Looking for a truly unforgettable venue? The National Zoo & Aquarium offers the most unique spaces in Canberra for birthdays, corporate events, celebrations, and everything in between.

Surrounded by incredible animals and stunning landscaped gardens, our function venues guarantee a memorable experience for your guests and peace of mind for you.

From intimate gatherings to events for 300+ guests, we have the perfect space for your celebration.

For a truly emersive experience add bespoke animal encounters or interactions.

Flexible options for both daytime gatherings and private after-hours functions.

For all enquiries email [email protected]

or call 02 6287 8400

Private zoo* hire for the evening!

Want the zoo to yourself after hours? Our Viewing Park and Rhino Bistro open exclusively for evening functions.

Venue Hire

The evening venue hire fee for a function is $2,500. This includes:

• Entry to the zoo for 30 people. Additional guests $75 each.
• *Exclusive use of the Open Range (back area) of the zoo between 6pm and 9pm.
• Full use of the Viewing Park for the function.
• If access to inside dining in the Rhino Bistro is required, add $10 per guest.
• Access for set-up from 5pm, or earlier by negotiation.
• Maximum length of function is 3 hours.
• Children aged 3 – 8 30% discount.
• Children under 3 free.

Food and Beverage

• Food and drink packages are as attached.
• Drinks can be bought as a drink package or on consumption (one bill issued to hirer).
• External catering can be organised by negotiation.
• Alcohol must be purchased from the zoo.

View food and beverage packages

Alcohol can only be served during evening functions. No spirits allowed on premises.

Activity add-ons

• Animal interactions – bespoke tours or roving reptiles
• Lawn games – variety of oversized and classic games, such as giant jenga, connect four and chess.
• Silent disco – guests don wireless headphones and choose between curated music channels, allowing them to dance to their own beat.

Urban zoo area

Available for hire during Zoo opening hours only

Meerkat Pergola

This is a small, covered pergola adjacent to the Meerkat Snack Shack. It is ideally located in between our Meerkat and Lace Monitor exhibits and only a short walk to our Koala and Tree Kangaroo exhibits. It is the perfect spot for a small family gathering or groups up to, with seating.

Sun Bears Pergola

This Gazebo is nestled away quietly, next to beautiful gardens and a grassed play area. It contains 2 electric BBQS, an area big enough for around 30 – 40 guests and table and chairs for 20. The closest exhibits are Sun Bear, Meerkats and Koala, all within a short walk from the gazebo.

African Plains Pergola

This is a sizable grassed area, adjacent to a covered gazebo with large picnic tables and 2 electric BBQs. It is centrally located in the zoo, close to our Giraffe, Colobus, Meerkat, Cheetah, native walkthrough and koala enclosures. When utilising the grassed area, ‘African Plains’ can hold anywhere from 30-100 guests, making it perfect for a larger function. Seating is available for 20.

Viewing Park

Available for hire during Zoo opening and after hours

Featuring four covered cabanas, with a tranquil waterfall and flowing waterways, large grassed areas and landscaped gardens, the Viewing Park provides a unique and special area to entertain in. Rhinos, Cheetahs and Eland are all in view, with many other animals including giraffes a short walk away. The playground features over 50 activities and 50 mainly life-size fibreglass animals for the children to climb on or play next to.

Rhino, Cheetah and Waterfall Cabanas

These three cabanas each have the capacity to cater for between 30 and 40 guests, each with seating for between 10 and 20. They have picnic tables, with access to a BBQ nearby and they are available for either daytime hire, or from 6pm up until 9pm at night. The hire of multiple cabanas is available for day or night functions.

The Pavilion Cabana

This is our largest and most impressive cabana structure, located directly opposite one of our cheetah exhibits and surrounded by many other animal enclosures. The general area can easily accommodate over 100 guests, with seating for 30. The Pavilion Cabana is available for daytime hire, or from 6 pm up until 9 pm at night.

Multiple Cabana Hire

By utilising multiple cabanas and the open grass area, the Viewing Park can cater for over 300 guests in the evening and 200 during zoo opening hours, with seating for 70 (additional seating can be hired after hours). The hire of multiple cabanas is available for day or night functions.

Additional shelter and seating

In addition to the cabanas, the Rhino bistro’s covered terraces can be utilised during day or evening functions as additional undercover seating for guests at a function.

Please note that alcohol is allowed in the zoo grounds for after-hours functions but not during zoo opening hours.

Functions & Events at the National Zoo and Aquarium

• Unique venues surrounded by animals and gardens
• Great for casual birthdays, Christmas get-togethers and other functions
• DAYTIME – casual outdoor venues available
• EVENING – casual indoor and outdoor venues available
• Catering and drinks service available
• Self-catering permitted for daytime events
• Animal Tours and Encounters available

The National Zoo & Aquarium is one of the foremost zoos in Australia and offers unique venues for functions and events – many of our cabana and function spaces overlook native and/or exotic animals and are set amongst extensive landscaped gardens.

We cater for everything from a family picnic to large corporate events, with many options to choose from, as listed below. To make your function truly unique and unforgettable, choose to include one of our catering packages, along with animal tours or encounters.

Roar into the fun! Celebrate your special day at the zoo with our wild birthday party packages!

Fun for all ages, these packages include invitation templates, scheduled activities for ease of planning, and the option of catering!

CLICK HERE to book a Kids Birthday Party!

• Only the Viewing Park area and the Rhino Bistro are available for after-hours hire.
• A site inspection is advised for larger function bookings.
• There are discounted zoo entry rates for groups over 20 guests for day-time functions – payments and bookings for all attendees and the cabana/s must be made prior to the function.
• The Viewing Park area and the Zoo must be vacated by 9pm. Any equipment must be removed by 9:30pm or by other arrangement.
• Evening guests have access to the broad area of the open range zoo until dinner is served. After dinner, they will have access to the Viewing Park.
• Alcohol is only permitted to be consumed after-hours (6pm onwards). All consumption of alcohol is strictly in line with the Responsible Service of Alcohol guidelines and outdoor guests must stay in the Viewing Park area whilst drinking alcohol.
• As the venue is a working zoo, hirers need to be aware that any inappropriate behaviour by guests may result in them being removed from the zoo, or possibly result in the event being closed down. See details in the Venue Hire Terms.

For all enquiries email [email protected]

or call 02 6287 8400