Zoo like a Pro

Make the most of your day here!

Hours & admission

Riverview Park and Zoo is open all year round. Our gates open at 8:30 a.m. and close at dusk, which varies throughout the year as the sun sets.
Admission to Riverview Park and Zoo is easy - it's free! No advance ticket purchase is necessary and there is no charge for parking. Donations are always welcome however, and help make us possible.

Address & directions

Google Maps: Riverview Park and Zoo, 1300 Water Street North, Peterborough, Ontario K9H 7G4
Our main entrance is located at the intersection of Water Street and Carnegie Avenue.

Transportation

Riverview Park and Zoo is accessible by both car and public transit, with bus stops found on both sides of Water Street, just outside of our entrance driveway.
We have a large number of accessible parking spaces available, with a newly constructed ramp that connects the parking lot to the playground.
Flo charging stations are also located on-site for electric vehicles.
Overflow parking can be found in our lower level picnic area - simply follow the signs!

No pets allowed - service dogs only

Located on a source water protection site and as part of our CAZA accreditation, it is a requirement that there not be any dogs on the grounds, even leashed. This includes the disc golf course, lower level picnic area and the Otonabee River walking trail.
ONLY service dogs are permitted on-site and should be checked in at Guest Services or with RPZ staff upon arrival.
Pets can cause stress for the animals that live here and we also wish to protect your pets from contracting any zoonotic diseases.
Thank you for respecting our rules and regulations, including the rights of other guests. We encourage you to leave your pets at home or take advantage of the many dog parks in town instead.

Quick links

Beat the crowds

Summer is our busiest season between Victoria Day and Labour Day when we can see over a quarter of a million visitors! Between school trips, class visits, educational programs and camps, and out-of-town travelers on-site, we are especially busy from 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.

We recommend visiting during our off-peak seasons or times for your best chance to avoid the busy crowds and long line-ups. When that isn't possible however, here are some suggestions to make the most of your trip to the zoo.

Miniature train ride

Riding our miniature train is an adventure not to be missed! Avoid the long line-ups by being first on the tracks between 10:00 and 11:00 a.m. or holding off until late afternoon between 3:00 and 5:00 p.m.
Tickets are purchased at the train station on a first come, first serve basis for $2.00 each, with kids aged 2 and under riding for free.
For safety reasons, the train does not run in the rain or if maintenance is needed. Check for an alert banner on our website ahead of your visit or watch for signs to be posted throughout the grounds.

Splash pad

The splash pad typically opens around Victoria Day weekend at the end of May and closes down for the season in September.
During the hot days of summer, our splash pad and changerooms can be extremely busy. We recommend either cooling off in the mornings between 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. or in the evenings between 4:00 and 7:00 p.m.
Please note that the splash pad is unsupervised and parents/guardians are responsible for attending to their children.

Playground

Riverview Park and Zoo is proud to offer one of the largest playgrounds in the city, that is accessible to all!
Peak hours typically fall between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Avoid the crowds by touring the grounds or taking part in other activities during this time, such as our 1:00 p.m. "Meet the Keeper" or 1:30 p.m. "River Otter Enrichment".
Consider bringing a picnic supper and visiting later in the day when the playground is less busy and some of our animals tend to be more active.
Please note that the playground area is unsupervised and parents/guardians are responsible for attending to their children.

Food and Drink

The Snack Shack is no longer operating however an exciting new opportunity is in the works - more details coming soon!
During the summer operating season, snacks are available for purchase in the Gift Shop at Guest Services (ice cream, candy, chips, etc.) and drink vending machines are located beside Guest Services and the Splash Pad, as well as outside the washrooms on your way to the miniature train ride.
Bring your water bottles and take advantage of our free water refill stations found throughout the park - outside Guest Services, beside the Splash Pad, and at the Burmese Python exhibit at the Barn.
Plan ahead and pack your lunch or supper to enjoy at one of the many available picnic tables instead!

Best times to see the animals

Some of the best times to visit the animals in their exhibits are early mornings, late afternoons and early evenings. This is often your best chance to catch them during meal times and see them active in training and exhibiting their natural behaviours.

A reminder that, as part of our CAZA-accreditation, all our animals have the option to either be inside the sheltered area of their exhibit or outside on display. The weather, feeding times, and natural behaviours all influence their decision. This means you may not always see your favorite animals while you're here, but it's also what makes each trip to the zoo so special.

Bactrian Camels

Our camels are fed in the late mornings, between 9:45 and 10:30 a.m.
Here at the zoo, their diet consists of alfalfa flakes, hay, ruminant pellets, apples, carrots and various vegetation such as twigs and young shoots. They also enjoy licking the salt blocks that we provide.

North American River Otters

Our otters are most active in the early morning or when they're looking for their afternoon snack!
Sometimes they can also be found sleeping or seeking shade beneath the canoe in their exhibit, or playing in the upper pond visible from above.
Visit the otter exhibit at 1:30 p.m. all year round, to watch one of our zookeepers provide their afternoon enrichment and have the chance to ask a question or two about these playful animals.

Serval Cat

This beautiful oversized cat is much like your typical household pet who loves their sleep.
During the summer season, our serval camouflages well in her exhibit and can often be hard to spot. If you look closely in the tall clumps of grass however, you can usually find her sleeping or quietly observing guests at the zoo.

Slender-tailed Meerkats

Meerkats stay busy all day long and are great to view in their exhibit anytime of day.
With recent upgrades to their outdoor exhibit, you can usually find them out on their rock piles, digging tunnels and enjoying the afternoon sun in their outdoor exhibit .

West African Dwarf Crocodiles

These amazing reptiles love the heat and enjoy basking in the warm afternoon sun. You're most likely to catch them sunbathing on the dock inside their exhibit or next to the window soaking up the sunshine.
Twice a week, our crocodiles are fed a variety of rats, chicken and commercial crocodile pellets.

Summer programs

From July to September, we offer a variety of educational programs and exhibits spread throughout the grounds. Be sure to include these special activities as part of your zoo experience!

Conservation Exhibit (Dobbin Building)

Every year, our public education summer students feature a special conservation exhibit in the Dobbin Building.
Available weekdays from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., the educational exhibit also features games and activities for all ages.
Located along the waterfront just ahead of the miniature train ride -- a great pitstop when there's a long wait for the train!

Education Stations

Scattered throughout the main path of the zoo, we set up touch tables that allow guests to touch and examine animal artifacts such as antlers, fur, teeth and shells.
This hands-on experience helps you to learn even more about animal species and their many adaptations. Feel free to stop over and check them out!

Meet the Keeper

Weekdays at 1:00 p.m., one of our zookeepers will assemble outside of an animal exhibit to tell you a little more about the species and answer your questions.
A different animal is featured each day of the week -- by far, your best way to learn about the animals here at the zoo!
Look for signs throughout the park, or get the inside scoop ahead of time by checking the Meet the Keeper schedule and planning your visit accordingly.

Special Conservation Events

In the past, we have hosted special events with some of our partners in conservation, such as:
- Camp Kawartha
- Otonabee Regional Conservation Authority
- Peterborough GreenUP
- Turtle Conservation Centre
Visit our event calendar for upcoming activities and dates. All events are free.

Don't overlook these hidden gems

With so much to enjoy at Riverview Park and Zoo, it's easy to miss out on everything during your visit. Here are some often overlooked items of interest you may wish to consider for an upcoming or future trip!

Disc golf course

Located just beyond the main entrance gates at the north end of the property, there's a gravel parking lot at the intersection of Water Street and University Heights Blvd, and the starting point of our disc golf course.
Fun for all ages and abilities, bring a frisbee and try your hand at the 9-hole course year-round or play the full 18-holes during the summer months.
Similar to golf, the aim is to get your frisbee into the steel chain basket in the least amount of throws. Individual or family kits are available to borrow from the Peterborough Public Library.

Guided tours

Get to know the animals here at Riverview Park and Zoo! Pre-arranged tours can provide a different perspective and added benefit to your trip to the zoo.
Guided tours are currently only available during July and August at a cost of $500 for a maximum of 35 participants.
Please note that guided tours do not allow for any animal interactions and are not a requirement to visit the zoo.

Home grown honey

Did you know that we sell unpasteurized wildflower honey compliments of our very own apiary right here at the zoo?
With help from beekeeper, Don Forster, we offer various sized jars of honey available for purchase from our Gift Shop.

Scenic walking trail

There is a little-known 1-kilometre walking path that runs alongside the beautiful Otonabee River, traveling from the Dobbin Building to both the playground and lower level picnic/parking area.
After your train ride, why not beat the heat and take this path back to the playground under some shade with a cool breeze coming off the water. You might even spot some wildlife on the way!
Be aware that this is a beaten path and includes a section of uneven rock steps. A scenic bench is found under a tree around the half-way point.

Sunday summer concert series

Alternating Sundays in July and August, the gazebo park fills with music from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., compliments of local musicians playing everything from country rock to dixie and swing band tunes.
The gazebo is located between the fountain and train station, surrounded by picnic tables and a grassy park area, with washrooms located nearby.
Bring a picnic supper, a blanket or lawn chair, and enjoy a free concert with your loved ones in the park!

Wildlife viewing

Wildlife is rich at Riverview Park and Zoo. We have an abundance of songbirds, squirrels and chipmunks onsite, but you might even spot bald eagles, various hawk and waterfowl species, herons, mink, foxes, and groundhogs here!

Year-round experiences

While we are busiest during the summer months, Riverview Park and Zoo is a great spot to visit any time of the year!
Fall and winter visits provide great walking and viewing experiences, when you can also see the adaptations the zoo animals make for the colder seasons.
In the winter time, there is also a bunny hill for your little ones to toboggan at the north end of the property.

front view of miniature train ride beside the train station

RPZ educator speaking to a group of children at the otter exhibit

close up of day lily flower in the gardens