Night Zoo at Wildlife HQ Review
Have you ever wanted to explore the zoo at night?
Seasonally, Wildlife HQ on the Sunshine Coast opens up its doors after dark with a Night Zoo.
Small groups of up to 25 guests can tour the zoo at night when many animals are more active than during the day.
My 9-year-old chose the Night Zoo as a gift from her grandparents after I gave her a list of experience gift ideas around Brisbane. She was excited about the idea of being allowed into a zoo at night and claimed she didn’t know when she would ever have the opportunity to go to a Night Zoo.
As a family, we were all happy with her choice. While her dad and I had been to the zoo at night in Singapore, it is completely different to see Aussie animals after dark. Plus, the zoo is fun for all ages.
Keep reading to find out what to expect during a visit to the Night Zoo at Wildlife HQ.
Purchasing Tickets to the Night Zoo
Wildlife HQ hosts its Night Zoo around March and again around September/October. Keep an eye on their social media for upcoming dates.
Tickets can not be purchased on the Wildlife HQ website. Instead, the dates are listed, and you need to send an email with the date you are interested in, as well as some information about your group.
When Wildlife HQ gets your information, they will either tell you that date is already sold out or they will reserve your spot. If your spot is reserved, you need to call them to pay for your Night Zoo tour over the phone.
While we originally wanted another date, by the time I emailed, my chosen dates were booked, and I had to pick another option. Luckily, we were able to get tickets to the Night Zoo before they sold out.
Find more fun experience gifts near Brisbane!
Arriving at Wildlife HQ’s Night Zoo
Wildlife HQ is located by the Big Pineapple in Woombye, Queensland, on the Sunshine Coast. We had been to the Big Pineapple before when the kids went zip-lining on the junior course, but we had never been to the zoo.
The Night Zoo tour starts at 6:30, and you are told to get there 15 minutes early.
There was a lot of traffic from Brisbane, and we got there exactly at 6:15, making us the last people in our group to arrive.
Someone is there with a clipboard, checking you in. You do not need to print anything out or show any information when you arrive.
As it was raining on and off, they had both adult and child ponchos for us to take with us on the tour. Bug spray was also available for our use and recommended.
After we put on bug spray and took ponchos for later, we walked to the front area of the zoo, where a couple of the staff members were holding a large lizard and a small alligator.
Everyone was able to touch the animals and walk around to view some of the other animals located at the front of Wildlife HQ, such as tree kangaroos and Tasmanian devils.
Bathrooms are located in this area, and we did not stop for a bathroom on the 90-minute tour.
Animals at The Night Zoo at Wildlife HQ
Our tour began a few minutes before 6:30. Three staff members were there to lead us around the zoo, give us information, and interact with the animals.
African Servals
We walked along a pretty dark path for a while before seeing any animals. While we did walk past the dingos that were active, we did not stop until we got to the African servals.
The African servals have 2 enclosures that they can move between by traveling over the pathway.
While they generally sit during the day, they were extremely active while we were at the Night Zoo. They were so active, it was hard to get a picture!
African Painted Dogs
The African Painted Dogs were fed, and they ran around the entire time that we were stopped in front of their enclosure.
I don’t think we have seen African Painted Dogs before. They are hunter-gatherers who are facing extinction.
African Painted Dogs travel in a pack. They make sure that their elderly members eat first.
While we were in front of their enclosure, the dogs were running around and making a lot of noise.
Binturong
Binturongs are from Southeast Asia.
One of the staff members went into the binturong’s enclosure and fed it during our visit to the Night Zoo. They can go into some of the exhibits, but they never go into others.
During regular zoo hours, anyone 8+ can purchase a special binturong feeding session where they can go into the enclosure and feed the binturong.
Squirrel Monkeys
Near the binturong, we saw a few squirrel monkeys running around their enclosure and swinging on branches.
Squirrel monkeys live in Central and South America.
Sun Bear
The smallest type of bear, a sun bear, can be seen at Wildlife HQ.
This particular sun bear is named Maly, and she was born after her parents were saved and brought to Australia. Sun bears are from Southeast Asia.
Wildlife HQ has a party for Maly’s birthday in April, which includes reduced entry for kids and a teddy bear picnic.
Anyone 12+ can sign up in advance to feed Maly the sun bear for an additional price.
Koala
Most of the koalas were sleeping in the branches, though we did get to see one walking.
While most of the animals we saw at the night zoo are nocturnal, koalas sleep up to 20 hours a day. It is very rare to see a koala moving, especially one this active.
Eastern Quoll
A small spotted marsupial from Tasmania, the Eastern Quoll was very active during our visit to the night zoo.
There were a few Eastern Quolls in the enclosure, and they were all moving around quite a bit.
Tasmanian Devil
Next to the Eastern Quoll enclosure is another Tasmanian local animal, the Tasmanian devil.
The Tasmanian devils were running around and making a lot of noise.
Bilby
Known as the Australian Easter Bunny, at least at Wildlife HQ, the bilby is a marsupial found around Australia.
We learned that the bilby usually sleeps during the day, and visitors rarely see them move in their enclosure. The bilby was active at night while we were at the zoo.
If you are interested in bilbies, we also learned a lot about them at the Bilby Discovery Centre in Charleville.
Alligator and Crocodile
We made a quick stop at the crocodile and alligator enclosure.
Anyone who wanted could touch an alligator at the beginning of the night.
Porcupine
I did not get a picture of the porcupine as it was hiding in the back of the enclosure. We could see the black and white quills, but I figured it would be too hard to figure out what was in the photo.
While porcupines are more active at night, we still didn’t get to see them moving around.
Wombat
The wombat walked back and forth in its enclosure. Unfortunately, I was at the back of the group at this point and had been trying to capture a picture of the porcupine, so I was unable to get the front of the wombat.
We saw plenty of wombats in the wild on our trip to Tasmania.
Apparently, the staff used to get into the wombat enclosure but stopped after the wombat ran after the guide during a night zoo tour.
Maned Wolf
One of the animals that we could hear loudly at the night zoo was the maned wolf.
Maned wolves are originally from South America.
Capybara
The capybara encounter is another one that one of the guides gets into during the night zoo tour.
One of the capybaras, Chip, was front and center during our visit, rubbing against the guide and enjoying eating leaves. The other two were shyer, though one did come up after a while to eat.
During regular zoo hours, anyone 8+ can sign up for a capybara feeding encounter.
Capybaras are native to South America and are the largest living rodents.
Reptile House
Before exiting the zoo, we walked through the reptile center. While the guides didn’t stop to talk about the reptiles, we were able to look at them.
Snakes
At the exit, the guides were holding snakes. Anyone who wanted, kids included, could hold any of the snakes, either alone or with assistance.
Both kids decided to hold the smallest snake first, and then one decided to hold one of the larger snakes, with assistance. He did not want the snake wrapping itself around his neck.
Everyone had enough time to hold snakes and take pictures. This is the only time during the tour when a flash is allowed. There is enough light by the building that a flash isn’t necessarily needed.
Where to see Australian animals near Brisbane
Wildlife HQ Night Zoo Wrap-Up
The Night Zoo at Wildlife HQ occurs in Autumn and again in Spring on Friday and Saturday nights.
Groups of 25 are led through the zoo beginning at 6:30 p.m. after the sun goes down. Torches and cell phone lights are not allowed, and while the path gets dark, there are lights scattered throughout the zoo.
Everyone must wear closed-toed shoes, and otherwise, dress comfortably and for the weather.
There is quite a bit of walking on the tour, and the path is not always even. Prams cannot be taken on the night zoo tour.
The entire Night Zoo tour lasts 90 minutes. During that time, 3 guides lead the group of 25 throughout the zoo, stopping at many of the enclosures and speaking about the animals.
Guests have an opportunity at the beginning and end of the tour to interact with different animals.
Night Zoo FAQ
No, Wildlife HQ closes at 4 p.m. daily. Occasionally, on Friday and Saturday nights, Wildlife HQ opens its Night Zoo, a 90-minute guided tour experience.
No. Both the cafe and the shop are closed during the Night Zoo.
More Fun Things on the Sunshine Coast
- Best Things to do on the Sunshine Coast
- Things to do when it is raining on the Sunshine Coast
- Kid-Friendly Restaurants on the Sunshine Coast
- Noosa Everglades
- Ginger Factory
- Maleny
- Montville
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