There are more family attractions in Melbourne than there are laneways and one of our favourite picks would have to be Melbourne Zoo.
Nothing beats a family day out where you can get up close and personal with amazing animals from around the globe. Sumatran Orangutan’s, Hamadryas Baboon’s and Asian Elephant’s are just some of the international mega stars that you’ll encounter on your visit however one of the more localized attractions you can’t go past is the Australian fur seals!
Melbourne Girl is always partial to a home-grown hero and the Australian fur seal is no exception. This gorgeous animal is found around the coast of south eastern Australia and is recognisable by its thick brown coat, sweeping whiskers and large eyes – seeing this beauty frolic in the water is what Disney dreams are made of!
The seals will keep the kids entertained for hours as they swim, wave and occasionally smooch the handlers (too much cuteness). Grown-ups can learn about the conversation of this species, which was almost haunted to extinction years ago, and get schooled up on the incredible work of the AGL Marine Response Unit.
The AGL Marine Response Unit is Victoria’s first dedicated marine unit that comes to the aid of distressed seals, turtles, dolphins and other wildlife. The Unit responds to over 500 calls for assistance each year and the team are most commonly put to work untangling poor seals who have been caught up in fishing line or debris.
Win a Melbourne Zoo family pass!
Thanks to the team at AGL Energy, we are giving 2 lucky Melbourne Girl readers and their families the opportunity to meet the seals and learn more about the fantastic work of the AGL Marine Response Unit.
Win 1 of 2 Family Passes to Melbourne Zoo!
To enter, tell us in the comments below “Why you and your family want to meet the Fur Seals at Melbourne Zoo”?
Family passes are valued at $94.80 each, expire April 2017 and are for ‘one time use’ only. Prize is not transferable and cannot be taken as cash.
Entries open until 5pm Thursday 2nd June, 2016. The two winners will contacted via entering email and announced in the comments below.
Good Luck and we’ll see you all at the Zoo!
You’ll also enjoy reading these blog posts:
Jane Whelan
I have been wanting to take my grandchildren to the zoo. My son’s favorite at the zoo was the seals. I live just down the road just cannot afford to take them being at single stay at home carer for my adult son.
Claire E
We’d love to take our nephew and niece on the ultimate day out at the Zoo.
Thank goodness there are amazing people in our world like the AGL Marine Response Unit – coming up close with the Fur Seals would be a forever treasured, family memory ♥♥
Shana kreeck
Why wouldn’t you? They are cute, slippery, furry and prob have fishy breath but I know my 2 boys 3 & 5 would find this awesome!!!
Emma Dosser
Time at the Zoo with the fur seals would be so much fun oh how they would entertain my little ones. With the fun the seals would give us with there character and affection would make a day out at the zoo the right direction
Fiona Ellis
I would Love to go because my partner looks a bit like a seal and he might find his family , also my son would love the zoo. Thanks for the chance to win.
Amanda Evans
They are just so adorable and I know my two little nieces would love the experience. Melbourne Zoo is an awesome place to visit no matter how old or young you are…
Renate Abra
Melbourne Zoo is fantastic, it’s fun for all ages and my 2 boys love the Seals.
Monika M
My three little girls have been asking me FUR ever to go to Melbourne Zoo. They would absolutely FLIP out if they were able to go and meet these amazing creatures.
Tracey S
Meeting the fur seals would be a real treat FUR sure! We love Melbourne Zoo and our Melbourne Girl would ADORE this prize! What a fabulous learning experience this would be!
Mandy Graham
My family wants to meet the Fur Seals at Melbourne Zoo as they look so adorable.
Alicia Bardsley
Fur Seals are such beautiful animals and the kids and I would love to get up close to them and learn all we can.
Dhanya Samuel
This would be such a magical experience for my little family. My son loves animals and meeting these fur seals would be a lifetime experience he would cherish forever.
Paul McCallum
I’d love to take my little ones to the Zoo like my folks took me when I was younger – and to see the fur seals #FURSEALS #FUR-EVA
Barbara Fehmel
My twin Great Granddaughters 4 would love seeing these cute fur Seals, they are so lovable, and it would teach the twins to be kind to animals.
Breearna Cashman
What a furry good competition! My crazy monkeys would love to meet the seals and every other animal at the zoo! Sealed with a kiss! X
Melissa Bugeja
My 4 year old daughter calls them her furry babies, there her favourite animal and she would be thrilled to meet them and have a cuddle. Would be a great day for the family.
G Egan
such a great zoo and the seals are awesome to watch for hours as they play and swim
Judith Maunders
For my animal loving daughter (nine), our family is not just the human members – it’s the furry and finned ones as well. She loves her fur sister, dog Kassie, and the goldfish Sylvester and Barnaby and five guppies. My daughter has named all the guppies, which at one stage numbered 12. Our favourite family holidays are the ones when Kassie can come too. We recently celebrated hubby’s birthday with a night up in Melbourne. The next morning Miss Nine was champing at the bit to get back to the fish and Kassie! She’d love getting close up the fur seals and other animals at Melbourne Zoo. I’d love it too. And the best bit? We could be back in Geelong before the day was done – back to the fish and Kassie with tales of our exciting day at the zoo!
Elly
I was came from Cambodia for 2 years already , and I want to visit zoo one day . Now we have 1 year old boy . So I want to take him and family to visit the zoo … I love animal . It would be great experience for us.
Ann Maree
My Family would love to experience the Fur Seals at the Melbourne Zoo because they are one of our favourite animals and we would really lap up the fun .
Michelle V
This would be a great day out FUR sure, my three kids would be ZOOper dooper excited to see all of the animals in their habitats.
Learning all about the animals would SEAL the deal! 🙂
BEC FRANCIS
BECAUSE THEY ARE SOOOO CUTE AND THE KIDS WOULD LOVE IT!
Narelle Abbie
I took the kids to Melbourne for the first time last school holidays, this is one thing we definitely want to do next time we go!
Di
They’re like cats of the sea, always playing, smiling and having so much fun. Be awesome to finally get to meet them, instead of standing at the fence of their enclosure for endless hours, staring, wishing and wanting to be up close and personal with these adorable creatures.
Kathryn C
Fur Seals are such wonderful creatures, with there beautiful brown fur coat and there really long whiskers. My kiddies absolutely adore watching them especially when they bounce the ball with there black shiney nose and when they jump out of the water! Amazing prize ☺️☺️☺️
julian
I have two kids, 4 and 8, and they’re both animal-crazy. My 8-yr-old has perfected the art of mimicking any animal sound she’s ever heard and I know she’d just love to ‘talk in their language’ to the baby seals!
Suzanna
I would like my boys to experience the magic of these beautiful animals and all the others at the zoo. To teach them about conservation, empathy and compassion for others no matter the species.
Teresa Nauer
help them learn,love and remember what they can do to help protect and help all animals big and small
Ebony Carr
Our son is 4 and finally has the attention span to enjoy going to the zoo. We’d love for him to met the seals and learn more about keeping them safe
Tamara Lamb
My son wants to be a marine biologist and loves all creatures of the sea! Especially those that freak me out! lol. This would be a great treat for him!
Rebecca Costa
I would really love to take my teenage son for this once a lifetime experience as he currently testing extra study at Gordon Tafe before Vcal in year 10 next year and the area he’d love to study is animal science to be a Vet as he loves animals and wants to be their doctor and helper when not well. Maybe even work in the Zoo animal hospital.
Clinton M
Hudson and Sienna now one year old, their reactions to the Fur Seals I can’t wait to behold, a beautiful way to warm up winter, this Melbourne Zoo trip helping crown me as an Uncle star!
Justine Kelley
My family & I live in Brisbane. I decided to follow melbournegirl as I recently spent an awesome weekend in Melbourne with 4 of my BFF’s. We had so much fun eating out, drinking at rooftop bars, shopping and enjoying the cooler weather.
I have decided to take my husband and daughters to Melbourne in the winter school holidays. A trip to the Melbourne Zoo would be a fantastic way to spend the day and my children would love to interact with the seals.
Angela
Love the animals especially the seals as its my daughters favourite animal never been able to afford to take her as a struggling single parent her birthday is on Thursday what a amazing opportunity for her.and.us to spend.a day we would never forget
Kristy Lee Coles
We have never been as a family to the melbourne zoo, my children would love to see the fur seals, my daughter loves seals and would be so happy to meet one in person
Clare Marantelli
My little baby girl WILL be a big fan of the zoo…we just have to get there. And what a way to introduce her to one of Melbourne’s great treasures. Just give me a couple of months to teach her how to make a seal noise so she can interact with her newest friends.
Rachel K
I love the Zoo and haven’t been for years. It’s great to see exotic “pets” without all the work and the fur seals looks so cute! Of course it also feeds that internal desire to learn and see something new and makes for great exercise that you don’t even realise you’re doing as you enjoy yourself walking around.
Sarah B
The saying ‘Never work with animals or children’
comes from Adults who have lost their sense of play and fun.
This interactive experience with the seals will be one of their finest moments about being a kid.
Marium Sana
I remember going to Melbourne zoo for a twilight special event with my dad when I was 8, it’s one of the best childhood memories I have! We packed a picnic and ate it while watching the elephants and then spend the entire evening walking around and exploring the zoo! We weren’t spoilt at all as children so it’s literally one of the very few nights my dad had off work and one that we all remember fondly. Now that I’ve got my own kids would love to re-make a special zoo day with my dad and my kids! (And my son is crazy about seals and fish and anything that swims!!)
Anne
We’d love the opportunity to find out more about these clever animals!
Amrita Dsouza
I would love to take my four year old daughter to see the Australian Fur Seals. I’m keen to explain to her about these protected species and why we should do what we can to make sure they thrive and grow on our planet. My family would welcome this opportunity and make the best of it!
Sandra Gormley
My daughter’s birthday is 3rd June. I know she would love to take her two children aged five and two to the zoo to see the seals and the other wonderful exhibits before she is slowed down by the arrival of their next baby in September. It would be a perfectly timed birthday present and a wonderful surprise for the whole family.
Ern
To make all our dreams come true. Not sure who adores fur seals more, me, my wife or the kids 🙂
DIANA O
For a once in a lifetime experience, making the most memorable of all memories with our favourite furry little friends. Will be mind blowing to say the least!!!!
ange
there was a little seal he had a coat of gray
he was very clever in every wich way,
he lived on the ice so very far away
with his furry coat to keep the cold at bay
he like to catch a fish this he loved to eat
for the little seal this was his little treat
Kell
Fur sure we would love to meet the Fur Seals. Fur it would be a truly memorable experience sealed with a kiss
Andrea D
As their big gorgeous dark eyes just melt our hearts and make us want to give them a big kiss and cuddle.
Jo Cardamone
My daughter is obsessed swimming and the animals that also swim, the fur seals would be so wonderful for her to meet for a kiss.
Melanie Whittle
Meeting the fur seals would make for the most incredible holiday experience when i bring my kiddies to Melbourne on holiday later this year , What a magic memory that would be to have.
Mikaela Dickson
A few months ago my best friend had a beautiful baby girl and this would be great as we’ve been looking for different things to do so she experiences and enjoys the start of her childhood doing amazing activities.
This would be a great opportunity, so we can show her what sort of beautiful wild life is in our lovely world !
Thank you 🙂
Mandy Graham
My family loves seals.
roy gibbs
I love seals, there very talented and clever animals, they should have a seal team in the rio Olympics !!
Catherine
I want my family to meet the fur seals because it would be an extremely memorable experience! I would love the chance to take my family out on an affordable adventure! My boy adores animals
nee
Having my first baby would be a great adventure to see the furry big eyed Australian seals, long whiskers, just in case they ever get to extinction , great family photos for first time at the zoo would be memorable especially with the seals, my husband who is from England has never been to Melbourne zoo, Also to learn about the marine response unit for the work they do and how it operates, hopefully my new baby gets seal of approval,
Stephanie Sheldon
We’d love to win as we’ve never seen seals up and close in person. My 5 & 2 old would love the experience.
Vicky Wanless
Fur sure we would love to see these beautiful animals.
Maybe we could seal the deal over some fish and chips lol.
Michelle
The other year when we visited Melbourne, Tarwin the seal was my children’s favourite animal in the whole zoo. They would love to see how he is doing when we visit again soon.
maria angela barone
I’d love to take my family to see the fur seals to see these beautiful sea animals and look at those beautiful big eyes and enjoy the encounter with these gracious animals, that will be a family memorable experience.
CityGirlMelb
We would love to see the fur seals as they are the most interesting animals, what was interesting is the mother and child fur seals, even after years of separation know each other. They are very amazing and like me they are more home in the water
Sarah Fleming
We are planning a trip to the beautiful Melbourne in the next school holiays and will of course we will be taking our children to the Melbourne Zoo. I would love to enjoy an encounter with these adorable fur seals because they just look like they would be great fun to watch and my kids would love to be waved to by a seal, how hilarious!
phoebe
we’d love to meet the fur seals! we’re animal lovers and seeing them up close would be a dream come true.
briony s
they are so cute and smart, and arent given enough exposure in general. my twins would love to see them
Becky Downey
To learn, to wave, to be amazed, and maybe iff I’m lucky I’ll get blown a kiss. A SEAL of approval I really like!
Melissa thomson
We would absolutely love to see. My 12 year old step daughter wants to be a marine biologist, my other daughter has never seen seals up close before. Would be a great experience for us thank you for the chance.
Eva marinopoulos
It would be a great opportunity to spend quality time with the grandchildren and show them
and learn about these amazing animals.I don t think they would ever get a chance to the see the seals so close.Thanks Melbourne Zoo
Fiona Rowlands
My daughter has always been obsessed with Seals, she would absolutely flip out if I was lucky enough to win!!!
Fran Dishon
My two boys are zoo addicts, it is there go to place of choice. They would love to visit the fur seals and learn all about them and the actions they could take to protect them and their environment.
Tess
Anyone who knows a child with autism, will understand that when they have an interest; it is extreme.
My son has high functioning autism. He has a general interest and love for animals. We have spent many afternoons at the zoo watching the seals, as it seems to calm him into his happiest of moods.
Emily Collie
Thanks everyone for some wonderful entries!
A big congrats to Claire E and Tamara L.
Check your inboxes… You’ve got mail zoo lovers xx