The Gruffalo has been a much-loved fixture on kids’ bookshelves for over 25 years, so it makes sense that Sydney Zoo has given Julia Donaldson’s famous monster a home of his own. The Gruffalo Spotters Trail officially opened on Friday 14 August, and it’s exactly the kind of easy-to-add family activity that makes an already great day out even better.
We tackled the trail over Father’s Day weekend, with my partner, our toddler and a couple of nephews in tow, and it turned out to be the perfect way to give a Zoo visit some extra structure — because let’s be honest, “let’s search for a mythical monster in the deep dark wood” is a very compelling pitch to a three-year-old. The trail sends visitors on a self-guided hunt through the Zoo grounds, following clues to find Mouse, Fox, Owl, Snake and, eventually, The Gruffalo himself, all tucked in among Sydney Zoo’s real-life inhabitants.
What elevates this beyond a standard trail-and-tick-the-box exercise is the free Gruffalo Spotter 2 Aus app. Point your phone at each location and the characters spring to life in augmented reality against the actual Zoo backdrop — think Mouse perched over a stump, or Snake winding through the trees. The app lets you capture photos and videos as you go, and even directs little ones with funny poses to try. It’s a genuinely clever bit of tech, and it kept us adults nearly as engaged as the kids, which is not always a given with this sort of thing. It’s also a smart way to get everyone actually looking at the animals rather than racing between play equipment, since each clue naturally routes you past a different precinct.
The trail runs for a full 12 months, so there’s no pressure to squeeze it into one visit, but with the NSW spring school holidays landing later this month, it’s shaping up as one of the better options for families trying to fill a day (or several) without blowing the budget. The trail is included free with standard Zoo admission or an Annual Pass, and kids under three get in free regardless — so for anyone with a toddler in the mix, it’s essentially a bonus activity layered over a day you’d likely be having anyway.
What keeps us coming back to Sydney Zoo is that it’s a genuinely no-fuss day out. It never feels overcrowded, there’s shade in all the right places, mist coolers running through summer to keep everyone from overheating, and a nature playground for when little legs need a break from walking. This visit happened to throw in some standout animal moments too — a pair of elephants frolicking and bathing right in front of us, kangaroos and emus sprawled out on the grass completely unbothered by onlookers, and the lions wide awake and roaring on cue. It was one of those visits where every animal seemed genuinely content, which says a lot about how the Zoo is run.
A few practical notes if you’re planning a visit: Sydney Zoo is at 700 Great Western Highway, Bungarribee, about 40 minutes from the CBD, with free parking on site. Head to the Information Desk when you arrive to check in, and download the Gruffalo Spotter 2 Aus app before you go (or on the free Zoo wifi) so you’re ready to start hunting straight away.
Beyond the Gruffalo Trail, it’s a good excuse to remember just how much Sydney Zoo has grown up since opening in December 2019 — it’s now home to more than 150 species across five precincts, and includes the Bungarribee Dreaming experience, which weaves Aboriginal culture and storytelling through the visitor experience. Whether you’re a Gruffalo devotee or have simply been meaning to get out to Western Sydney for a Zoo day, this is a good nudge to finally do it.
The Gruffalo Spotters Trail is running for 12 months, including the spring school holidays and beyond. For more information and tickets, visit the Sydney Zoo Website.
– Jill
Jill is a Sydney-based journalist who drinks by the logic: it’s five o’ clock somewhere. Follow her on Instagram.
