A Speed Date or Special Encounter with your Favourite Animal
Spend some special up close and personal time with one of our amazing animals.
Why we call them “Speed Dates”
We call our animal encounters Speed Dates because they are chaperoned by a wise and experienced ranger who knows the rules of engagement, time is limited, contact is controlled, conversation is polite and respectful, and you and the animal are each free to leave any time you choose.
On your “Speed Date” you can get up close and personal with your favourite animal, but on the animal’s terms. Speed Dates are NOT about cuddling animals. They are about getting to know these magnificent animals in a way that is just as interesting and enjoyable for the animal as it is for you.
Private vs Public Sessions
There are 4 tickets available for each Speed Date and Special Encounter time slot.
Anyone can purchase tickets for the same time slot, so you may be with people you don’t know.
To make your session private, you will need to purchase all 4 tickets for the session.
Maximum Guest Numbers
Public sessions are limited to 4 people per session as we need to be careful that everyone gets on with each other and with the animals. The other people may not be people you know.
You may have more than 4 people if you purchase all 4 tickets to make it a private session for just you and your friends. If you want more than 4 people in your private session, email us and we can add extra guests to your session for you.
Minimum Guest Numbers
A Personal Ranger hour must be booked for a minimum of 2 people.
Speed Date or Special Encounter tickets may be purchased for just one person as long as they are aged 12 or over. The other tickets may be purchased by other members of the public who would then attend with you. Everyone entering the enclosure or the “space” where the encounter is held must purchase a ticket for the encounter (including an adult accompanying a child under 12, or a person wanting to “just take photos”).
Times & Availability
Pre-booking is usually required.
However, if you haven’t pre-booked, ask us. Depending on our workload on the day, there may be a ranger available.
Meerkat and Serval times are usually at 10am, 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm.
Dingoes are usually once a day at 2:45 pm.
Tasmanian Devils are usually once a day at 10:30am.
Wombats are usually once a day at 3:15pm.
Other Animal Speed Dates are usually at 10:30am, 11:30am, 12:30pm, 1:30pm, 2:30pm, 3:30pm.
Personal Ranger Hire – 1 or more hours*
Your entry ticket IS included
*Personal Ranger Hire does not include time with Dingoes, Wombats, Servals, Tasmanian Devils or Meerkats. These are special encounters that may only be booked separately.
Minimum booking is for TWO people (or you can pay for 2)
$160 per person for the first hour
$80 per person to add a second hour
Speed Dates
You will also need to buy an entry ticket
10 minutes – All ages (under 12 with an adult): $30 pp Tawny Frogmouth or Sugar Gliders
10 minutes – Age 5 up (under 12 with an adult): $30 pp Pygmy Possum or Brush-tail Possum
10 minutes – All ages (under 12 with an adult): $40 pp Python or Echidna or Koala
10 minutes – Age 5 up (under 12 with an adult): $40 pp Bilby or Cockatoos (Macaws and Red-tail Blacks and Sulphur-crested Cockatoos)
Special Animal Encounters
You will also need to buy an entry ticket
Wombat – 15 minutes age 12 up: $60 pp
Dingoes – 15 minutes age 12 up: $60 pp
Tasmanian Devil – 15 minutes age 16 up: $90 pp
Servals (African Wild Cats) – 15 minutes age 16 up: $90 pp
Meerkats – 10 minutes age 5 up (under 12 with an adult): $70 pp
meet the meerkats
Meerkats – 20 minutes age 12 up: $100 pp
meet the meerkats and explore their enclosure
Meerkats – 30 minutes age 16 up: $130 pp
meet the meerkats and help the ranger with their enrichment activities
Putting our animals first
These times and availability may change, as making sure our animals are happy and not stressed is always our number one priority.
Please note that, even if you have pre-booked, if your animal doesn’t want to spend time with you today, you will be offered another encounter or a refund. This almost never happens, but it can. We always put our animals’ needs first.