Located in the suburb of South Perth, the Perth Zoo is off the typical tourist track but still easy to visit from the Central Business District (CBD) via a ferry ride across the Swan River, which adds to the fun. Purchase admission online to avoid waiting in the ticket line, and opt for a combination pass that includes a sightseeing cruise on the river, too.
Animal exhibits include the Australian Bushwalk, home to kangaroos, koalas, wombats, emus, Tasmanian devils, echidnas, and dingoes; Asian Habitats, for elephants, Sumatran tigers, orangutans, red pandas, and Komodo dragons; and the Nocturnal House, which features owls and bilbies. You’ll also see Galapagos tortoises; fairy penguins, the world’s smallest species of penguin; and animals of the African savannah, such as giraffes, zebras, rhinos, and lions.