Perth Zoo is rich with the sights, sounds and smells of nature and set in a tranquil, fully enclosed environment. This makes it an enriching, safe and accessible outing for visitors with a range of disabilities.

Carers/Companions Free

Perth Zoo welcomes and accepts the national Companion Card. We offer no-cost admission to a carer/companion of an individual with a Companion Card.

• Schools and respite centres who wish to have their carers enter free should bring a letter (on official letterhead) identifying the names of the carers and the date of the organisation’s visit. Individual carers should then produce identification confirming that they belong to the appropriate organisation.
• Organisational cards such as Carers WA, Carers Australia, and Identity WA are not automatically accepted.
• Find out how to apply for a Companion Card (opens external site).

Accessibility Map

This free, symbol-based map groups our facilities into audio-visual, tactile/interactive, sensory/olfactory, tranquil/rest areas, and aural/keeper talks, so that people with a range of needs can plan their visit. It also shows ACROD parking, doors and inclines.

Download the Perth Zoo Accessibility Map (PDF).
 

Social Story

You can use this social story to assist with your visit to Perth Zoo. This story seeks to provide the child with information and answers to key questions:

• What is happening?
• Who is doing what?
• Why is it happening?
• What are the reasons or ‘rules’ that govern what people are doing?
• What are the typical socially acceptable responses for the individual in the specific situation?

Download the Going to the Zoo Social Story.
 

The Playground 

Perth Zoo’s playground caters to a variety of ages and abilities including a 3m-tall climbable Numbat, giant rope tunnels, a ‘cloud deck’ with its own misting cloud, sand pit and more.

The playground is accessible via multiple paths and entry points and includes quiet zones at the feather hammocks, the cubby domes and cave at the sand pit.

There is a wheelchair-accessible trampoline and raised sandpit table.

A communications board is situated at the Main Lawn end of the Playground. You can also download a pdf version of the communication board here.

There are also large soft-fall areas, tranquil nature sounds and sculptures to touch and climb.

Accessible toilets and food and drink outlets are next to the Playground.
 

Mobility-friendly Drinking Fountains and Lockers

All the drinking fountains in Perth Zoo are especially designed to be accessed by children or those using a wheelchair/scooter. Featuring beautiful mosaics on natural themes designed by local school children, they provide much more than just a refreshing drink. Our lockers are easily accessed too.
 

Soundscapes and Audio Devices

Perth Zoo has multiple examples of audio devices that provide immersive and engaging soundscapes to animal exhibits. The daily keeper presentations are amplified and provide 10-15 minutes' worth of animal information accompanied by visual aspects.
 

Hands-on Activities 

Some exhibits feature tactile elements to help interpret the species. Animal sculptures are scattered throughout the Zoo to be fully explored by people with vision impairments. The Jungle School (orangutan) visitor experience is also full of tactile activities.
 

Assistance Animal Access

We welcome assistance animals. Some areas of Perth Zoo (eg: walk-in or free ranging exhibits) may be off limits to assistance animals due to health or behavioural risks posed to animals in our collection.

A request to visit with an assistance animal must be made in writing prior to the planned visit. Please send your written request to visitor.services@perthzoo.wa.gov.au. We may refuse access if the animal presents with signs of infectious disease or behaviours that could endanger our animals or other visitors.