Werribee Open Range Zoo, Mansion & Rose Garden
Half day · ~6 hours
The easiest family day out on our list — the whole Werribee Park precinct sits 20 minutes from most Western Suburbs homes. Ride the safari bus past rhinos, giraffes and zebras on the open savannah, walk the gorilla and lion trails, then cross to the 60-room Werribee Mansion and the free State Rose Garden next door. Short drive, relaxed pace, home by late afternoon.
Why it's famous
Discover Werribee Zoo & Mansion.
Werribee Open Range Zoo is Zoos Victoria's wildlife safari in Melbourne's west. Its 40-minute safari bus tour, included with admission and wheelchair accessible, rolls through grasslands themed on Asia, North America and Africa, where you can spot bison, antelope, rhino, zebra and ostrich. Nine Asian elephants now roam a 21-hectare habitat on the Elephant Trail.
Right next door, Werribee Park Mansion was completed in 1877 for the Chirnside family, who made their fortune from wool in Victoria's Western District. With 60 rooms across several wings, a dominant tower and an arcade on three sides, it is one of the largest and most opulent homes in Victoria, and it has starred in productions such as Miss Fisher.
Beyond the mansion's formal gardens, grotto and ornamental lake lies the Victoria State Rose Garden, where more than 5,000 roses bloom. Entry to the gardens and the Rose Garden is free, and the roses are at their most magnificent from November to April, making the whole precinct a gentle, flat and easy day out.
What you'll see & do
- Ride the 40-minute safari bus with live commentary from a Safari Guide
- Spot rhino, zebra, giraffe, bison and ostrich on the open grasslands
- Watch nine Asian elephants roam their 21-hectare habitat on the Elephant Trail
- Stroll past camels, nyala, ostrich, plains zebra and scimitar-horned oryx on the walking trails
- Take the audio tour of the 60-room Werribee Park Mansion and its richly decorated rooms
- Picnic in the formal gardens beside the grotto and ornamental lake
- Wander among more than 5,000 roses in the free Victoria State Rose Garden
- See the bluestone farm buildings and the heritage orchard first planted by the Chirnside family
Why you'll love it
- Safari bus past rhinos, giraffes and zebras on the open savannah
- The 60-room Werribee Mansion and free State Rose Garden
- 20 minutes from most Western-suburbs homes — shortest day out we offer
- Perfect first outing for visiting grandparents
$299 AUD — total. No hidden anything.
One fixed price per vehicle (up to 7 people). Here's exactly what that covers:
- Fixed price in AUDThe price you see is the total — per vehicle, up to 7 people
- No hidden chargesNo booking fees, no card surcharges, no surprises
- Tolls, fuel & parking includedEverything the car needs is in the price
- No driver or waiting chargesYour driver and reasonable waiting are included
- Hotel / home pickup & drop-offDoor-to-door across Melbourne — included free
- FREE airport pickup with any tourBook a tour and we collect you from the airport at no charge
- Pay at the END of the tourNo prepayment, no deposit — PayID, cash or card
See it on film
Official videos
Virtual Safari Tour at Werribee Open Range Zoo
Official video · Zoos Victoria
Virtual walking tour of Werribee Open Range Zoo
Official video · Zoos Victoria
All abilities access at Werribee Park and the Victoria State Rose Garden
Official video · Parks Victoria
Your day, stop by stop
What we’ll do.
Times are guidance — we adjust on the day to your group’s pace.
Send this itinerary to your group:
- 09
09:30
Pickup from your home
Late start — the zoo is on our doorstep.
- 10
10:00
Werribee Open Range Zoo
Safari bus across the savannah (included with zoo entry), then the walking trails at your pace.
An open-range safari park where the free safari bus carries you through savannah and grassland habitats, then walking trails lead to elephants, big cats and more.
Official website ↗🎟️ Booking recommended
Recommended: buy zoo tickets online with Zoos Victoria before the day — the safari bus is included with entry
- 13
13:00
Lunch break
Zoo café, or a picnic on the mansion lawns — your call.
- 14
14:00
Werribee Mansion & formal gardens
One of Australia's grandest 1870s pastoral homes. Garden entry is free; mansion entry optional.
The Chirnside family's 1877 Renaissance Revival mansion of 60 rooms, with original furniture, a grand entry hall and staircase, set in formal gardens with a grotto and ornamental lake.
Official website ↗🎟️ Booking recommended
Mansion entry is ticketed and can be bought at the Mansion front of house; the gardens are free
- 15
15:00
Victoria State Rose Garden
5,000+ roses in bloom Nov–Apr. Free entry, endless photos.
More than 5,000 roses, bordered by a Heritage Border of unusual and historic roses from around the world, at their best from November to April. Free entry.
Official website ↗ - 16
16:00
Drop-off at home
Back well before dinner.
Getting there
How far is it?
Every numbered stop on one map — shown from the CBD for scale. Your day is door-to-door from your home, we handle all the driving, tolls and parking. Tap the map for Google Maps.
Tickets & bookings
Book your tickets before the day.
Attraction entry isn’t included in the fare — buy it directly from the official sites below (no mark-up, no middleman). Tell us your session times and we’ll plan the driving around them.
Werribee Open Range Zoo
Recommended: buy zoo tickets online with Zoos Victoria before the day — the safari bus is included with entry
zoo.org.au
Werribee Mansion & formal gardens
Mansion entry is ticketed and can be bought at the Mansion front of house; the gardens are free
bookings.parks.vic.gov.au
Werribee Open Range Zoo — Zoos Victoria
Recommended — book online; the safari bus is included with admission
zoo.org.au
Werribee Park & Mansion — Parks Victoria
Mansion entry optional; the gardens and Rose Garden are free
parks.vic.gov.au
What’s included
- Premium 8-seat MPV for the trip
- Driver, fuel and all road tolls
- Door-to-door pickup and drop-off
- Up to 6 hours from pickup to drop-off
- Flexible timing — stay longer at the zoo if the kids are happy
Not included
- Zoo entry tickets (book online for the timed safari bus)
- Mansion entry (gardens are free)
- Meals and snacks
- Guided commentary (we drive — exploring is yours)
Common questions
Good to know.
- Do we need to pre-book zoo tickets?
- We recommend booking directly with Zoos Victoria online before the day — the safari bus is included with admission. Tell us your plans and we'll build the day around them.
- Is this good for grandparents visiting from overseas?
- It's our most popular option for exactly that — short drive, safari bus with no walking required, and the rose garden is flat and step-free.
- Can we add the Werribee outlets or lunch elsewhere?
- Easily — it's a half-day tour, so tacking on a lunch stop or shopping on the way home usually still fits the window.
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Ready for Werribee Zoo & Mansion?
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