If your kids are the type who like a mission when they’re out and about, Adelaide Zoo has just the thing for these school holidays. Zoo Colours is a free self-guided program that turns a regular zoo visit into a colourful treasure hunt through the animal kingdom.
Pick up a free activity booklet when you arrive, and you’re off. Kids will explore the zoo searching for colourful clues, uncovering fascinating facts about the animals they encounter along the way. There’s also a secret code to crack by collecting letters throughout the trail, and cracking it earns you an entry to win a $100 Zoos SA retail voucher.
The program is designed for kids aged 4 to 14, but honestly, the whole family can get involved. There’s something satisfying about working together to solve clues, and you might just learn a thing or two about why flamingos are pink or how chameleons change colour.
What’s included in Zoo Colours
The activity booklet is the heart of the program, but there’s plenty more colourful fun scattered throughout the zoo for families to discover.
Zoo Colour Hunt
Challenge your friends and family to see who can spot the most colours around Adelaide Zoo!Keep your eyes peeled for colours hiding everywhere – in feathers, fur, scales, plants and more. Use your Zoo Colours booklet or take photos to keep track of what you find and see who can collect the most colours before the end of your zoo day!
Chalk Colour Zone
Let your kids unleash their inner artist in a designated creative space where chalk and colour collide. It’s a great spot to take a break, let the little ones burn off some energy in a different way, and create something inspired by the animals they’ve just seen.
Take-home activities
The fun doesn’t have to end when you leave the zoo. Families can grab art activities to take home, so the creative momentum keeps rolling long after you’ve said goodbye to the meerkats.
Why colour matters in the animal kingdom
There’s a reason Zoo Colours works so well as a learning tool. Colour plays a huge role in how animals survive, communicate and thrive. Some creatures use bright colours to warn predators they’re poisonous. Others rely on camouflage to blend into their surroundings. And then there are the show-offs who use dazzling displays to attract a mate.
As you work through the activity booklet, kids will start to understand these connections. It’s education wrapped in play, which is exactly how it should be.
The details
Zoo Colours runs throughout the school holidays at Adelaide Zoo. The program is completely free with your zoo entry, so there’s no extra cost involved. Just head to the information desk when you arrive to grab your activity booklet and get started.
Whether you’re looking for a way to add structure to your zoo visit or just want to give your kids something to focus on beyond asking for ice cream every five minutes, this one ticks a lot of boxes.
For more information and to plan your visit, head to adelaidezoo.com.au.
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