Werribee Open Rage zoo was located outside of Melbourne City. And we were traveled on the way back and passing through princess Highway. The specialty about this zoo, it’s not about zoo only, it was a safari where we able to taste the African adventure.
It cost us AUS22 per person for admission. Tickets included Safari which tours us in a special design bus. We found out that we still had another 45 mins the bus to arrive. So we decided to walk around the zoo.
Some of the craft near the entrance. Design is simple but it was unique.
Even the toilet’s signage was different.
I think we took the wrong way, “How come there were no animals?” we wondered. Opps! We went to Watersmart Garden. From the information board we found out, Melbourne is a city that lack of natural water; their water shortage was the major issue here.
One of the metal works displayed near the Wirribi Yaluk Walk.
When we were walking and enjoying the scenes. The blue sky emerged with the peaceful view.
Another creative sculpture (Orange wiring), can you guess what animal was that? Was a Hippo or Rhinoceros?
We kept walking and seem like the first animal in our mind - African’s lion. It was kind of disappointed because the lions were too far, so I though it was ok, perhaps we could take a close look while we went for safari tours.
Meerkat is one of the common animals in Africa and Australia. I’d seen them mostly in TV especially in “Animals Planet”. Just love to watch them standing and alerting their cave.
After the short walk and it was time to take the safari tours. And we both hoped to see more and wild animals. The bus was special designed with different levels and partitions which you could move left to right easily without disturbing other visitors since the whole role was occupied by you or your family.
Rhinoceros running on the open field freely even with other animals. It was my first time I’ve seen so many of them chasing each other. I hope I could get them closer!.
This was even “closer”!! Haha!.overall we were kind of disappointed coz we didn’t have chances to get closer or touching the animals such as Kangaroo or Koala. I think another dislike point was types of animal were too little (less than 20). I told my wife we still have one more Zoo to visit, Melbourne Zoo.
Follow by our itinerary - visiting Melbourne Zoo. The next day, we took train to Royal Park Station where the Zoo was located right in front of the train station. It was convenience and we don’t worry much about the transportation.
Admission fees were AUS 24 per person. This round we expected something better than Werribee Open Range Zoo. More animals more experiences; once we entered the gate, we straight walked to the Lion’s cage.
Not bad, at least it was much closer! 5-6 feet from where we stood.
One of our expectations, we just hoped to get closer to the animals; especially my wife was looking forward to hold or pet the Koala. “Think of Aussie, think Koala.”
Another big-big disappointment! After we waited and met up the zoo keeper, we realized this protected animal were NOT allowed to be petted or hugged! Ouch! There were 3 reasons you were not supposed to touch them. First, it’s by Victoria’s Government rule, unless its’ another states of Australia. Secondly, it could be shocked by the human and harmful to their appetite. Thirdly, koala has very shape tack and might accidentally scratch our hands or face. So, it was prohibited to get close to them.
Nevertheless, continue our tour and we found something had stunned us. There was an elephant’s corner had decorated in Thai streamer, it amazed me when I came to this huge building with 10-12 height of glasses. What was inside there? Wow! I felt this giant “room” is huge and they really built comfortably for this animal.
One of the endangered animals - silverback WHITE gorilla. Easily weight 300kg.
Meerkat in action again. What an innocent look!
Finally, we experienced the touch to Kangaroo. There were 2 different species in Australia; this one with smaller body and softer character, and not defensive which allowed people to pet them.
This was another extraordinary animal - Tree Kangaroo. The look and shape is similar, but size was much smaller and it doesn’t jump, it climbed.
Even we found Orang-Utan in Melbourne Zoo; the incubator was exceptional, there were comfort viewing area for visitor and informative plasma TV plus large piece of window to see them closely.
If we compared to Singapore zoo (10/10), we rated Melbourne Zoo with 7 points out of 10. Personally, they should had reduced the admission fees and encourage local or foreigner visitor to visit the zoo.
Soon or later, me and my wife could be the world zoo’s critics. haha… 
