Top Melbourne Wildlife Watching

• This experience changes daily so we can showcase what is happening at the Zoo at the time of your special experience. • Visit areas or see activities that general public don’t get to see • Fully hosted by one of our experienced Ranger Keepers. • When you purchase a Behind the Scenes, you are directly contributing to Zoos Victoria's work to fight wildlife extinction.

Discover the natural delights of Phillip Island with an eco-tour from Melbourne. See the iconic Brighton Beach bathing boxes, visit the beach and take some time to admire these historic landmarks. Head to the Moonlit Sanctuary Conservation Park for an up-close encounter with kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, and other native Australian wildlife. Finish the day at a local beach where you can watch hundreds of some of the world's tiniest penguins waddle out of the ocean and across the sand to their burrows.

Get a taste of Melbourne on a foodie walking tour of the 19th-century Queen Victoria Market. Enjoy a personalized experience with a guide and small group as you browse the myriad stalls and mingle with locals and vendors. Enjoy tastings of delicious seasonal delicacies, such as fresh seafood, grilled peppered kangaroo, local goat-milk cheese, fresh dips, and gelato. Bring your own drink bottle to refill at stations in the market.

No trip to Melbourne is complete without a visit to the Shrine of Remembrance, a war memorial that honors Australian service and sacrifice in all wars. Join a guided tour to explore the monument, built after the First World War, and explore its rich history. Your guide will share fascinating stories about the design of the building and the lives of those it commemorates as you discover commemorative spaces and special exhibitions.

Soar over the Yarra Valley during the golden light of sunrise during an unforgettable hot-air balloon flight. Float over the scenic landscape of gentle rolling hills and vineyards as day breaks across this beloved winemaking region. Upgrade to enjoy hotel pickup and/or a delicious buffet breakfast at Balgownie Estate after touching down back on solid ground.

Enjoy an authentic taste of the Yarra Valley on this full-day ecotour from Melbourne. Visit local farmers, family-run wineries, and artisan producers as you travel through the patchwork of vineyards and farmlands. Enjoy a guided wine tasting at Rochford Wines and a delectable cheese platter at Coldstream Dairy. Next up, a gin and tonic tasting paired with wood-fired pizza at Stag Lane Farm Distillery, plus, chocolate tasting at the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie. Leave with your appetite thoroughly satisfied.

Go behind-the-scenes with the elephants and their keepers Visit an Elephant Barn Learn how elephants are cared for in their world-leading habitat Every experience is unique, shaped by the elephants themselves See individual personalities shine Perfect for elephant lovers

Spend a day immersed in the animal kingdom at the Melbourne Zoo. Encounter native species including koalas, wombats, and kangaroos, and local Victorian species such as indigenous penguins and seals splash. Also admire mighty Asian pachyderms at the Trail of Elephants, elegant African zebras and giraffes in open-air habitats, the energetic primates at Lemur Island, an elevated orangutan exhibit, and more.

• Guided small-group walking tour with elephant experts • Explore the innovative, world-leading Elephant habitat • Learn about elephant behaviour and herd dynamics • Discover how the habitat supports elephant welfare and wellbeing • See how the herd interacts with and thrives in their new environment

• Small group experience with an African Wild Cat Keeper and one of our experienced Rangers. • See the African Wild Cats from closer up and perhaps hear some of their unique ways of communicating with each other. • Visit behind the scenes areas.