Melbourne Zoo is a great attraction only 10 minutes from the city.
You step into it through an Art Noveau entrance that breaks up the brick wall surrounding the zoo, which is located in Royal Park - a huge stretch of parklands only 4km from the city.
It was established in 1862, in the heydays of Melbourne settlement to acclimatise introduced animals - which people brought for their survival - to the harsh Melbourne weather. But it quickly became a zoo with animals ‘to look at’.
As you enter, you step into parkland designed as a Victorian garden. There is an abundance of trees arranged around geometrically designed pathways and picnic grounds.
From there a web of intricate pathways leads off into the nooks and crannies of the different environments.
You are led along narrow winding jungle paths that take you through different bioclimatic zones and landscapes with their animals, such as an African and an Asian Rainforest and the Australian Bush. The small winding paths make the zoo seem much larger than it really is.
Animals are kept in sweeping natural settings that have replaced the outdated brick and bar 19th century approach.
You walk along pacing tigers in dense bush and then meet the elephants on their trail along a jungle walkway.
A favourite is the butterfly house, where thousands of butterflies flutter through the large tropical space, landing next to you, on you – a magic place.
The Melbourne Zoo is popular with Melburnians. Many families have yearly passes and make it a regular destination for their family outing.
Many of the animals are less active during the day, especially on a hot day. You can take part in a ‘Roar ‘n’ Snore experience, where you can camp and dine in the zoo and experience the wildlife at night.
During the summer months there are also twilight jazz concerts when you can stay in the zoo til’ 7:30pm.
You get to the zoo with the #55 tram from William Street or on the Upfield train (get off at Royal Park Station). There is also a large car park.
Healesville Sanctuary
This is the place to go for Australian wildlife and a well-known Australian attraction.
It is a spacious setting of real Australian bush and wetlands. As you wind your way around its pathways you get to not just see, but have close encounters and touch many native animals.
It gives you a good sense of Australia’s wildlife and fauna, - from Kangaroos to Wallabies and Wombats, Koalas and Echidnas, Snakes and Emus. There are giant aviaries, birds of prey, all sorts of Australian reptiles, a great Platypus display and even Frogs.
The Sanctuary is accredited as an Eco Tourism provider and is actively involved in the conservation of native species.
It is in the Yarra Valley about 1 hour northeast from Melbourne and a great highlight of a Yarra Valley tour.
Werribee Open Range Zoo
Less than an hour southwest of Melbourne is the Werribee Open Range Zoo, where you can go on a Safari and get a wildlife experience just like in Africa.
As part of a zoo visit you ride through the ‘African’ plains in a safari bus encountering lions, hippos, rhinos, giraffes, zebras and antelopes in their ‘natural’ settings.
We were amazed at how close we could get to some of the animals. It was much more interesting than walking around and viewing the animals through a fence.
There are also boardwalks and walking trails from which you get to see the smaller animals. For extra experience can also book some special overnight and open vehicle safaris.
The Werribee Open Range Zoo is a very unique and worthwhile zoo experience.
You step into it through an Art Noveau entrance that breaks up the brick wall surrounding the zoo, which is located in Royal Park - a huge stretch of parklands only 4km from the city.
From there a web of intricate pathways leads off into the nooks and crannies of the different environments. 
You walk along pacing tigers in dense bush and then meet the elephants on their trail along a jungle walkway. 
Many of the animals are less active during the day, especially on a hot day. You can take part in a ‘Roar ‘n’ Snore experience, where you can camp and dine in the zoo and experience the wildlife at night.
It is a spacious setting of real Australian bush and wetlands. As you wind your way around its pathways you get to not just see, but have close encounters and touch many native animals.