Werribee Open Range Zoo offers summer activities at Hippo Beach attraction

Werribee Open Range Zoo, an African themed zoo located about 32 kilometres south-west of Melbourne, is offering an array of fun family ‘Hippo a Go-Go Beach Party’ activities over the summer school holidays each day until the end of January.

Children can play in designated splash zones and enjoy bubbles, a live DJ and a range of kid-friendly games, while adults can sit in the shade and enjoy delicious food and drink — all at Hippo Beach, among the Zoo’s resident hippopotamuses.

Zoos Victoria Chief Executive Dr Jenny Gray shared "Zoos Victoria summer events are a great way to bring the whole family together for an affordable day out where they can connect with wildlife while enjoying the summer sunshine."

Werribee Open Range Zoo’s Hippo Beach is home to 33-year-old hippo Primrose and her two daughters, Tulip and Lotus, who also love cooling off in their three large ponds. Visitors can watch the 1400-kilogram mammals devour more than 10 kilograms of hay, fruit and vegetables throughout the day.

Each year, Werribee Open Range Zoo welcomes nearly 400,000 visitors, including Zoos Victoria Members, and is expected to see more than 100,000 people visit this summer.

As part of the Victorian Government’s $88 million expansion of Werribee Open Range Zoo, the entire Asian elephant herd currently at Melbourne Zoo will move to Werribee once a purpose-built 21-hectare habitat is completed later this year.

The perimeter fencing installation has commenced and the elephant overpass has recently been installed at Werribee Open Range Zoo, which will allow the Asian elephant herd to walk between habitats and over pedestrian pathways below.

Children under 16 years of age can enjoy the Hippo a Go-Go Beach Party for free when accompanied by a paying adult Zoo visitor. The event is 11am to 2pm each day until Sunday, 28th January.

Children under 16 years can enjoy free zoo entry to Werribee Open Range Zoo, Melbourne Zoo, Healesville Sanctuary and Kyabram Fauna Park on weekends, Victorian school holidays and public holidays.

Werribee Open Range Zoo is open every day from 9am to 5pm.