Monarto Safari Park is Australia’s largest zoo — 3,700 acres of open-range country near Murray Bridge, South Australia, where lions, giraffes, rhinos, and cheetahs live in landscapes big enough to disappear into.
Opened to the public in 1993 and run by the non-profit Zoos South Australia, Monarto bills itself as the largest safari experience outside Africa, and the scale backs the claim.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Monarto South, South Australia
- Size: 3,700 acres (1,500+ ha)
- Claim: Largest zoo in Australia
- Opened to the public: 1993
- Operator: Zoos South Australia (non-profit)
What Makes It Different
Monarto flips the zoo model: visitors ride shuttle buses and walking trails through the ranges while the animals occupy the horizon. Its lion pride, cheetah breeding program, and white and black rhino herds are among the most significant in the southern hemisphere.
The park keeps expanding — recent years added luxury safari-lodge accommodation and larger predator experiences that bring guests eye-to-eye with the pride through reinforced glass.
Visiting Tips
Monarto is about an hour from Adelaide by car. The included shuttle loop hits every habitat, but budget for at least one add-on experience — the behind-the-scenes lion and giraffe encounters are the park at its best.
Explore more: the largest zoos in the world, all zoo and aquarium guides.
Monarto Safari Park FAQs
What is the largest zoo in Australia?
Monarto Safari Park in South Australia is the country’s largest zoo at about 3,700 acres of open-range habitat — and among the largest safari parks anywhere outside Africa.
How far is Monarto Safari Park from Adelaide?
About an hour’s drive southeast of Adelaide, near Murray Bridge in South Australia.
Who runs Monarto Safari Park?
Zoos South Australia, the non-profit that also operates Adelaide Zoo. Monarto opened to the public in 1993.
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Photo: MOSSOP CONSTRUCTION & INTERIORS / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.