We are Victoria's largest privately owned regional zoo, featuring over 120 species and 500 individuals of native & exotic mammals, reptiles and birds.
The magnificent Grampians Mountains National Park provides a wonderful backdrop to the Zoo which also boasts large natural enclosures that allow great views of our wildlife. Our team of dedicated keepers do their utmost to share their daily animal care and the relationships they have with the animals, with our visitors. The Zoo boasts a wide range of animal encounters that offer up close experiences that vary from having a red panda on your lap, acting as the viewing point for a meerkat, giving a two-ton rhino a scratch to holding hands with an otter.
Visit Halls Gap Zoo
Situated a mere 7 km from Halls Gap town, between Halls Gap and Pomonal, the zoo is well signposted and easily accessible off the Halls Gap/Ararat Road. Set on 52 acres of land, Halls Gap Zoo offers a unique and immersive wildlife experience for visitors of all ages.
Home to a diverse range of animals, from exotic species to native Australian wildlife, the zoo provides an enriching experience through beautifully landscaped enclosures and informative talks by our knowledgeable staff.
With ample picnic areas, a well-stocked café, and a souvenir shop, Halls Gap Zoo is the perfect destination for a family day out, a school excursion, or a relaxing day immersed in nature. Come and discover the wonders of wildlife at Halls Gap Zoo, where adventure and education go hand in hand!
Caring for our Wildlife
Our dedicated keeping team spend their days providing the best possible care for our wildlife and are also responsible for the encounters. Our animal care philosophy is based on agreed standards, that have input from other regional zookeepers too, and we have a focus on constantly improving these. These standards are usually based on the husbandry standards from the Zoo and Aquarium Association and include the provision of enrichment, training programs and conditioning the animals to make managing them easier and to reduce unnecessary stress. The animal encounters are based on a choice to participate by the animal and the encounter being enriching for both the animal and the visitor.
EXPERIENCE OUR
Meerkat
Encounter Red Panda
Encounter Rhino
Encounter
what our visitors say
best spot for family outings and all the animals were so cute and interactive, ( they have quokkas!!! )
they also have animal interactions that you have to book in advance, so i recommend looking into that before you come here
OUR
PARTNERS
We work closely with our local tourism and regional zoological partners.
Follow us @hallsgapzoo
Bootsie says there’s nothing as good as a midday nap! 😴
#southernhairynosedwombat #wombat #marsupial #hallsgapzoo
🌍🐾 Happy International Zoo Keeper Day! 🐾🌍
Today we celebrate the incredible dedication, hard work, and passion that zoo keepers around the world bring to their role every day. But did you know we’re more than just keepers? We’re chefs, cleaners, trainers, and even vet nurses, working tirelessly to ensure the health and happiness of the amazing animals in our care.
From preparing specialised meals to maintaining habitats, building trust through training, and monitoring health—our job is never the same, but always rewarding.
Check out this video for a behind-the-scenes look at all the different hats we wear. 🎥👇
#InternationalZooKeeperDay #MoreThanKeepers #Wildlife #Zookeeper#hallsgapzoo #grampians #victoria #melbourne #meerkats #dingo #otter
About to drop a new album with the boys like…..
#meerkats #hallsgapzoo #grampians #victoria #melbourne
What beautiful long nails you have Artemis 🦎
Have you ever noticed the long, sharp nails on a lace monitor like Artemis? These claws are incredibly important tools for them in the wild. Their long nails help them with:
🌳 Climbing- Monitor lizards are excellent climbers, and their claws allow them to scale trees, rocks, and other surfaces with ease.
🍽️ Hunting- Those claws also come in handy when digging for food. Lace monitors eat insects, snakes, reptiles, small birds, frogs, eggs, rabbits, small mammals and carrion.
🏡 Digging- When it’s time to make a burrow or find a cool spot, their claws help them dig through dirt and sand.
Artemis uses her nails in similar ways here at the zoo while she’s exploring her habitat. Come visit her and watch this amazing lizard in action as the weather starts to warm up. ☀️
📸 Keeper Carmen.
#MonitorLizard #Lizard #AnimalFacts #Reptile #lacemonitor #australianwildlife #hallsgapzoo #victoria #melbourne
Yes, we are open tomorrow! For the Friday before AFL Grand Final public holiday.
We are open every day except Christmas Day!
Shampoo companies, DM him 🙌🪮💈
📸 Keeper Carmen
#barbarysheep #hoofstock #ungulate #hallsgapzoo #grampians #victoria #visitmelbourne
Meet Blue, our beautiful Blue-fronted Amazon parrot here at the zoo! 🦜💚
Did you know that Blue-fronted Amazons are known for their vibrant personalities and impressive vocal abilities? Here are some fun facts about these amazing birds:
🦜 Lifespan: They can live up to 60-70 years in captivity with proper care!
🦜 Vocal talents: Blue-fronted Amazons are famous for mimicking sounds and speech, often forming an impressive vocabulary over time.
🦜 Native habitat: These parrots are originally from South America, mainly found in countries like Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina.
🦜 Distinct markings: They get their name from the blue patch on their forehead, but their feathers are mainly bright green with hints of red and yellow.
🦜 Highly social: They love interacting with people and are known for forming strong bonds with their caregivers.
Next time you visit, be sure to stop by and say “hello” to Blue! You might even hear him chatting back!
📸 Keeper Rhys
#BlueFrontedAmazon #Parrot #HallsGapZoo #victoria #melbourne #grampians
🐒🦏 Happy World Tamarin Day and World Rhino Day from all of us at Halls Gap Zoo! 🦏🐒
Today, we’re celebrating these incredible animals and sharing a bit about how we care for them. One of the key aspects of looking after both our tamarins and rhinos is enrichment. But what exactly is enrichment, and why is it so important?
Enrichment helps keep animals mentally and physically active by encouraging natural behaviors. For our tamarins this might look like puzzle feeders or branches to climb on, mimicking the challenges they’d face in the wild. For our rhinos, we provide mud wallows, scent trails, and even giant bouncy balls to engage their curious minds.
By offering a variety of enrichment activities, we ensure our animals stay healthy, happy, and stimulated. It’s not just about fun – it’s a crucial part of their overall well-being!
Help us celebrate these incredible species and all the work that goes into their care. Come visit us and see our tamarins and rhinos in action!
#WorldTamarinDay #WorldRhinoDay #Conservation #AnimalCare #Enrichment #hallsgapzoo
Happy International Red Panda Day!
Today we are celebrating the oh-so-cute red panda, and the care we provide for them here at Halls Gap Zoo.
An exciting assignment our keepers have been implementing recently is training our two red pandas, Shardul and Mohan, for voluntary blood draws! This training allows us to monitor their health without the need for stressful transport or anesthesia. Shardul, our eager learner, and Mohan, who can be a bit stubborn, both adapted well to the training. Thanks to our dedicated team, the blood draw process was smooth and stress-free for both pandas.
The training involved getting the pandas comfortable with having their paws held, applying pressure, and even desensitizing them to clippers. By using high-value rewards like grapes, we ensured they were engaged and calm throughout the procedure. We’re thrilled with their progress and proud to provide them with the best care possible.
Meet our panda boys by booking in an up-close encounter https://hallsgapzoo.com.au/shop/red-panda-encounter/
#internationalredpandaday #redpanda #training #hallsgapzoo #blooddraw #visitgrampians #melbourne #victoria
Make sure you get my good side 🤭
📸 Supervisor Mila
#swampwallaby #macropod #hallsgapzoo #victoria #grampians
Our director (the one on the right) Mark and Shardul have been in discussion about how we can make our up-close encounters more accessible for all our guests.
#hallsgapzoo #accessibility #disabilityservices
Me: Enjoying my pumpkin in peace
Also me: Remembers I left the stove on 🎃🐒
📸 Keeper Darci
#emperortamarin #monkey #primate #hallsgapzoo #grampians #Victoria #Melbourne
🌍 National Threatened Species Day🌍
Today, we shine a spotlight on the Spotted-tail Quoll, also known as the Tiger Quoll- one of Australia’s most remarkable yet vulnerable native species. Here at Halls Gap Zoo, we’re committed to protecting and preserving these incredible animals. Over the past three breeding seasons, we’ve successfully bred 19 healthy quoll joeys, contributing to the survival of this amazing species.
These fierce little predators play a crucial role in their ecosystems, but they face many threats in the wild. By breeding and caring for them, we’re helping to secure their future.
#NationalThreatenedSpeciesDay #TigerQuoll #Conservation #HallsGapZoo #visitvictoria #melbourne
King Jamala surveying his land 👑
Meet Jamala and his brother Duma by booking in an up-close encounter https://hallsgapzoo.com.au/shop/cheetah-encounter/
#cheetah #bigcat #grampians #victoria #visitmelbourne #hallsgapzoo
