Turtleback Zoo
add photosExhibits:
AMERICAN ALLIGATOR
AUSTRALIAN EXHIBIT
BLACK BEAR
ESSEX FARM
GREAT PLAINS
PRAIRIE DOGS
REPTILE CENTER
RIVER OTTER
SOUTH AMERICA
WILD NEW JERSEY
WOLF WOODS
PENGUIN COAST
SOUTHEAST ASIA
TROPICAL CURRENTS AQUARIUM
Voted the #1 Zoo in NJ by NJ Monthly Magazine!
Mission Statement
TURTLE BACK ZOO is committed to providing an enriching recreational experience that fosters excellence in wildlife education and wildlife conservation so that present and future generations are inspired to understand, appreciate and protect the fragile interdependence of all living things.
7 Reviews for Turtleback Zoo
7
51 family found this helpful
"Great Family Fun"
What a great place for families to visit. Great layout even on a crowded weekend you can still walk comfortably around. We have been here many times and they are constantly improving and changing the exhibits. There are so many animals to see, something for everyone. Pony Rides are the only thing I would advise against for children over 4, they are very short. Priced affordably very little in the way of additional fees. $2.00 for the merry go round it's worth it, parent rides for free. They have a small playground area and plenty of picnic tables for lunch, they do have food available for sale but you can bring your own as well. The one downside I see are the bathrooms, very old and at times not well kept.
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'12, '130 families found this helpful
"Perfect Day Trip!"
I have lived in Northern NJ my entire life and I visited Turtleback Zoo for the first time this year. I had a day off and so did my son (who is 12) and we brought my 18 month old daughter. We visited on a Monday and it was pretty quiet. My guess is the schools in the surrounding towns did not have off school. We brought a picnic lunch and sat and ate first thing. It was delightful to enjoy a meal in the zoo. This zoo looks very well maintained. There is alot of hills like others mentioned. I really liked the Zen garden area and the red Panda. My son also liked the red panda. My daughter seemed to enjoy the monkeys and aquarium area the best. We noticed they had a sign posted that the zoo is opening a touch tank Summer 2013. We will definatly check that out. There is a train ride which is included with admission. They have a very nice looking park area and carousel which we did not utilize. I would highly recommend this as a picture perfect zoo to visit for the day.
0 families found this helpful
"Small yet local"
Turtle Back Zoo cannot compare to Bronx Zoo in size and animal variety. It does however offer a very local and kid-friendly atmostphere. No hassles with traffic or parking, this place is perfect for an afternoon activity for kids. Their playground is a favorite with my boys, as is the train ride (beware, it gets breezy) and the bug carousel. Whie they don't get to oohh and aahh at larger animal species typically seen at the Bronx Zoo, Turtle Back offers other enrichment activities such as the Night Walk.
0 families found this helpful
"I wish we could live there!"
This is such a great younger kids zoo. Sometimes zoos are so big that they are too large to navigate w/ younger kids. Turtle Back solves that problem without loosing any excitement. The train ride was my son's favorite thing besides the penguins!
Plus, the have year round activities that are so worth while. The Christmas light display they have is very enjoyable!
It's well worth the trip!!
0 families found this helpful
"Perfect small zoo!"
I've been going to the Turtle Back Zoo since I was a little girl. It's gone through some major renovations in the past few years and they've really spruced the place up! It's a great small zoo- easily walkable for young kids. They added pony rides and a carousel (for a fee), but the train ride is included in your admission. The animals are easily visible in their habitats, so it's not one of those zoos that you visit, but hardly see any animals b/c they're hiding. We didn't eat at the cafe, but there is one. There is also a McDonald's across the street. A great day trip!
0 families found this helpful
"Good family zoo"
A nice way to spend a couple of hours with the family. The carousel and small play area are a nice addition to the park. The best part for kids who enjoy animals is up in the back is the feeding area as well as pony rides for a small fee. Put on your sneakers and prepare for walking up hills though. It is hilly over there.
1 family found this helpful
"Turtleback Zoo"
This is a nice local zoo for preschool and elementary school aged children. It is clean and isn't too large so you can see all of it. There are exhibits/shows and my kids loved the train ride through the zoo when they were younger. It's a little different and relaxing. There is ample parking at the zoo which is set back behind the South Mountain skating arena. There are banner signs and topiary style animal trees on Northfield Ave. to help you locate the zoo.
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