The Brevard Zoo offers an intimate setting complete with tropical landscaping filled with animals and adventures. The animals at the zoo are set up in their natural habitats (instead of cages) and are allowed to roam free on their own prairies and savannahs. The zoo is small enough for you to make other plans in the area, but there is still plenty to do that can be extended into an entire day of wild fun and adventures.
Animals that call the Brevard Zoo home include African Rock Python, Black and White Ruffed Lemur, Cheetah, Giraffe, Impala, Ostrich, Radiated Tortoise, Ring-tailed Lemur, White Rhinoceros, Black Vulture, Coscoroba Swan, Pygmy Marmoset, Spider Monkey, Straw Colored Fruit Bat, Visayan Warty Pig, American Crocodiles, American Flamingo, Gray Fox, Common Starfish, Mangrove Crab, Gopher Tortoise and so much more!!
Adventure guides offer tours throughout the park where guests can get a different view of the animals, including a kayak adventure and an African expedition. Other activities at the zoo include a kid’s wet deck, feeding the animals, petting zoo and animal encounters.
ZOO TRIP TIP #1: Let kids wear a swimsuit under their clothes so they can play on the wet deck. The swimsuits will dry fast and keep the kids cool during the day.
There is so much to see and do at the Brevard Zoo and rather than pay as you go through the zoo, purchase a package at the front gate. Packages include multiple things to do at the zoo on one single ticket. As of August 2011, zoo packages include:
- Young Explorer’s Package - admission, tickets for train ride and feed the giraffe and lorikeets for $18.25 for adults, $17.25 for seniors and $14.75 for kids.
- Wild Explorer’s Package - admission, choice of kayaking Wild Florida or Expedition Africa and giraffe and lorikeet feedings for $202.5 for adults, $19.25 for seniors and $16.75 for kids.
There are two restaurants at the Brevard Zoo - the Flamingo Café and the Whale’s Tale. Both restaurants are open daily from 10 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. No outside food is allowed in the zoo, however, there are picnic tables just outside the entrance if you want to bring a cooler and leave it in your car.
ZOO TRIP TIP #2: If you have kids with you, start off at the kid’s area, complete with playground, wet deck and petting zoo. Spend some time in this area before moving on. Work way around the park counter-clockwise and you will come to the Flamingo Café in the back of the zoo at just about lunch time. Finish working way around the park and return to the kids area before leaving.
Stop by the Panther’s Paw Gift shop on your way out of the zoo to pick up some T-shirts, logo merchandise, toys, artwork and other zoo related souvenirs. Wheelchairs are available for rent for $8 and ECVs are $20 for the day. Strollers are available for $6 for single and $8 for double strollers for the day.
ZOO TRIP TIP #3: If visiting the zoo with kids rent a stroller which will allow the kids to nap and stop complaining because of all the walking.
As of August 2011 admission rates for the Brevard Zoo were adults $13.75, seniors $12.75, kids ages 2 to 12 $10.25 and kids under 2 are free. Receive a $2 discount per person when visiting the zoo with a group of 15 or more people. To make arrangements for visiting the zoo with a large group call 321.254.9453 ext. 235. Did you know that 25 cents of each admission is donated to the Brevard Zoo’s conservation program? Learn more by visiting http://www.brevardzoo.org/conservation/quartersforconservation.
The Brevard Zoo is located 20 miles from the Sebastian-Vero Beach area in Melbourne, Florida. To get to the zoo take I-95 north to Exit 191. The zoo is one-half mile east of the interstate on the right hand side of the road. Zoo hours are daily from 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. regardless of weather. Last admission is at 4:15 p.m. The zoo is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. The Brevard Zoo is located at 8225 North Wickham Road in Melbourne, Florida. For more information call 321.254.9453 or visit BrevardZoo.org.
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