Wild Australia THIS SUMMER ONLY at San Antonio Zoo

Australia is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world and the San Antonio zoo is bringing that to South Texas. Wild Australia takes place from May 25 – September 2 this year. You and your family can have a summer "down under" during Wild Australia and learn all about Australia and the animals that call it home. You can see koalas, take a stroll through the Australian Aviary, and "hop" over to see kangaroos up close and personal in the all-new Roo Walkabout.

This summer, two male Koalas, Warrin and Burra, have traveled all the way from Australia via San Diego to the Alamo City for a special visit. Warrin and Burra, both boys, aged 2 and 5, will be part of a new special exhibit at the zoo all summer. The koalas will be housed in a special exhibit called Wild Australia which features animals from the incredibly biodiverse continent. Koalas, an aviary full of Australian birds, and even kangaroos are all part of this limited time exhibit. 

Koalas have been absent from the San Antonio Zoo for two decades. Today, koalas are threatened by deforestation and urbanization. The San Antonio Zoo hopes this new exhibit can help spread awareness of this unique and adorable animal. “This is an incredibly creative way to educate the community about animals and a part of the world that they may never be able to visit,” said Tim Morrow, San Antonio Zoo’s CEO. “By hosting educational events like this, we hope that when a guest leaves the zoo, they are inspired to take action and to make even the smallest step towards conservation,”

Additional Aussie features include taking a stroll through the Australian Aviary and discovering other animals that call Australia home like the tree kangaroo. Plus, guests will get to test their Australia smarts during the all-new game show, “Did Zoo Know It?” Everyone is a winner in this game show – a winner of knowledge! There will also be new pop-up style bands that will perform in various locations of the zoo to help spread the ambiance of Australia.

For an upgraded experience, guests can hop over to get up-close to red kangaroos in the all-new Roo Walkabout where they can feel like they’re on an Outback adventure. The kids just thought this was the COOLEST thing, and really, it was. I mean, how often do you get to PET kangaroos!?!? Most of them were so chill, but one of them was boinging around all over the place, which was amusing. 

Wild Australia is included with standard zoo admission during zoo operating hours. Standard zoo admission is $18.99 for adults and $15.99 for children ages three to 11. The best way to enjoy unlimited visits to the zoo is with an Annual Pass.

Of course, all other zoo animals and normal attractions are still going on. From the flamingos that greet you at the front entrance (my favorite!) to the Africa Live! section in the back of the park to the carousel and train, etc., the San Antonio Zoo is a truly fun place to spend a day in the Alamo City.

I was extremely pleased to get passes to the zoo as well as passes to the new Roo Walkabout and tickets for the carousel for the opening night of this event, available only to Annual Pass Members and select media/bloggers. I brought my family, including the boys, my husband, my parents, and my sister, who was visiting from out of state! 

Most of the animals were out, but a few were nowhere to be seen (probably brought in or just hiding... it happens!)

There's the reptile house and the aquarium... always fun (not a huge fan of snakes but the boys love looking at them). 

We were even treated to a little ducky parade while walking around! 

My favorite part of the zoo is the big flamingo area near the carousel! We hung out there for quite awhile. 

The carousel is a must do! It's only a few dollars and it's a lot of fun. We've also been on the train before too, but not this trip. 

There's a really fun kids area with a musical area and a little beach for the kids to splash around in. There's a petting zoo area as well, but that also make it onto our agenda today. 

My other favorite area is the Africa Live! area. HIPPOS! ELEPHANTS! ZEBRAS! RHINOS! GIRAFFES! LIONS! 

Cocoa Puff was the epitome of a nearly 4 year old at the zoo. It was soooooo fun watching him get all excited about the animals. He says the elephants were his favorite because they go pffffffffffftttt! 

Froot Loop had the BEST time taking photos of the things at the zoo. For his pictures (there's A LOT), click HERE

To add to the summer fun, Jungle Boogie Nights is back by popular demand! The zoo gets even wilder at night during Jungle Boogie Nights. When the sun goes down, the zoo will transform into a roaring good time every Saturday night, June 22 – August 10 from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. Guests can enjoy the cooler evening temperatures along with live music and happy hour specials on adult beverages. To complete the family night outing, there will even be food trucks and fun family backyard games. Admission into Jungle Boogie Nights starts at 5:00 p.m. and is $9 for guests ages three and older. This event is also included for Annual Pass holders.

The San Antonio Zoo is located at 3903 N. St. Mary’s Street, San Antonio, TX 78212. For more information call (210) 734-7184 or visit SAZoo.org

What are the animals you HAVE to see when YOU go to the zoo? Mine are flamingoes, giraffes, and the big cats.