Enter the vibrant habitat of our Macaw Encounter, where you'll share the same space with these stunning parrots—up close and in action. Experience the thrill of being surrounded by their brilliant colours and lively energy, while one of our expert keepers brings the moment to life with engaging stories about their behaviours, diet, and habitat. Learn how we care for these incredible birds, and the vital role conservation plays in protecting their future. 

Throughout the Macaw Encounter, various nuts are used as part of the birds’ enrichment activities. People who have nut allergies cannot participate in this encounter.

Admission to Hamilton Zoo is not included in the Animal Encounter ticket price and will need to be purchased in addition.

All participants must wear flat, fully enclosed footwear.

Every Animal Encounter is unique, and the amount of interaction will be led by the animals themselves to ensure their welfare.

All participants must be over the age of 5 years old. All children 15 years of age and under must have an accompanying adult (booked and paid) with them on the Animal Encounter. There must be at least one adult per every three children.

The Animal Encounter lasts approximately 30 minutes overall with a maximum capacity of 4 people. You'll be in close proximity to the animal for a minimum of 15 minutes.

Please read our full terms and conditions before booking.

If you’d like to gift an Animal Encounter but aren’t ready to book a specific date, purchase a gift voucher instead. Simply enter the value of the encounter ($39.00pp) as the voucher amount in the 'choose your own value' field and complete your payment. Once done, you’ll receive a gift voucher that you can either print out or send directly to the recipient via email.

Please note: Admission to Hamilton Zoo is not included in the Animal Encounter ticket price and will need to be purchased in addition. For more details, see our full terms and conditions.