A Canberra attraction has been named in the top 10 of Australia.

The 2017 Holidays with Kids Reader’s Choice Awards has established the National Zoo & Aquarium in Canberra as a Top 7 attraction in the category of ‘Best Animal Attractions’.

2017 has been a big year for the National Zoo & Aquarium, seeing the unveiling of an unprecedented ‘open range’ section in the middle of a metropolitan zoo. Featuring expansive new enclosures for rhinoceros, cheetah, zebra, giraffe and eland to name a few, this easily walkable track has more than doubled the size of the original zoo and added 10 new species to be viewed by the public.

The recognition of the National Zoo & Aquarium as being in the top 7 of 70+ animal attractions in Australia is a testament to the hard work of the entire team behind the zoo.

“It’s great to get the recognition from so many different organisations and this is a reflection of the feedback we are constantly getting from visitors, guests and members,” said Richard Tindale, owner of the National Zoo & Aquarium.

“The zoo has progressed a long way in the last few years and now offers visitors the opportunity of seeing some of the world’s most dangerous and endangered animals in open, moated habitats, along with reptiles, amphibians and river and ocean fish and sharks in the aquarium.”

The National Zoo’s popularity is evidenced by three consecutive years acquiring the coveted TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence (2015, 2016 & 2017), which was also awarded to the zoo’s onsite accommodation, the internationally renowned Jamala Wildlife Lodge.