Australia Zoo Private Tour: Rainforest & Wildlife
Meet kangaroos, koalas and crocs on your own schedule, with stops in the hinterland on the way.
A private group tour from Brisbane to Australia Zoo with flexible routing: choose a rainforest walk at Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve or a beach stop in Caloundra before arriving at the zoo around 11:00 AM. Live guide commentary, return transport, water and snacks included. Zoo entry is paid separately to access group discounts. Eight to nine hours total.
Options for this experience
2 optionsStep-by-step itinerary
Rainforest, lookout, and zoo visit
- Visit Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve
- Stop at McCarthy’s Lookout
- Explore Australia Zoo and watch live shows
- Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve 30m
- Australia Zoo 4h
What’s included
- Return transport from your Brisbane hotel or chosen pickup location.
- live guide commentary.
- bottled water.
- snacks.
- air-conditioned vehicle.
- 24-hour cancellation policy.
Times
- Every day 08:30
Before you book
Operated by Adventure Day Trips Brisbane
Prices and times updated today
Traveler reviews
The experience
Eight to nine hours gives you time to move at your own pace. The day starts with your choice: a 40-minute drive into the hinterland to walk the rainforest trails at Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve and take in views from McCarthy's Lookout, or a detour to Caloundra for ocean air by the beach. Either way, you arrive at Australia Zoo around 11:00 AM with the bulk of the day ahead. Air-conditioned transport picks you up from your Brisbane hotel or a location you choose, and the same vehicle brings you back at the end.
Australia Zoo runs a schedule of live keeper talks and animal feeds throughout the day: Grace's Bird Garden at 9:30 AM, Tigers LIVE at 11:00 AM, Crocodiles LIVE at 1:30 PM, and five more in between. You move through at your own speed, catching whichever talks and animals draw you. The guide provides live commentary on the drive and at the zoo itself. Zoo entry tickets are not included, but paying at the counter lets you use group or concession rates instead of the gate price.
Bottled water and snacks travel with you. The tour suits groups of any size up to your vehicle's capacity, and it's wheelchair accessible (compact wheelchairs only). Infants sit on an adult's lap. You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure.
Is this one for you?Pick the hinterland stop if you want a quiet rainforest walk before the zoo crowds, or choose Caloundra if you'd rather start with ocean views and arrive at the zoo with the full afternoon ahead. The private vehicle means your group stays together and you set the pace at each stop.
Compare the 4 alternatives
Top questions
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.
What's the difference between the Mary Cairncross stop and the Caloundra option?
Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve is a rainforest walk in the hinterland with native wildlife and views from McCarthy's Lookout over the Glass House Mountains. Caloundra is a beach town on the Sunshine Coast where you can enjoy ocean air before heading to the zoo. You pick one or the other when you book, depending on whether you want forest or coast.
What animal talks and feeds happen at Australia Zoo during the day?
The zoo runs eight scheduled events: Grace's Bird Garden Feed Out at 9:30 AM, Tortoises LIVE at 10:00 AM, Tigers LIVE at 11:00 AM, Reptiles LIVE and Africa Keeper Talk at 11:30 AM, Elephants LIVE at 12:00 PM, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo and Australian Snakes LIVE at 1:15 PM, and Crocodiles LIVE at 1:30 PM. You arrive around 11:00 AM, so you'll catch the later talks and feeds.
Is zoo entry included in the tour price?
Zoo entry is not included. You pay for your ticket at the counter when you arrive. Paying this way lets you use group or concession discounts instead of the full gate price.
Where does the tour pick me up in Brisbane?
The standard option picks you up from your Brisbane city hotel. If you prefer a different location, you can request a special pickup point when you book. Just let the operator know your preferred location and time.
How long is the drive from Brisbane to the zoo?
The drive to Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve in the hinterland is around 40 minutes. The total tour duration of eight to nine hours includes all travel time, the optional rainforest or beach stop, and your time at the zoo.
Australia Zoo Private Tour: Rainforest & Wildlife
8h–9h · EN · at your hotel
from AU$ 1,720 per group
≈ US$ 1,225 in your currency
Next, you choose your date and number of travelers and see the final price.