[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Explore Melbourne Zoo after dark for twelve nights only as it opens for Neon Playground. It’s an amazing experience!
Every night from Friday 12 April to Saturday 27 April, Melbourne Zoo is transformed with lights, projections, art installations, interactive performances, pop up food trucks and bars, and more.
All proceeds from the event are to help save the critically endangered Southern Corroboree Frog. There are frog-themed activations by local artists and designers that educate and entertain the whole family.
The main entrance is lit up with a Southern Corroboree Frog inspired moving projection by Kit Webster (LightTime at Scienceworks)…
…head down the zoo’s Main Drive and look out for neon sculptures of 21 local threatened species by Carla O’Brien (Glow Winter Arts Festival 2018) along Awareness Alley…
….walk underneath and around laser art by Robin Fox…
….contribute to an art installation by Lara Tumak (Imaginary Architecture) by popping out a Southern Corroboree Frog from a box, decorating it and then adding it to Mt Kosciusko, the only place where they are now found in the wild.
…shake your booty to three sea-themed Silent Disco soundtracks as the big screen in Wild Sea shows footage from Port Phillip Bay …
…Head down towards the railway entry for the Frog Disco and weave your way through the massive neon yellow maze inspired by the colouring of the Southern Corroboree Frog.
The Neon Playground features more than 600 metres of LED neon suspended from the ground and four different stations with lawn games and educational information about the frog…
…Between the Trees is a re-mount of the installation by Melinda Hetzel and Co we saw at Glow Winter Arts Festival 2018. While it is beautiful I’m not sure whether it’s working properly when we try it as the ambient soundtrack doesn’t seem to coordinate with people touching the orbs.
The highlight is The Waterhole performance at 6:40pm, 7:40pm and 8:40pm. Graeme Base’s beloved book The Waterhole is brought to life with stunning illuminated puppets.
It’s awe-inspiring and beautiful and in my view, the show alone is worth me paying the admission fee.
Don’t forget to bring your Graeme Base books for signing, or I believe you might be able to buy books on site.
I think it’s best to BYO food or eat before you arrive to avoid the queues – but if you do need a bite and a drink then head to ‘Relaxoland’. The Carousel Park is home to food trucks and bars as well as endless free rides on the lit up carousel. Get there early!
Neon Playground is a unique experience in a location which is likely to be (overly) familiar to many families. Visiting the zoo at night is an opportunity to learn more about wildlife conservation, have fun and see the zoo in a different light. We arrive for sunset at 6pm and stay for about two hours but the memories will last for much longer.
Note that not all parts of the zoo will be open and animal viewing is limited. It’s pretty amazing hearing the lions roar at night though!
Click here for more things to do at Melbourne Zoo during the day, including Dino Park, Carnivores Trail, Keeper Kids and Frog Disco
Click here for more Autumn school holiday events in Melbourne
This post contains affiliate links. If you book using the links there is no extra cost to you and I earn a small commission that helps me to provide valuable and useful information free for you! Thanks in advance – Joyce[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text el_class=”thon-hot-tips-panel”]HOT Tips:
- Catch the 58 tram or Upfield train line
- There is also ample parking available, free after 5pm;
- The Waterhole performance at 6:40pm, 7:40pm and 8:40pm;
- bring your Graeme Base books for signing;
- BYO food or eat before you arrive to avoid the food truck queues;
- not all parts of the zoo will be open and animal viewing is limited.
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