The Melbourne Zoo

4.9  ( 70 reviews ) · 1 Elliot Ave, Parkville, Victoria · Show Phone
The Melbourne Zoo SupplierHero Wedding Venues Popular Choice 42 +

OVERVIEW

If you want to impress your guests with a remarkable wedding experience, The Melbourne Zoo is the venue for you! Filled with tranquil, manicured gardens, animals in their natural habitat from across the globe, and beautiful indoor and outdoor settings, you can’t go wrong. With a wide range of ceremony and reception sites, there’s something for every taste and style. Whether you prefer an intimate reception gathering on a peaceful outdoor terrace surrounded by lush greenery or a formal sit-down dinner complete with floor-to-ceiling glass and your private animal exhibit, the choice is yours!

Exquisite lake views, serene gardens, gorgeous cathedral ceilings, spacious dance floors, striking timber panelling, and twisted bamboo forests are just a sprinkle of the magic that awaits you and your loved ones at the Melbourne Zoo. You may choose to say “I do” amongst the beautiful, fluttering butterflies in the Butterfly House or against the idyllic cherry blossoms of the Japanese Gardens. Whatever your dream wedding looks like, the dedicated, highly experienced team at Zoo Events will help bring it to life. 

Catered by the renowned Compass Group, you can expect nothing less than delectable, gourmet fare, locally sourced ingredients, and innovative, location-inspired menus. The Melbourne Zoo has everything covered, from catering and music to florals and furniture hire. They’ll listen to your unique ideas, offer expert advice and guidance, and ensure your day runs flawlessly. With years of experience, you won’t have to worry about anything but soak up the magical ambience and atmosphere of a wedding at the beautiful Melbourne Zoo. 

The Melbourne Zoo was the perfect location. We got married in the Japanese Gardens, followed by our reception in the Rainforest room. On the day, Katie was our organiser and had everything running smoothly. Oliver was our photography guide, and he was absolutely amazing with all he did. The food was amazing. We had so many compliments on the menu. The whole day and venue were great. The extra experiences are worth paying for. Thank you to everyone involved in our wedding day — we had the best day! — Alysia W. 

What you’ll love about your wedding at The Melbourne Zoo:  

  • Stunning, unique ceremony sites. The Melbourne Zoo boasts some of the most picturesque ceremony locations around! With several enchanting backdrops, you’ll be spoilt for choice! You may wish to exchange your vows in the Butterfly House amidst the unique pops of colour and fluttering wings. The lush foliage of the Southeast Asian bamboo forest is also a hit if you want to add an extra element of privacy to your day. The stunning private and idyllic Japanese Garden, the 150-year-old Moreton Bay Fig Tree, and the immaculate Platypus Lawn are also very popular! With stunning pavilions and lawns scattered around the venue, you can’t go wrong.
  • Breathtaking, versatile reception settings. For a truly unforgettable reception experience, you’ve come to the right place. The Melbourne Zoo offers couples three distinctive function spaces, each boasting its unique atmosphere. The Rainforest Room is the epitome of lush, tranquil beauty, complete with striking architectural design, picture-perfect views over the Japanese Gardens and Lake, your own personal Tamarin monkey exhibit, floor-to-ceiling glass, and a light-filled, soft ambience. The Bong Su Room is nestled in the heart of the Elephant Trail, boasting private views over our animal exhibit and the sounds of the glorious elephants trumpeting.
  • Lastly, the Leopard Lodge offers the most extensive and flexible reception space. Set to the sounds of lions roaring, this venue offers a lush green background, inbuilt greenery, and a paved outdoor private terrace. All of our beautiful reception rooms have their own dancefloor and bridal suite!
  • World-class cuisine. With quality, sustainability, and originality at the heart of The Compass Group’s catering techniques, you can expect nothing less than delectable bursts of flavour, locally sourced ingredients, and impressive culinary skills. As award-winning chefs and catering specialists, you can rest assured knowing your wedding menu is in good, experienced hands. They can even tailor-design a menu to suit your needs and requirements perfectly. 

What The Melbourne Zoo weddings are like:

  • Iconic, multi-award-winning attraction 
  • Stunning, versatile indoor and outdoor wedding settings 
  • Animals in their natural habitat
  • Animal photos and experiences 
  • Tailor-made packages
  • Delicious, gourmet cuisine 
  • Endless breathtaking photo opportunities
  • Outstanding, warm service 
  • Fantastic supplier recommendations 

What are the parking arrangements?

There is plenty of parking available around the Zoo. Parking costs $2 for 5 hours before 5 pm, or completely free after 5 pm. They can also arrange parking passes for your guests ahead of time.

What’s the maximum capacity for weddings at The Melbourne Zoo Victoria?

The Melbourne Zoo can accommodate up to 350 standing guests for a magical, unique wedding experience.

“We had a magical wedding at The Melbourne Zoo. Our ceremony was in the Japanese Gardens, and the reception was in the Rainforest Room. We had so much fun going around the zoo for photos! We had photos on the carousel, champagne watching the elephants, and champagne and canapes watching the giraffes. The quality of the food was brilliant, and the set-up was stunning. Amazing to work with, a perfect day.” — Lauren B.

About

Jas is a natural when it comes to the wedding and events industry. Her positive and enthusiastic attitude along with her passion and extensive experience in both event operations and coordination has helped contribute to her ongoing success. Jas prides herself on her attention to detail and strives to execute all aspects of her events seamlessly so that her clients can enjoy their moment. You can be assured that with Jas coordinating your wedding, it will be planned to perfection.

Miss Jasmine Maxwell

Wedding & Events Coordinator


Venue Features

Indoor / Outdoor Ceremony

Min 2 / Max 250 Reception guests

Price per head: Low $170 / High $ 195

Min 2 / Max 200 Ceremony Guests

Time restrictions: 12:00 AM

In-house catering

5.50 hours Event time included

Music must end by 12:00 AM


Wedding Brochure

The Melbourne Zoo Brochure

View all of our features and complete package inclusions in our PDF wedding brochure.

View Brochure

Videos


Nearby Accommodation


FAQ

Bookings are confirmed with a signed proposal and deposit payment.

Absolutely, we would love to host your perfect wedding ceremony. We have many stunning locations to capture gorgeous wedding photos to last a life time.

 Of course! Your wedding coordinator will tailor the perfect package to suit your requirements.

We invite you to party the night away until midnight!

 Yes! We have a range of different options available.

We can arrange to bring in your favourite drink. Unfortunately we don't hold a BYO license.

Plenty or parking is available around the Zoo, before 5pm it costs $2 for 5 hours or FREE after 5pm. We can also arrange parking passes for your guests ahead of time.

We have a list of recommended suppliers to assist with hassle free planning; they are industry experts whose quality we guarantee! You can also arrange your own!


70 reviews 4.9 Write a Review

March 2023

Great venue, wonderful on site staff and a magical backdrop for our day. The food was delicious!

Ben L.

The Melbourne Zoo

Thanks for the kind words Ben! We were so happy that you shared your special day here with us at Melbourne Zoo!

January 2023

We had our wedding at the Melbourne Zoo in November 2022. It was the most perfect venue for our special day. We couldn't recommend it more! Our ceremony took place on Platypus Lawn and our reception was in Leopard Lodge. The giraffe encounter was amazing! Thank you for making our day perfect in everyway!

Britney E.

The Melbourne Zoo

Hi Britney! Thank you for your lovely feedback and for choosing us as your trusted wedding venue!

January 2023

I cannot rave enough about our day at the Melbourne Zoo, every aspect was amazing. The events team especially Jo were absolutely unreal and we’re so incredibly helpful with any request we had. They made our wedding experience such a joyful and non stressful one. We got married under the Moreton bay fig tree which was magical and had our reception at the Rainforest Room, the perfect size for our intimate wedding. Beautiful atmosphere, Beautiful Food, a once in a lifetime opportunity and a place to get married if you’re wanting something out of the ordinary. A day i’ll never forget.

Bre H.

The Melbourne Zoo

Hi Bre - thank you for your lovely comments. Yourself and Jake were such a joy to have at Melbourne Zoo. We hope you are both doing well! x

August 2022

We can't thank the team at the Zoo enough for making our day to memorable and so seamless. Jo was absolutely amazing leading up to our wedding and organising everything. On the day Eliza, our co-ordinator was just incredible and made sure we were looked after, our guests were happy and everything was seamless. Alex who was one of the staff on the day was just beautiful and made sure we were happy and looked after. We really recommend the Zoo as the perfect location for your wedding.

Sila G.

August 2022

The Melbourne Zoo was our dream venue, and it was just as amazing and incredible as we expected. The events staff were friendly, supportive and patient. Not to mention the experience of photos around the animals. Best day ever.

Sarah D.


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