Animal Encounters at Hamilton Zoo
Where curiosity meets conservation
Get ready for an adventure unlike any other with Hamilton Zoo’s Animal Encounters! Immerse yourself in the wonderful world of wildlife as you get up close and personal with some of our incredible animals. From majestic big cats to inquisitive primates, you will come face-to-face with some of our iconic animals and discover more about their diets, behaviours, and habitats. From $39.00 per person, Animal Encounters are available to book for guests 5 years and older.
At Hamilton Zoo we take an animal-led approach with our Animal Encounters. With no fixed regular schedule, we allow them to participate voluntarily to ensure their contentment and welfare. Most importantly, by booking an Animal Encounter, you are supporting vital conservation work. With 80% of your purchase going directly towards supporting the species both at Hamilton Zoo and in the wild.
Animal Encounter tickets
Admission to Hamilton Zoo is not included in the Animal Encounter ticket price and will need to be purchased in addition.
All children must be at least 5 years of age to participate in the Rhino, Tiger, Lemur, Siamang, Macaw, and Tuatara Encounters. Our Red Panda and Porcupine Encounters have a minimum age of 7. 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.
Macaw Encounter
$39.00pp
Tuatara Encounter
currently unavailable
Porcupine Encounter
currently unavailable
Red Panda Encounter
$59.00pp
Lemur Encounter
$59.00pp
Rhino Encounter
$59.00pp
Siamang Encounter
$59.00pp
Tiger Encounter
$99.00pp
Understanding our animal-first approach
At Hamilton Zoo, our top priority is the well-being of our animals. Due to their natural behaviours and needs, we don't have a consistent schedule for Animal Encounters. These experiences are animal-led, allowing our animals to participate voluntarily, and ensuring they remain happy and healthy.
Thank you for understanding and supporting our commitment to animal welfare.
General information
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 children must be at least 5 years of age to participate in the Rhino, Tiger, Lemur, Siamang, Macaw, and Tuatara Encounters. Our Red Panda and Porcupine Encounters have a minimum age of 7. 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 Encounters last approximately 30 minutes overall with maximum capacities varying from 4 to 8 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.
How to purchase an Animal Encounter as a gift
If you’d like to gift an Animal Encounter but aren’t ready to book a specific date, we recommend you purchase a gift voucher instead. Simply enter the value of the encounter 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, please read our full terms and conditions.