Shoalhaven Zoo
Shoalhaven Zoo
4.2
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4.2
386 reviews
Excellent
188
Very good
136
Average
33
Poor
16
Terrible
13
Suzanne S
Wagga Wagga Australia183 contributions
Jan 2021
While this place would be mostly popular for families with small children we were holidaying in the area with 4 teenagers and decided to check it out. Like many places like this they seem to think once a child reaches 15 they are no longer part of your family and cannot be included in a family pass even though they are at school and completely dependent on you. So taking a family of 4 teenagers aged 14 - 18 cost $160. The zoo was good but covered easily in a couple of hours. The location between the river and cliff faces is truly spectacular. You can go into an underground bunker area and view the wombats in their tunnels. There is a small farmyard where animal petting food can be purchased for $4 for a tiny bag (containing a small handful of pellets) A dachshund dog lives among the farm animals in the yard and loves a pat. Pass the farmyard are monkeys. Dollar coins can be put in a gumball style machine that spits out a nut to the monkeys for them to crack open and eat while you watch. We saw at least 6 children eagerly put their $1 in the machine and watch the nut fall to the growing pile of nuts inside the cage but the monkeys showed no interest in the nuts at all. The lions were so visible and impressive. Camels were at the far end of the grounds. All animals were really easy to see. None were hiding. Over all it was a pleasant morning but we came away feeling it was over priced for teenage families.
Written 7 February 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TheSydneyDoll
Sydney, Australia471 contributions
May 2022
I came here a few days ago during an overnight trip to Berry, the zoo is in a beautiful location just opposite the Shoalhaven river. As I arrived, one of the zoo keepers informed me that she was just about to do a reptile show in the KOALA ENCLOSURE!!!! Yes you read that right, we actually got to go inside the Koala enclosure and even better they were awake (Koala's can sleep up to 20 hours a day) and moving around which was amazing. The guide showed us a Blue Tongue Lizard, a whole bundle of Corn Snakes and a Baby Saltwater Crocodile, the show was very informative and entertaining. The animals are spread out all over the zoo. When I arrived at the Lion enclosure I was ecstatic when one of the males walked right over to where I was standing and just sat there and stared at me!!! some of them even began to roar which I have only ever heard once in my life at The National Zoo And Aquarium in Canberra.
While this zoo doesn't have a huge amount of animals the animals it does have are amazing my particular favourites were the Lions, Macaw's (One of them actually talks), All of the Reptiles and the wombats who you could actually see asleep in their burrows.
While this zoo doesn't have a huge amount of animals the animals it does have are amazing my particular favourites were the Lions, Macaw's (One of them actually talks), All of the Reptiles and the wombats who you could actually see asleep in their burrows.
Written 30 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Trevor P
Shellharbour, Australia47 contributions
Dec 2022 • Family
My son and I went to do the Lion Feeding Experience and were both suitably impressed. The zoo was quite small but very tidy and had a good collection of Australian animals and also some exotic species.
Highlights included Feeding a White Lioness and also a large African Male Lion. The two keepers who accompanied us had a vast array of knowledge about the lions and also made the Lion Feeding Experience fun and also very interesting. There were a lot of great photos taken that are now valuable keepsakes.....
Thanks to the staff and animals at SHOALHAVEN ZOO....
Highlights included Feeding a White Lioness and also a large African Male Lion. The two keepers who accompanied us had a vast array of knowledge about the lions and also made the Lion Feeding Experience fun and also very interesting. There were a lot of great photos taken that are now valuable keepsakes.....
Thanks to the staff and animals at SHOALHAVEN ZOO....
Written 18 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alexandra T
Shellharbour, Australia495 contributions
Apr 2021 • Family
This was my first time visiting this zoo and my daughter had a great day, I must say though that I think the people of the Illawarra need to rally around this zoo and spend some money there. They are needing a serious cash injection as there is a lot of work that needs to be done and obviously not enough funding.
Some of the enclosures are not nearly big enough for the animals that are in them, especially the crocodiles and the birds
Signage wasn’t great finding different exhibits
The best part of this zoo is actually the farmyard animal exhibit which we all thoroughly enjoyed.
We left feeling a little sad for the animals and also the staff to be honest weren’t the friendliest- I feel Covid has hit this business hard and it’s needing help
The bbq areas were all out of use and had signage on it saying out of order
As much as I wouldn’t recommend it in its current state, money needs to be spent there to help them out- especially with enlarging and enhancing enclosures
Some of the enclosures are not nearly big enough for the animals that are in them, especially the crocodiles and the birds
Signage wasn’t great finding different exhibits
The best part of this zoo is actually the farmyard animal exhibit which we all thoroughly enjoyed.
We left feeling a little sad for the animals and also the staff to be honest weren’t the friendliest- I feel Covid has hit this business hard and it’s needing help
The bbq areas were all out of use and had signage on it saying out of order
As much as I wouldn’t recommend it in its current state, money needs to be spent there to help them out- especially with enlarging and enhancing enclosures
Written 30 April 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Honestreviewer146
New South Wales, Australia415 contributions
May 2021 • Family
We found this place very expensive for what you got. $85 for a family ticket (plus $2 for a bag of animal food) - there was not very many animals there. I wouldn’t really call it a zoo. No elephants, giraffes, tigers and any of the stuff you expect at a zoo. Very spaced out, uneven walking ground. Done within 1 hour.
The cafe however was a lovely place to warm up and they had great food.
This “zoo” is more suited to those with younger kids. Staff that were out cleaning cages were not very friendly, one man even yelling at a monkey - inappropriate when there were young kids around.
I think for what you get out of it, they should be charging a lot less. Obviously we were not expecting a zoo on the scale of Taronga, but having visited smaller zoos as well (hunter valley zoo), shoalhaven zoo was way under expectations.
The cafe however was a lovely place to warm up and they had great food.
This “zoo” is more suited to those with younger kids. Staff that were out cleaning cages were not very friendly, one man even yelling at a monkey - inappropriate when there were young kids around.
I think for what you get out of it, they should be charging a lot less. Obviously we were not expecting a zoo on the scale of Taronga, but having visited smaller zoos as well (hunter valley zoo), shoalhaven zoo was way under expectations.
Written 14 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cassandra B
Windsor, Australia70 contributions
Mar 2021 • Couples
We did a VIP experience which I highly recommend. Got to have monkeys climb over us. Meet the meerkats. Hold an alligator and snake. Feed lions. Was absolutely amazing. Our guide Alisha was fantastic and you could see the animals loved her. She was knowledgeable and fun. Loved every moment. If we stuck to just the VIP Experience definitely would’ve been 5 stars but afterwards we took a walk around and even though on a whole the zoo was amazing, beautiful scenery. Great for kids, I just didn’t like the crocodiles in such a small little pen and glass so murky you couldn’t see them anyway and the women in the farm animal area just appeared frustrated and not very loving towards the animals. On a whole I think this zoo is a must do if you’re in the area especially with kids they’ll love running around and interacting with all the animals. Saw they also had a high ropes course which looked fun. We didn’t participate maybe next time. Will return just wish that some of the enclosures were a little better done.
Written 1 April 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Heidi
1 contribution
Jan 2020 • Family
Shoalhaven zoo, was good that animals were up close so kids could see them. Didn’t like the way it was set out we got confused and ended up missing a couple of animals. Kids loved the farm yard area where they could feed and pay all the farm yard animals. They loved being able to feed the kangaroos and pat them aswell. Food was good.
Written 1 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Koori K
5 contributions
Dec 2022 • Solo
Had a really memorable and wonderful day. Took my 82 year old Mum and it was truly fantastic to see the sheer joy in her smiles, interacting with the animals.
Being a small zoo, the experience is so much more personal and close. The Cafe was a great half time spot for lunch and a rest. Nice feed and cup of tea, reasonably priced.
Just an extremely valuable memory to build with my Mum.
Being a small zoo, the experience is so much more personal and close. The Cafe was a great half time spot for lunch and a rest. Nice feed and cup of tea, reasonably priced.
Just an extremely valuable memory to build with my Mum.
Written 6 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
N.K.
1 contribution
June 2021
I found this Zoo very depressing and almost 'forgotten'.
Animals are very vulnerable because the enclosures leave very little distance between the animals and visitors.
I found the animals to be too keen to ask visitors for food and found enclosures (natural environment / any form of stimulation) very poor.
No zoo keeper interaction with the animals, lions show distressed behaviour (pacing up and down).
Animals are very vulnerable because the enclosures leave very little distance between the animals and visitors.
I found the animals to be too keen to ask visitors for food and found enclosures (natural environment / any form of stimulation) very poor.
No zoo keeper interaction with the animals, lions show distressed behaviour (pacing up and down).
Written 4 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
B A
1 contribution
Sept 2021 • Family
Absolutely horrible. The animals are in small, old, unkept enclosures. Even the farm animals were so dependant on the feeding it became impossible to let a child do it. Crocodiles in a tiny space, a lot of distressed animal behaviour. A desolate place.
I am writing this review so hopefully others can see and NOT go. The positive reviews absolutely confuse me. This place shouldn’t exist, don’t make the mistake of supporting it.
I am writing this review so hopefully others can see and NOT go. The positive reviews absolutely confuse me. This place shouldn’t exist, don’t make the mistake of supporting it.
Written 30 November 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
There is wheelchair access, the paths through the zoo are crushed granite so some areas are uneven, but plenty of prams and wheelchairs do come in. There is a disability toilet
Written 11 January 2018
If youre a rewards club member (warilla bowls and rec or dapto leagues etc) you get buy one get one free.
Written 26 May 2016
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