National Zoo & Aquarium Canberra

Originally opened as the National Aquarium in 1990, the aquarium had a relatively small area of 7ha. Located on the outskirts of Australia's capital Canberra, the aquatic zoo grew over the years - tripling its area in 2017 - to 19ha in 2022. Situated directly on the Molonglo River dam, the zoo is home to around 70 species of animals and the aquarium to another 30 species. While the aquarium was the first to have a walk-through underwater viewing tunnel, the zoo section continued to grow, housing animals such as potoroos, tigers or hyenas, guenons, white lions, dingoes, wombats and emus. Due to financial woes, they developed special interactive experiences for the zoo that included the wildlife park aspects as well as other activities such as fly fishing in the trout ponds, sheep shearing and boomerang throwing demonstrations. In addition, since 2014, Jamala Wildlife Lodges offered the opportunity to experience the thrill of close encounters with some of the world's most dangerous and endangered animals and relax in the unique atmosphere of three individually designed five-star accommodations.