Set within 13 acres of lush sub-tropical gardens in the heart of Cornwall‘s favourite surf town, Newquay Zoo houses over 130 species including red pandas, Humboldt penguins, lynx, meerkats, and otters. What makes Newquay Zoo special isn’t just the animals — it’s the setting. Rather than feeling like a concrete wildlife park, this feels like wandering through gorgeous landscaped gardens where you just happen to encounter lemurs, big cats, and exotic birds along the way.
The zoo is run by the Wild Planet Trust (the same charity behind Paignton Zoo), which means your visit supports serious conservation work whilst giving you a brilliant family day out. With daily keeper talks, feeding demonstrations, children’s play areas, and the atmospheric Tropical House, there’s genuinely something for everyone. Plan for 2-3 hours minimum, though families often spend 4-5 hours exploring properly.
The zoo opened in 1969 and has grown significantly since, particularly after the 2009 addition of the African Savannah exhibit with its elevated viewing platform.
Five great things to do while you’re in Cornwall
- 👻 Feel the chills in the abandoned cells on a hugely atmospheric tour of Bodmin Jail.
- 🌱 Explore the world’s largest indoor rainforest at the Eden Project.
- 🎬 Discover the Beyond Paradise filming locations around Looe on a specialised tour.
- 🐬 Spot dolphins, seals and porpoises on a RIB sealife safari from Padstow.
- 🏄 Hit the surf in Newquay with a two hour surfing lesson.
Getting to Newquay Zoo
Newquay Zoo is located within Trenance Leisure Park in Newquay, Cornwall, postcode TR7 2LZ. It’s about a 10-minute walk from Newquay town centre, making it easily accessible whether you’re staying in town or visiting the famous surfing beaches.
On foot from Newquay town centre: Follow the brown and white tourist information signs — it’s a pleasant 10-minute stroll past Trenance Gardens and the boating lake.
By car: Follow the A392 into Newquay and look for brown tourist signs marked “Zoo.” Sat navs work well with the TR7 2LZ postcode. The zoo is well signposted throughout town.
By bus: Several buses stop near the zoo. Check current routes at the Newquay Bus Station or ask locally — services change seasonally.
By train: Newquay station is served by Great Western Railway from London Paddington (approximately 5½ hours) and Exeter (approximately 2 hours). From the station, the zoo is about 25 minutes’ walk, or catch a local bus.
Sustainable transport discount: If you arrive by train, bike, or bus, you’ll receive a £1 discount on admission when you show a valid ticket at the entrance (not valid with other offers).
Parking at Newquay Zoo
Here’s the tricky bit: the zoo itself doesn’t have dedicated parking. Instead, you’ll need to use the Trenance Leisure Park car park, which charges separately from your zoo admission. Parking isn’t included in zoo ticket prices and can be expensive, which catches some visitors by surprise.
Expect parking to cost up to £5.80 for the day. During peak summer season and school holidays, the car park can fill up completely, so arrive early if possible. The car park is shared with other Trenance Park facilities including the boating lake and gardens.
Alternative: Some visitors park in Newquay town centre and walk the 10 minutes to the zoo, which can work out cheaper.
Admission prices for Newquay Zoo
Online prices (recommended): £15.44 for adults, £11.35 for children aged 3-15, and £14.08 for students/over-65s. Children under 3 enter are charged £2.50 online or £2.95 on the door. A family saver ticket (2 adults + 2 children) costs £54.
At the entrance (walk-up prices): £18.20 for adults, £13.36 for children, and £16.58 for students/seniors. The family saver rises to £61.
Top tip: Always book online for significant savings. Tickets are available online until 10.00am on your visit date — after that, you’ll pay the higher walk-up prices.
Gift Aid option: The prices above don’t include Gift Aid. If you’re a UK taxpayer, you can add a voluntary 10% donation, allowing the zoo to claim back 25p for every £1 from the government at no extra cost to you. With Gift Aid, adult tickets become £17 online or £20 at the entrance.
Carers: One carer enters free when accompanying a disabled visitor purchasing a full-price ticket. Bring valid ID such as a blue badge, PIP documentation, or DLA letter.
Students: Bring valid student ID with an expiry date to claim your discount at the admissions desk.
Opening hours for Newquay Zoo
Newquay Zoo opens at 10.00am every day except Christmas Day. Closing times vary seasonally, so check the website before visiting. Generally, closing times are later in summer (around 5.00pm) and earlier in winter (4pm).
Allow 2-3 hours minimum for your visit, though many visitors spend 4-5 hours exploring, especially families with children who want to use the play areas.
What to see at Newquay Zoo
African Savannah: Home to black wildebeest, nyala antelope, and zebras. Climb the viewing platform for a bird’s eye perspective of these stunning animals roaming their enclosure.
Lemurs and primates: Multiple species of lemurs including ring-tailed and crowned lemurs, plus squirrel monkeys, tamarins, and marmosets.
Red pandas: Always a visitor favourite — these adorable creatures are often spotted lounging in trees or munching bamboo.
Penguin pool: Watch Humboldt penguins diving, swimming, and generally being entertaining.
Tropical House: Step into an atmospheric world of exotic birds (including toucans), sloths, reptiles, and other tropical species. Not for the squeamish — there are some impressive creepy-crawlies here.
Otters: Watch Asian short-clawed otters playing in their stream — genuinely one of the zoo’s most popular exhibits.
Keeper talks and feeding times at Newquay Zoo
Daily keeper talks and feeding sessions run throughout the day across different animal enclosures. These are genuinely informative and well worth catching. Check the daily schedule at the entrance or ask staff for current times. Popular talks include penguins, otters, and meerkats.
Facilities at Newquay Zoo
Food and drink: Several food outlets serve hot and cold meals, snacks, and drinks. There’s also a café with seating. Prices are reasonable by attraction standards. Picnic areas are available if you prefer to bring your own food.
Gift shop: Located near the main entrance, stocked with toys, souvenirs, and conservation-themed products.
Play areas: Multiple children’s play areas throughout the zoo, including the Tarzan Trail adventure playground.
Toilets: Throughout the zoo, including accessible facilities and a Changing Places toilet with hoist and adult-sized changing bench.
Accessibility at Newquay Zoo
Newquay Zoo is partially accessible for wheelchairs. The site is mainly level with good path surfaces, though there are some hills in places. Most enclosures and viewing areas are accessible.
Wheelchairs and mobility scooters: Available to borrow for £5 — contact the zoo in advance on 01637 873342 to arrange.
Assistance dogs only: Due to the nature of the attraction, pet dogs are not permitted. Only registered assistance dogs are allowed on site.
Best time to visit Newquay Zoo
Weekday mornings (Tuesday-Thursday, 10.00am-12.00pm) are quietest. Weekends and school holidays see significantly higher visitor numbers.
Term time is ideal for avoiding crowds — the zoo is peaceful and you’ll have better animal viewing without throngs of visitors.
Weather: The zoo is visitable in all weather. Multiple indoor exhibits (including the Tropical House), covered areas, and plenty of cafés mean rainy days are perfectly manageable. However, you’ll see more animals active outdoors on mild, dry days.
Special events: The zoo runs seasonal events including Halloween activities and Christmas experiences — check the website for current programmes.
Important information for visiting Newquay Zoo
- Annual membership: From £2.96 per month, offering unlimited visits to Newquay Zoo plus access to Paignton Zoo and discounted entry to partner zoos across the UK including Chester Zoo, Edinburgh Zoo, and Dublin Zoo.
- No large animals: Unlike some major zoos, Newquay doesn’t house elephants, giraffes, or gorillas. It’s a medium-sized zoo focused on conservation of smaller species.
- Wear comfortable shoes — 13 acres is a fair amount of walking.
- Book online — seriously, the savings are significant.
Where to stay near Newquay Zoo
Newquay town centre (10 minutes’ walk) offers hundreds of accommodation options from budget hostels to luxury hotels, plus numerous B&Bs and holiday apartments.
Trenance (immediately around the zoo) has some hotels and guesthouses within easy walking distance.
Fistral Beach area (15 minutes) combines beach access with proximity to the zoo — perfect for combining surfing culture with wildlife visits.
Book well ahead for summer holidays (July-August) and major events like Boardmasters Festival in August.
Combining Newquay Zoo with other attractions
Trenance Gardens surrounds the zoo — beautiful Victorian gardens with boating lake, crazy golf, and woodland walks, all free to explore.
Fistral Beach (2 miles) is one of Britain’s most famous surfing beaches with surf schools, restaurants, and stunning coastal scenery.
Blue Reef Aquarium in Newquay showcases marine life from Cornish waters and tropical seas.
The Eden Project (30 minutes) features massive biomes housing plants from around the world — it’s one of Cornwall’s most popular attractions.
Newquay beaches: Besides Fistral, explore Towan Beach, Great Western Beach, and Watergate Bay.
More Cornwall travel
Other Cornwall travel articles on Planet Whitley include:
