Halls Gap Zoo

What Halls Gap Zoo does

Halls Gap Zoo is a privately owned regional zoo located on 52 acres between Halls Gap and Pomonal in Victoria, Australia, approximately three hours from Melbourne. The zoo houses over 120 species and 500 individual native and exotic mammals, reptiles, and birds, and operates 364 days per year (closed only on Christmas Day). Founded in 1982 as Wallaroo Wildlife Park and rebranded in 1988, the business is currently owned and operated by the Treweek family following their July 2023 acquisition. The zoo serves three primary customer segments: families and general public visitors seeking a regional wildlife day out, school groups booking structured keeper-guided educational excursions, and adult groups seeking discounted entry. Member institutions include ZAA (Zoo and Aquarium Association of Australasia), with participation in regional breeding programmes for cheetah, southern white rhino, and spot-tailed quoll.

The zoo's product portfolio centres on general admission (A$23-A$48 per person, with family bundles at A$110-A$115), a differentiated set of paid animal encounters (A$25-A$380 per person across meerkat, red panda, white rhino, giraffe, cheetah, dingo, otter, serval, and lizard experiences), annual memberships, A$50 animal adoption packages, group and school bookings (A$16-A$18 per student), and on-site F&B and retail. Strategic differentiators include Victoria's only red panda encounter, Australia's only hands-on otter encounter, and the Grampians National Park backdrop. Recent additions under new ownership include the Twilight Night Zoo Tours (launched 2024), a new saltwater crocodile exhibit, and an expanded food and beverage outlet.

The business operates on a direct-to-consumer model with a standard e-commerce website (hallsgapzoo.com.au) handling ticketing, encounter bookings, memberships, adoptions, gift vouchers, and a dedicated school booking form. Walk-in gate sales provide a secondary physical channel. The technology stack is non-proprietary: no AI/ML, no SDK or API, and only Google Analytics as a named integration. Marketing channels centre on the owned website, Instagram, Google Reviews/testimonials surfaced as earned media, and regional tourism partnerships within the Grampians corridor. Revenue is generated entirely within Australia and is not publicly disclosed.

Name

Halls Gap Zoo

Legal name

Halls Gap Zoo

Website

https://hallsgapzoo.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Halls Gap Zoo is a privately owned regional zoo in Victoria, Australia, housing over 120 species and 500 animals across 52 acres. It serves families, school groups, and regional tourists through general admissions, paid animal encounters, guided tours, memberships, and conservation-based animal adoption programmes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Zoo Services

NAICS

Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213), Zoos and Botanical Gardens (712130), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Wildlife Sanctuaries & Rescue Centers (Visitor Operations) (THAAAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Zoo & Aquarium Parks (Ticketed Wildlife Attractions) (THAJAEAE), Zoos, Aquariums & Botanical Gardens (Educational Collections) (THAJADAL)

Keywords

• Wildlife zoo services
• Animal encounter experiences
• Regional zoo operations
• Educational school excursions
• Wildlife conservation programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Halls Gap

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. General Admission Tickets: The primary revenue driver is gate admission tickets sold to individual visitors, families, and groups. Standard adult, child, concession, infant, and family ticket tiers are available.
2. Animal Encounters: Visitors pay per-person fees for structured up-close animal encounters including meerkat, giraffe, rhino, cheetah, dingo, red panda, otter, serval, lizard, and twilight night zoo tours. Encounters range from $25 to $100 per person.
3. Memberships: Annual membership passes offering unlimited entry for 12 months, with a 10% discount benefit for accompanying guests.
4. Animal Adoption: Adoption packages sold for $50 per animal per year, including a personalised adoption certificate, photo, and fact sheet. Available for a wide range of species.
5. Food, Beverage & Retail: On-site cafe open on weekends, public holidays, and Victorian school holidays. Souvenir shop and gift vouchers also available for purchase.
6. School & Group Bookings: Educational keeper-guided tours and self-guided school excursion packages priced at $16-$18 per student. Group adult discounts offered for 10+ visitors.
7. Donations: The zoo accepts donations and offers a dedicated donation portal to support animal care and conservation programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Halls Gap Zoo is a privately owned regional zoo on 52 acres in Halls Gap, Victoria, housing over 120 species and 500 native and exotic animals. The zoo sells general admission tickets, paid animal encounters (meerkat, giraffe, white rhino, cheetah, red panda, dingo, otter, serval, lizard), guided tours (Twilight Night Zoo Tours, Early Bird Tour), keeper-for-a-day experiences, school and group bookings, annual memberships, and animal adoption packages. Supporting revenue comes from an on-site cafe, souvenir shop, donations, and gift vouchers.

Product overview

Halls Gap Zoo is a regional zoo offering a unified visitor experience centered on animal encounters and wildlife education. The core offering includes paid animal encounters (Red Panda, Meerkat, White Rhino, Giraffe, Cheetah, Dingo, Otter, Serval, Lizard), guided tours (Early Bird Tour, School Bookings, Twilight Night Zoo Tours), and behind-the-scenes experiences (Zoo Keeper for a Day/Morning). Supporting products include Animal Adoption packages, Zoo Membership, Group Bookings, and General Admission Tickets. The zoo also operates an on-site cafe and souvenir shop for visitor amenities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• General Admission Tickets Entry tickets to Halls Gap Zoo for individuals, families, and groups: Adult $48, Child (3-17) $23, Infant (0-2) free, Family (2A+1C) $110, Family (2A+4C) $115, with concession rates for eligible Australian card holders. Provides access to over 120 species and 500 animals on the 52-acre property.
• Animal Encounters Interactive, hands-on sessions with animals including Meerkat, Giraffe, White Rhino, Cheetah, Red Panda, Dingo, Otter, Serval, and Lizard encounters, priced from $25 to $100 per person. Visitors get up-close experiences with wildlife not available at metropolitan zoos.
• Zoo Membership Annual recurring membership providing unlimited entry to Halls Gap Zoo for 12 months, with a 10% discount benefit for accompanying guests. Designed for repeat visitors and locals supporting zoo development and species protection.
• Animal Adoption Annual adoption packages priced at $50 per animal per year for a range of native and exotic species. Includes personalised adoption certificate, photo, and fact sheet, supporting animal care and conservation breeding programs.
• School Bookings Educational wildlife experiences for school groups including Keeper Guided Tour ($18/child, min $250) and Keeper Talk & Self-guided Tour ($16/child, min $200). Features reptile touch sessions and escorted educational tours aligned with Australian curriculum.
• Group Bookings Discounted group entry packages for organized groups of 10+ adults or 15+ children. Adult tiers: 1-9 at $48, 10-20 at $42, 21+ at $36 per person. Children tiers: 1-14 at $23, 15+ at $21 per child. Ideal for social clubs, corporate outings, and birthday parties.
• Twilight Night Zoo Tours After-dark guided tours of the zoo featuring nocturnal animal encounters, exploration at dusk and nighttime, and marshmallow roasting around a fire. Limited to 48 people per night with a maximum group size of 16. Priced from $30 per person.
• Early Bird Tour Exclusive early morning guided tour offering zoo entry, personal guided experience with an experienced keeper, animal feeding opportunities (including a howling dingo greeting), and a bucket breakfast with treats for animals. Priced from $380, minimum age 6.
• Zoo Keeper for a Day / Morning Full-day or morning experiential programs allowing participants to assist keepers with daily exhibit maintenance, animal diet preparation, enrichments, and feeding animals. Designed for visitors seeking a hands-on keeper experience.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Zoo and Aquarium Association of Australasia (ZAA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHalls Gap Zoo is a member of the Zoo and Aquarium Association of Australasia. The zoo adheres to ZAA husbandry standards for animal care, participates in regional zoological breeding programmes, and implements the five-domain model in animal husbandry practices in accordance with ZAA guidelines.
• Regional Conservation Breeding Programmes (Cheetah, Rhino, Spot-tailed Quoll)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe zoo participates in regional breeding programmes for cheetah, southern white rhino, and is one of the most prolific breeders of spot-tailed quoll. The cheetah and giraffe belong to regional zoological breeding programmes, and the cheetahs also participate in a global studbook for genetics management.
• Regional Tourism PartnersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe zoo works closely with local and regional tourism organizations in the Grampians region to attract visitors, with mutual benefit from cross-promotion of regional attractions and accommodation providers.
• GWMWaterminorOthersGWMWater is listed as a partner logo on the Halls Gap Zoo website. Nature of partnership is not explicitly detailed but appears in the 'Our Partners' section.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Healesville Sanctuary (Zoos Victoria): Native Australian wildlife-focused sanctuary under Zoos Victoria. Directly competes for the same school excursion, conservation-education, and family visitor segments in regional Victoria.
• Melbourne Zoo (Zoos Victoria): Victoria's flagship metropolitan zoo operated by government-backed Zoos Victoria. Direct competitor for family visitation, school excursions, and encounter programming across the same Victorian market.
• Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary: Established Gold Coast wildlife sanctuary offering close-up animal encounters and school programs. Comparable encounter-led regional wildlife park business model targeting families and school groups.
• Australia Zoo: Large privately owned regional zoo in Queensland. Comparable business model — privately owned, encounter-heavy, family-focused — at substantially larger scale, serving as a useful benchmark for premium encounter monetisation.
• Werribee Open Range Zoo (Zoos Victoria): Open-range safari-style zoo also run by Zoos Victoria. Comparable regional attraction competing for the same family, school, and tourism segments, with an overlapping conservation mandate under the ZAA framework.
• Gorge Wildlife Park: Small privately owned wildlife park in South Australia offering animal encounters and family experiences. Comparable in scale and private regional operator model to Halls Gap Zoo.
• National Zoo & Aquarium (Canberra): Privately operated zoo and aquarium in Canberra offering hands-on encounters and family programming. Comparable private regional zoo with similar encounter-led monetisation.
• Monarto Safari Resort (Zoos South Australia): Large open-range safari park in regional South Australia with accommodation. Comparable regional safari/wildlife park with conservation breeding programs and premium encounter offerings.

Broad incumbents

• Taronga Zoo Sydney: Iconic Sydney zoo with overnight programs, school excursions, and animal encounters. Broader incumbent in the same industry with overlapping capabilities but a different geographic catchment and larger institutional scale.

Emerging players

• Orana Wildlife Park: New Zealand-based open-range wildlife park focused on conservation breeding. Comparable encounter-led wildlife park with strong conservation program participation, though operating in a different geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/hallsgapzoo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/halls-gap-zoo

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Halls Gap Zoo