Riverview Park and Zoo

News and Special Events

Spanning over 55 acres of park area along the shores of the Otonabee River, Riverview Park and Zoo is proud to be the only FREE-admission accredited zoo in all of Canada, open daily from 8:30 a.m. until dusk all year round. We offer 25 animal exhibits, with more than 40 different species and over 150 animals calling us home. Being an entirely outdoor facility, be sure to check the forecast ahead of your visit and come dressed and prepared for the weather.

We thank everyone for their support and patience while we were closed following the recent ice storm. The playground and zoo area have now reopened, however cleanup efforts still continue throughout the grounds that for safety reasons we ask visitors to respect the barricades and closure signage posted. 

*TEACHERS - Educational programs are now fully booked for May and June, however school groups interested in class trips are still asked to submit a booking request form so we know you're coming to site. We can provide additional details surrounding your visit, and knowing how many people to expect each day helps us manage capacity levels.

Our summer operating season is fast approaching, returning over the Victoria Day weekend in May. Summer season means the splash pad and miniature train ride are available (weather and maintenance permitting), "Meet the Keeper" sessions return weekdays, the Gift Shop/Guest Services reopens, and our covered picnic shelters are available for use. We look forward to welcoming our team of summer students who help make us possible during our busiest time of the year!

Be sure to subscribe to our socials or specific webpages to be notified when registration opens for our summer Zoo Crew session, the annual Bondar Challenge photography camps, or our Zoo Camp Day, which proved to be a big success last year.

Don't forget to stop by our North American River Otter Exhibit every day at 1:30 p.m. to see the otters receive their afternoon enrichment snack and have the chance to ask one of our zookeepers some questions. Better yet, consider symbolically adopting your favorite animal here at the zoo! The program includes a personalized thankyou letter from the Zoo Curator, an animal fact sheet, animal photo and adoption certificate, with your name appearing on our electronic sign outside of Guest Services for the one-year period.

Stay tuned for some exciting announcements coming soon!

The Riverview Park and Zoo Team

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