Darling Downs Zoo in Pilton, Queensland: What animals can I see?

The Darling Downs Zoo in Pilton, Queensland is home to macaws, tigers, meerkats, lions, iguanas, parrots, llamas and native Australian animals.

The Darling Downs Zoo in Queensland isn’t the famous zoo in Australia. That honour probably goes to Australia Zoo on the Sunshine Coast or Taronga Zoo in Sydney. But if you’re in the Darling Downs region, this zoo south of Toowoomba is still worth a look.

The Darling Downs Zoo doesn’t have the open range safari feel of the Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo, but its collection of animals is the calling card. Split into geographical regions, the Darling Downs Zoo shows off creatures rom South America, South-East Asia, Africa and Australia.

Animals at the Darling Downs Zoo

In the South American section you’ll find tapirs, macaws, llamas, green iguanas and brightly-coloured parrots. From South-East Asia there are monkeys, tamarins and Sumatran tigers. And from Africa, there are white lions, servals, antelopes, baboons, meerkats and a pygmy hippopotamus.

White lion at Darling Downs Zoo — White lion at the Darling Downs Zoo near Toowoomba in Queensland.

The Darling Downs Zoo takes part in preservation programmes for several species. For the native Australian creatures, the most notably conservation work is done the bilbies. There are also, crocodiles, koalas, pelicans, dingoes, wombats and kangaroos on display, though.

The Darling Downs Zoo is in Pilton, Queensland, just on the western side of the Great Dividing Range. It’s just under two hours’ drive south-west of Brisbane.

Darling Downs Zoo ticket prices

If coming from Toowoomba, the capital of the Darling Downs, the Darling Downs Zoo is a 51km drive to the south. That should take about 40 minutes. It’s roughly half way between Toowoomba and Warwick on the New England Highway. Entry tickets cost $38 for adults and $24 for children. The Zoo warns that the weather in the Darling Downs can get hot in summer, so prepare to bring plenty of water.