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HOT: Neon Playground, Melbourne Zoo, Parkville

[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!

Neon Playground Melbourne Zoo

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.

Neon Playground Melbourne Zoo

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.

Neon Playground Melbourne Zoo

The main entrance is lit up with a Southern Corroboree Frog inspired moving projection by Kit Webster (LightTime at Scienceworks)…

Neon Playground Melbourne Zoo

…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…

Neon Playground Melbourne Zoo

….walk underneath and around laser art by Robin Fox

Neon Playground Melbourne Zoo

….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.

Neon Playground Melbourne Zoo

Neon Playground Melbourne Zoo

…shake your booty to three sea-themed Silent Disco soundtracks as the big screen in Wild Sea shows footage from Port Phillip Bay …

Neon Playground Melbourne Zoo

…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.

Neon Playground Melbourne Zoo

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…

Neon Playground Melbourne Zoo

Neon Playground Melbourne Zoo

…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.

Neon Playground Melbourne Zoo

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.

Neon Playground Melbourne Zoo

Neon Playground Melbourne Zoo

It’s awe-inspiring and beautiful and in my view, the show alone is worth me paying the admission fee.

Neon Playground Melbourne Zoo

Don’t forget to bring your Graeme Base books for signing, or I believe you might be able to buy books on site.

Neon Playground Melbourne Zoo

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 Melbourne Zoo

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.

Neon Playground Melbourne Zoo

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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About Joyce Watts

Joyce Watts is a former intellectual property, IT and media lawyer turned serial entrepreneur.

As well as being the founder of TOT: HOT OR NOT she helps businesses with their SEO, email marketing & social media as BrightSmart.com.au; she owns an online bike store CycleStyle.com.au and develops and produces creative experiences for families via WheelieGoodFun.com. She used to publish another popular lifestyle and food blog called MEL: HOT OR NOT The decisive guide to Melbourne.

She lives in inner-city Melbourne with her husband, two children and seven bikes.

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