Variety Children’s Zoo at the Adelaide Zoo
Adelaide Zoo’s new Variety Children’s Zoo is open from Saturday, 28 September 2019. It’s an amazing interactive play space for kids, allowing families to get closer than ever to some of the zoo’s most popular residents.
Built with the help of the South Australian community and children’s charity Variety Australia, the new Variety Children’s Zoo is a must-visit play space for animal lovers and is especially designed for children of all abilities. Situated right beside the Nature’s Playground, the aerial walkway has also been extended to link children to the area.
The Children’s Zoo has been designed for children of all abilities to play and explore, with enclosures built with clear fencing so that little ones, and those in wheelchairs, don’t have to look over a fence and can see the animals clearly. All the paths are wide and smooth for easy accessibility by wheelchairs and strollers. The many existing established tall trees give great shade.
A new dedicated presentation area has been built which is under shade. This is a spot for Zoo Keepers to share stories about their animal friends and give visitors a chance to learn more about them, and see them up close.
The enclosure for the goats has their own rock mountain for climbing, a see-saw and other equipment for balancing and they have their own aerial walkway to go across to their barn for shelter. We loved watching the goats and they are so much fun to feed.
During the day the Zoo Keepers will often do presentations and give you the opportunity to meet some of the residents up close. Mr Nutmeg must be the biggest rabbit we’ve ever met!
There are quokkas and guinea pigs (pictured here) to meet too, as well as chickens. The animals chosen to be in the Children’s Zoo are ones that are super friendly, to allow kids to interact closely with them in a safe environment. Also one of the purposes of the Zoo is to educate children on how to handle animals.
You’ll notice that all the enclosures have plenty of purpose built play things for the animals to give them exercise, allow them to explore and make their environment interesting. And to make it easier to watch some of the animals without disturbing them too much, there are special viewing holes shown below, all at child level.
Look out for educational boards giving you information about all the animals here.
There are separate little areas for the animals to roam and for visitors to watch them – with clear fencing as per below for easy visibility.
Bring a drink bottle and re-fill at the SA Water drinking water fountain.
If you contributed to the building of the Variety Children’s Zoo by buying a spot in the large animal mural – make sure you look for your pic on the wall.
Right opposite the goat enclosure, there is a rock mountain built for humans to also climb, mirroring the goats. Our little one loved being a mountain goat too. This is the start of the aerial walkway which takes you back to the Nature’s Playground. This grassy area overlooking the Children’s Zoo is perfect to set up a picnic spot and older kids can roam from here to the playground.
Go goat spotting on your own rock mountain with a friend.
The Wisteria Cafe is right next door beside the Playground and has table and chairs undercover.
The new location of the Children’s Zoo is much more convenient for families with little ones. Being right near the entrance of the Zoo, it means you no longer have to do the big hike to the other side of the Zoo for this interactive animal experience. In the past, some little people would get too tired from the long walk there and back. For Zoo members, the great thing is that you can do a short visit and still have a play at the playground and see the animals here without having to venture too far.
The Variety Children’s Zoo is a wonderful new addition to the Adelaide Zoo and makes it an even more family friendly destination to explore.
For more information and all enquiries please visit the Adelaide Zoo website or follow their Facebook event page.
What: Variety Children’s Zoo Grand Opening
When: Open from Saturday 28 September 2019 | Zoo opens 9.30am
Where: Adelaide Zoo | Frome Road, Adelaide
Who: Everyone
At Play & Go Adelaide we make every effort to provide accurate information to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication. We recommend confirming times, dates and details directly before making any plans as details may be subject to change.
Image Source: All photos by Play & Go Adelaide
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