Childcare Centres, Preschools and Aged Care | Taronga Conservation Society Australia

Childcare Centres, Preschools and Aged Care

Imagine having animals from Taronga Zoo come to visit you. Zoomobile gives you the unique opportunity to meet amazing Australian animals up close!

Which animals will we see?

Zoomobile at Picnic Day

We cannot guarantee which animals will be available on the day. We typically bring six or seven animals per visit such as:
Bearded Dragon, Shingleback Lizard, Blue Tongue Lizard, Green Tree Frog, Phasmid, Short-necked Turtle, Diamond Python, Carpet Python, Children's Python, Saltwater Crocodile, Galah, Ring-tail Possum, Long-nosed Bandicoot or Echidna.

What is involved?

During a Zoomobile visit, a Discovery Officer will deliver a fun and interactive presentation to your group. They will display the animal's physical characteristics and provide individual animal encounters for each person in the group. If you would like a session on a specific topic please discuss this when making your booking.

Can the animals be touched?

Many of our animals have been hand-raised and are very comfortable around people. Your group will be instructed on how to appropriately interact with the animals. The welfare of the animals is our priority, so in the unlikely event that an animal becomes distressed we will stop encounters with that animal.

Timing structure and Sessions

The St. George Zoomobile timing structure has changed. When booking please be aware there are now morning and afternoon sessions available.
Morning sessions will run between the hours of 9.30am and 11.30am
Afternoon sessions will run between the hours of 12.30pm and 2.30pm

Please note: The booked sessions must be completed within the two hour time period indicated above. Session lengths are dependent on the age of the group. For very young children we recommend a session length of around 30 minutes. For older children and adults, sessions can last between 45 minutes and 1 hour. Each presentation will cater for a maximum of 30 students, if you have more than 30 students we request that you split the class into two smaller groups and timetable the two presentations into one of the above timeslots.

How much does it cost?

The minimum fee for a Zoomobile visit is $300 (including GST) for up to 50 children/adults. For groups with more than 50, the cost is an additional $6.00 per person.

Can we reduce the cost?

This year the Community Zoomobile is offering a discounted rate to help promote partnerships and networks between centres, and reduce our carbon footprint. If you are able to book both morning and afternoon sessions either by yourself, or in partnership with another centre - located within a 5km radius of your location - the Community Zoomobile will reduce the operation costs to $275 per session, catering for the first 50 participants and then an additional $5 for each participant over the initial 50.

How should we pay?

Payment must be made in advance of the visit date. Payment details are sent once the booking has been made.

What do we need to do on the day?

Please choose a venue that will accommodate the whole group in a circle, this will allow us to display the animals and let each person meet them up close. If your venue is in a busy and congested area, it would also be appreciated if you could reserve a parking space for our Zoomobile. The children should be reminded before the presentation that it is important to respect the animals and to try to keep as quiet as possible.

Can the session be outside?

Sessions can be delivered inside or outside. If you would like a session outside please ensure that there is shade available and inform the Discovery Officer prior to the visit (some animals are not suitable for outside presentations).

How far in advance do you need to book?

We prefer to have at least two weeks notice for all Zoomobile visits. However, Taronga Zoo recommends booking as soon as possible to ensure availability.