For most zoos, 5pm for most zoos means closing time, but not at the Melbourne Zoo during summer.
Established in 1862, the zoo covers 22 hectares and is Australia's oldest. They run a sleepover program where you can camp alongside the animals after the sun goes down and wine and dine to the sound of the animals.
Overnighters stay in the Historic Elephant Exhibit. It is now a heritage site and dinner is buffet-style, taken on picnic tables and benches.
After dinner the fun begins. The tour is on foot and you can expect to see wolves, lions, tigers, giraffes and elephants in their new home. Once night falls, flying foxes and microbats arrive at the zoo for food, while porcupines and the South American maned wolf come out to play.
Tours are led by zookeepers who are able to give loads of information about the animals you see.
The tour ends at around 10pm and you return to your digs for tea and cakes before getting some sleep in possibly the most unusual place you've ever put your head down!
Next morning the sounds of birds and animals take the place of your alarm clock and you tuck can into breakfast of cereal, toast and juice.
At 8am you head off for an hour's walk to meet some more animals and their keepers preparing their food.
Location
Parkville, a suburb of Melbourne.
Cost
Melbourne Zoo Roar'n'Snore costs $135 for adults and $99 for children. Tents, dinner, supper, breakfast and zoo admission are included. Sleeping bags and pillows cost $22 to rent. The tours operate between September and May.
Virgin Blue has flights to Melbourne with limited seats which may not be available at peak times or on all flights. Fares are one-way on the Internet. An extra $15 will be charged for phone bookings. A credit card surcharge of an additional $2 per person per one way flight is applicable. Fares are correct at March 30, 2006 and are subject to change.
To Melbourne one way fare
- Adelaide, $95
- Sydney, $105
- Brisbane, $139
- Darwin, $199
- Perth, $215
For further information
Melbourne Zoo
Elliott Avenue
Parkville 3052
Ph: (03) 9285 9300
Fax: (03) 9285 9350
Website:
www.zoo.org.au
Email:
mz@zoo.org.au
Please note that the prices listed are valid at the time of filming.
