.
Visitors may experience interactive learning excursions at the 26-hectare award-winning Singapore Zoo, which is located in Mandai Wildlife Reserve. It houses over 4,200 animals representing over 300 species, 34% of which are vulnerable. Singapore Zoo’s world-famous naturalistic displays provide numerous chances to explore the marvels of wildlife.
With a staff of committed wildlife specialists looking after all elements of caring for the live collection, Singapore Zoo is dedicated to the highest standards of animal care and conservation.
Our Opinion
In true Singapore style, the zoo is clean and well organised. Also taking the children here when they were 2 and 4, our kids loved the water park playground to cool off throughout the day. Not only do you need to add Singapore Zoo to your list, also add the Jurong Bird Park, another must-do in Singapore.
Monarto Safari Park, Monarto, SA, Australia
As part of Zoos SA, the Monarto Safari Park is a non-profit conservation organization dedicated to bringing people closer to nature and saving animals from extinction.
An hour drive from Adelaide, this open-range zoo takes visitors through animal habitats by bus – like you are on safari! See rhinos, giraffes, cheetah, bison and the unique Tasmanian devil, just to name a few.
One of the coolest experiences that is offered (for an additional cost) is Lions 360; an enclosed area in the lion habitat, which allows visitors to be in a dome (safely) that lions can climb on!
Make sure you check out the chimpanzee exhibit, where one o the chimps born at the zoo was named by no-other than Dr. Jane Goodall herself in 2019!
Our Opinion
As Zoos SA members, we were able to head to Monarto and Adelaide Zoo for free for a year. And we did! We have seen some great changes to the layout of the zoo, and I can honestly say the conservation work and partnerships they are making around the world are getting better and better. We cannot wait to head back there in 2023 once we move home, as it has expanded while we have been away. Make sure you set aside some time during an Aussie road trip to visit this extraordinary place.
Amersfoort Zoo, Amersfoort, The Netherlands
At DierenPark Amersfoort you will be delighted by up to 1500 different species. Sometimes all that separates you from the animals is a low fence (watch out for those prairie dogs!) or even a window. Come face to face with tigers, and lions, camels and elephants. One of the best things about DierenPark Amersfoort is that it has dinosaurs! The DinoBos; a walk through forest with life-size dinosaur replicas that roar.
You can also walk through the Night exhibit. Here you will come face to face with sloths. Just around the corner from there, you will find Expedition River. Here pedel your way past lemurs and giraffes (additional cost)
Around every corner at this zoo is a playground or interactive experience for kids. Walk above the bears through a climbing rope bridge or crawl through a cave to come face to face with wolves.
Our Opinion
This zoo is a giant playground for us. One of the first things we did when we arrived in The Netherlands was get a membership for this amazing place. We would bring a packed lunch and come once a week. I recommend anyone coming to The Netherlands with young kids to get to this zoo for a day (there is also a great pancake house next door to pair it with another Dutch experience).
Adelaide Zoo, Adelaide, Australia
More than 2,500 creatures and 250 kinds of foreign and native mammals, birds and reptiles, are shown in the spectacular botanic settings at Adelaide Zoo. As one of Adelaide’s most renowned attractions, it is the country’s second-oldest zoo and is an houses many heritage listed buildings.
Generations of South Australians have enjoyed the magic of a visit to the zoo since it first opened to the public in 1883. It’s a tranquil green city oasis and lively refuge that makes you feel as if you’ve entered another universe. There’s a lot of variety, colour, and interesting things to see and do such as a nature playground.
Adelaide Zoo offers a variety of additional activities at a cost. You can book animal feeding experiences and events for Halloween and an Annual Teddy Bears Picnic. At the zoo, join an Adelaide Zoo free walkabout tour throughout the day, which departs from various locations every half hour. There are also regular keeper talks throughout the day.
Our Opinion
As we mentioned before, we have had a Zoos SA membership for years, so essentially the kids grew up in this place! And, we love this place so much, we got married here. Besides our personal reasons, Adelaide Zoo is truly such a beautiful place to walk around. It is volunteer run (except for the animal handlers and vets) so all money goes back to the zoo and conservation. I can honestly say it is our families favourite place in South Australia.
Final Thoughts
While zoo’s can create mixed emotions with people, I do recommend that you do your own research anytime you choose to participate in an animal experience or see animals anywhere but the wild. We do extensive research to ensure what we do matches our families values which is always putting the animal first.
Do you have a favourite zoo that I have not featured? I would love to hear about it. Comment below or contact me.
12 comments
I must admit I have mixed reactions about visiting zoos. I like that in most cases the animals are treated well and often are rescues. But seeming them caged causes a bit of anxiety. But I do love that visiting zoos gives you a chance to see animals that you might never see any other way. And our kids sure loved their zoo visits. I love this mix of zoos you have presented. And that you have provided your own insights into the pros and cons for each.
Thank you. I love the memories that my kids have created at these zoos and others I haven’t mentioned (there is at least another 2 I can write about that are in The Netherlands). I do a lot of research before heading to unknown zoos as you can see. But as I mentioned everyone needs to do what is comfortable to them.
I really enjoyed reading your articles. I think it is so cool that your children have experienced zoos around the world. You shoujd visit the National Zoo in Washington DC. It is part of the Smithsonian Museum consortium. Plus you can then take a hike in Rock Creek Park when you exist and see animals in the wild.
That sounds fabulous. When we eventually do New York, and DC we will certainly check it out.
Great post. My son works for a zoo and I am so impressed with how it’s focus has changed to conservation and care. When I was a child none of that was a priority and my heart hurts to remember how some of the animals were caged. I think zoos have a great purpose in today’s society when conservation is priority. I really hope to go to Steve Irwin’s zoo next year.
I think that people are concerned about zoo’s because of how they used to be. When researching a zoo, it is great to start with the countries view on zoos, animals in captivity, circus’s etc. Then you can often go from there. Places like Thailand as an example don’t have as strict guidelines, like The Netherlands does.
I do think that zoos are important for the animals that were injured and are not able to return to the wild. I think it’s educational for kids to be able to see the animals and learn about them. I think it helps kids learn to appreciate wildlife and take care of the world we live in. It’s so cool to see all of the zoos you have visited!
Thank you. And I couldn’t agree more. We have always encountered great volunteers at a lot of the zoos too, that spend time talking to the children about certain animals. I think that is great for younger children who aren’t reading yet.
I love zoo’s! These are going on my travel list for sure. Although I can pick out my favorite animal hah.
There is also another 2 in The Netherlands that I could have easily added. That is a great country for zoos and animal conservation.
Makes me want to travel the world just to check out these zoos. Super interesting!
This is just the tip of the iceberg. We have another couple in The Netherlands we love too