[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]If you want to see dinosaurs Melbourne dino-fans then look no further than Melbourne Zoo, the oldest zoo in Melbourne. Dino Lab Melbourne Zoo has transformed into ‘Jurassic Parkville’!
Until the end of April 2021, you can see spectacular, moving animatronic dinosaurs and other mega beasts at Melbourne Zoo’s newly-landscaped Dino Lab. It’s a completely different experience to the popular Dino Park Melbourne Zoo activation which happened in 2019.
You’ll find Dino Lab opposite the lemurs as you enter the Melbourne Zoo main gate. You can’t miss the entrance because there’s a dinosaur out the front that you can climb on top of for a cool photo opportunity!
On entry, everyone is given a lanyard with a swipe card and instructions to sanitise their hands.
The swipe card can be scanned at every station to give you access to different dinosaur facts. I like how the information also links dinosaurs to some of today’s endangered species.
Note that kids under 6 years old are given a different swipe card to kids (and adults) over 6 years old so that the information is presented in an age-appropriate manner. Basically, for younger kids, there are a lot more pictures and less text.
Find Hotels and Airbnbs near Melbourne Zoo, Parkville
After getting your lanyard the first stop is the Incubation Station, with a breeding program in full swing!
Then you’re free to roam around each of the dinosaur displays as you wish. All the paths are suitable for prams as they either asphalt, lawn or dirt, though it does get muddy in parts when there’s heavy rain.
All the dinosaurs move and make roaring noises so beware it may be scary for little ones.
We enjoy having our lunch amongst the Melbourne Zoo dinosaurs, eyeballing an Allosaurus and Tyrannosaurus Rex. These are easily the most impressive animatronic dinosaurs on display as they are both huge and ferocious!
Inside the dinosaur park, there are seats dotted around and a picnic bench and table available for your lunch or snack (I recommend the Junior Keepers lunchbox with a sandwich, drink, fruit and dinosaur cookie for $10.95).
At the Dino Dig kids can excavate fossils with their hands or BYO spades and buckets (Zoos Victoria can’t provide tools for common use at the moment).
The Dino Field Research Station is an empty display because ‘Dr Dino’ cannot host daily activities right now. As hopefully restrictions ease the Dino Lab experience will be able to be more interactive, with roaming keepers and dinosaur puppets.
For the moment bring your lunch and pretend to feed the dinos for a fun photo opp!
Dino Lab is included in Melbourne Zoo‘s general entry fee and kids 16 years and under visit FREE on weekends and school holidays.
Please note that you MUST pre-book your Melbourne Zoo tickets (even if you’re a Zoo Member or have a baby) in order to control visitor numbers.
Dino Lab is the Melbourne Zoo dinosaur experience and it’s actually one of three dinosaur experiences at Melbourne Zoos by Zoos Victoria. You can also see dinosaurs at the zoo at Werribee Open Range Zoo and Healesville Sanctuary. All the more reason to join Zoos Victoria as a member!
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More things to do at Melbourne Zoo, including the Carnivores Trail and Frog Disco
More dinosaur experiences in Melbourne
Best animal live streams and webcams
My Melbourne Zoo Dino Park review
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text el_class=”thon-hot-tips-panel”]Tips for Dino Lab Melbourne Zoo:
- Dino Lab is included with general entry;
- kids under 16 visit FREE on weekends and school holidays. Members visit free every day;
- Dino Lab dinosaur park is pram friendly with wide paths to follow and some dirt paths, though some of the grassy areas may be muddy after rain;
- prebooking of tickets is required for every person, even Zoos Members, to control visitor numbers.
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