A few nights back I was a little bit excited (okay a LOT excited) to be invited to the Melbourne Zoo to experience I, Animal, the newest ‘attraction’ on offer and one designed especially for grown ups.

The experience takes place after the Zoo is closed for normal opening hours, commencing at 6.30pm and just in time for the Summer season. After you have been given an iPod device – known as ‘Zoe’ – a few questions on the custom software encourage you to step outside your comfort zone and choose the animal you would most like to visit – Elephant, Giraffe, Penguin or Monkey. The voice of Zoe then guides you through the Zoo, stopping at various spots for a lesson, story or visit with the animals.

Our journey took us on the Penguin tour, an educational and enlightening experience that encourages you to open your mind and think deeper about your own life – What you are afraid of?, What do you regret? These questions address how you can use the lessons of animals to make changes for your own future. The tour is funny, poignant and at times, wildly left of centre, but it all works – and as the brochure says, this is a Zoo experience for grown ups.

The evening concludes with an opportunity to enjoy a drink in the park and a ride on the Carousel, another childhood experience (like the Zoo), participants may have forgotten.

The I, Animal experience will run nightly (all weather), and is $39 for adults.
More information can be found at Zoos Victoria.