Canberra Zoos & Aquariums

Canberra animal encounters are small, hands-on and a short drive from the city, from alpaca farm walks just over the New South Wales border to spotlighting in a woodland sanctuary after dark. This page covers the animal experiences you can book through Experience Oz around the capital, and the wider list of things to do in Canberra sits one click up.

Animal experiences near Canberra

Canberra's animal days are built around a working alpaca farm at Murrumbateman and a fenced woodland sanctuary in the ACT. Farm walks, hand-feeding, a cooked brunch among the herd and spotlighting after dark are the main formats, and each is a short drive from the city.

Daytime experiences suit families and groups who want to walk, feed and photograph the animals. The night tour suits anyone who likes the bush after dark and wants to see native wildlife that only comes out at night.

Alpaca farm experiences at Murrumbateman

Blackwattle Alpaca Farm is at Murrumbateman, just across the New South Wales border from Canberra. Alpacas and llamas are the stars, and the experiences are built around walking, feeding and learning how their fibre goes from paddock to product. A 90-minute guided alpaca walk pairs each guest with their own alpaca or llama for a wander around the farm and dam, a hand-feeding session, and morning tea with the cake of the day.

For a longer, slower version, the 2-hour boho alpaca picnic is made for two. It runs a 30-minute scenic stroll with your own alpaca, a 30-minute feeding and patting session with plenty of photo stops, then a private boho-styled picnic with a platter. Each finishes with a visit to the Blackwattle Farm Shop.

If you would rather eat with the herd, an alpaca brunch on the farm serves a cooked breakfast and has you feeding alpacas and llamas with muesli. Tell the farm about dietary requirements when you book.

Wildlife after dark in Canberra

Mulligans Flat Woodland Sanctuary, in the city's north-east, protects native and endangered species from introduced predators, and the best time to see them is at night. The Mulligans Flat twilight tour starts at the Wildbark Visitor Centre in Throsby and includes a guide, a red light torch and transport to the spotlighting area. Groups are small, and the tour runs in light rain but is cancelled in heavy rain, thunderstorms, hail, extreme heat and strong winds.

Choosing an animal experience

Pick by the time of day you have free. Brunch with the herd suits a morning, the guided alpaca walk has late-morning and midday sessions, and the sanctuary tour is an evening outing. Pick by who is coming: a family or group of friends can share the guided walk, a couple can book the picnic for two, and the night tour suits adults who want to go spotlighting.

The farm experiences are all about contact with the animals, so there is plenty of time for hand-feeding, patting and photos. The sanctuary tour is about watching and listening, with a guide helping you spot nocturnal and endangered species.

Tickets, timing and what to wear

Alpaca experiences are sold as per-person tickets, with child and infant options on the guided walk and a package booking for the picnic for two. Sessions run on selected days, usually from Friday to Sunday, and each product page shows what is open. Allow a morning or an afternoon for the farm, and an evening for the sanctuary.

Wear flat, fully enclosed shoes at the farm, because you walk through paddocks. Park in the farm shop car park rather than on the grass, since the alpacas graze there. For the night tour, wear enclosed shoes and clothes for the weather, and bring water.

Planning animal experiences with the rest of your trip

Murrumbateman is also the centre of the Canberra wine district, so a farm visit pairs easily with the food and drink experiences in Canberra. For other days, browse Canberra activities, or look at things to do in Canberra with kids for family picks. Heading to Sydney next? The city has its own Sydney zoos and aquariums page, and animal experiences across the country are listed under zoos and aquariums in Australia.

Frequently asked questions

What animal experiences can you do near Canberra?

Near Canberra you can book guided alpaca and llama walks, an alpaca brunch and a boho alpaca picnic at Blackwattle Alpaca Farm in Murrumbateman, plus a night spotlighting tour of Mulligans Flat Woodland Sanctuary.

Can you feed alpacas near Canberra?

Yes. Blackwattle Alpaca Farm at Murrumbateman includes hand-feeding in its guided alpaca walk, its alpaca brunch and its boho alpaca picnic for two.

Where is Blackwattle Alpaca Farm?

Blackwattle Alpaca Farm is at 315 Patemans Lane, Murrumbateman, New South Wales, just across the border from Canberra. Park in the Farm Shop car park, not on the grass.

Are the alpaca experiences suitable for children?

Yes. The guided alpaca walk sells child and infant tickets and the brunch has child and toddler tickets, so families can book together. Check each product page for the current age bands.

Can you see native animals at night near Canberra?

Yes. The Mulligans Flat twilight tour at the Wildbark Visitor Centre in Throsby goes spotlighting for nocturnal and endangered animals with an experienced guide and a red light torch.

How long is the Mulligans Flat twilight tour?

The Mulligans Flat twilight tour is a 2.5-hour evening outing that starts at the Wildbark Visitor Centre in Throsby, with a guide, a red light torch and transport to the spotlighting area.

Is the Mulligans Flat night tour wheelchair accessible?

The twilight tours are not currently easily accessible by wheelchair, so contact the Wildbark Visitor Centre to discuss your needs before booking.

What should I wear to an alpaca farm?

Wear flat, fully enclosed shoes, clothing for warm and cold conditions, sunscreen and a hat. Bring a camera or phone and a water bottle.

Choose the kind of animal day you want, from a farm walk to a night in the bush, and book it online. More ideas for the capital are on the Canberra tours and activities page.