Night Safari: tram or trails?

The short answer

Tram first, then trails. Several reviewers on the booking page walked the trails first and then took the tram, and one missed the tram that way. The booking page asks you to arrive 10 to 15 minutes early because tram timings are fixed, and says the multi-language tram boards at one station only. The trails are on foot and can be walked at your own pace afterwards.

The tram

The Safari Adventure Tram is included in the ticket. The park's page says it has audio commentary in English, and the park's guidance gives the ride as about half an hour depending on crowds. Stay seated and keep your hands and feet inside the tram. Some trams have wheelchair spaces, the park says. Wikipedia says the tram covers the whole park and shows most of the larger animals, which is why it works as an overview before the trails.

The four trails

The park names four walking trails, each with its own set of animals. The lists below come from the park's pages, and a given night varies. Wikipedia also records that the Pangolin Trail was formerly the Fishing Cat Trail and that the Tasmanian Devil Trail opened in 2012, so older articles may use other trail names.

• Pangolin Trail: Sunda pangolins, Asian small-clawed otters, common palm civets, leopard cats and Sunda slow lorises
• Leopard Trail: leopards, lions, civets and porcupines
• East Lodge Trail: the crossroads of Africa and Asia
• Tasmanian Devil Trail: marsupials such as sugar gliders and brush-tailed possums

No promised sightings

The animals move, rest and rotate between exhibits, and exhibits close for refurbishment from time to time. The park's page posts a notice when one does. The booking page says presentations are subject to availability. So the animals above are the kinds you may see, not a promise for the night you choose, and it is worth keeping the walk unhurried.

The rules on flash, perfume and feeding

The park's admission terms prohibit flash photography and flashlights, so that animals are not disturbed. Its visitor guidance asks you to switch off the flash on your camera because it can disturb or startle animals. The booking page asks guests not to wear strong perfume, because animals are sensitive to odours, and says not to feed animals without staff permission. The park's terms say you must not approach, feed, touch or tease the animals.

What to bring

The park's guidance says to wear comfortable shoes and to use insect repellent, and it suggests eating before you go in. A restaurant on site serves dinner at your own expense. One reviewer warns to watch for monkeys at the food area, so keep snacks packed. Bring your voucher and your time slot confirmation, and a charged phone with the flash switched off.

Wet weather

The booking page says the Creatures of the Night presentation may be suspended in wet weather, so rain can change the evening even if the park stays open. The park's guidance also advises insect repellent and comfortable shoes, which suit a damp rainforest path. The park may vary its operating hours without notice, according to its admission terms, so check the park's page on the day.

Access and strollers

The booking page calls the visit wheelchair accessible, and the park says some trams have wheelchair spaces. Its guidance says strollers can be rented at the ticketing counter outside the entrance, and that each holds one child up to 15 kilograms. Ask about the details on the day if you need them, because the pages do not describe every path.

Seats for the presentation

Creatures of the Night needs a seat booked. The booking page says seat booking opens shortly before each presentation, and the park's guidance says seats are reserved online with bookings opening two hours before each show. The presentation may be suspended in wet weather, according to the booking page, so check on the day whether it is running before you plan the evening around it.