Animal Adventure at Hologram Zoo
Looking for something different to de-LIGHT the kids? Rebecca Jamieson Dwyer visits the new Sunshine Coast animal attraction that has everyone talking…
Nothing strikes fear into the heart of parents quite like a rainy day on the Sunshine Coast (cue the chorus of “I’m booooored”), but fear not – the hottest new attraction, Hologram Zoo, has landed to whisk you away on a virtual animal adventure across the globe, whatever the weather.
So, what exactly is it? Located in the heart of Nambour, Hologram Zoo Sunshine Coast is an immersive family experience where you can stroll through tunnels, peek into glowing enclosures, and even gaze up through a ‘sky window’ to spot larger-than-life laser light holograms in glorious 3D.
Keen to find out more, my husband, five-year-old daughter, three-year-old son and I joined two other family groups for the much-talked-about Africa Experience. After an intro video setting the scene, we donned our super-cool electronic 3D glasses and stepped into the main tunnel, where the African savannah appeared before our eyes.
We gazed at giraffes and zebras gathering at a waterhole, admired lions lounging in the sun, and couldn’t stop ourselves from reaching out to try and pat them. With moving light markers as our guide, we wandered between three different, virtual animal ‘enclosures’: one below our feet, one at eye level and one above our heads.
This gave us some amazing perspectives – like looking down on an adorable baby giraffe, looking up as we were “trampled” by a herd of elephants, and floating underwater as flamingos fed above us. The mix of serene and exciting moments kept us guessing, with standout scenes including a rhino charging at us, a cheeky elephant spraying us with water, and enormous gorillas looming out of a storm to give us all a fright.
This 40-minute experience takes you through five laps of the tunnel plus the three enclosures, with every lap bringing new surprises.
A family ticket offers the best value and there’s the opportunity to add the Dinosaur Experience – another 40-minute session where pterodactyls swim under the ocean, baby dinos hatch before your eyes, and a not-so-friendly T-Rex makes a dramatic entrance!
While my three-year-old was totally spellbound by the animals, my five-year-old also came away armed with cool animal facts from the voiceovers in each enclosure – perfect for impressing her kindy friends.
Just when we thought the animal adventure was over, we discovered the (free!) Family Photobooth with a green screen on the way out, where we loved posing with giraffes and meerkats, sprinting from a rhino stampede, and “riding” a giant elephant.
As a thoughtful parting gift, the kids were handed their very own cardboard 3D glasses and an animal Projectogram of their choice – a little keepsake to bring the magic home. Hologram Zoo Sunshine Coast co-founder Claire Fawbert says it’s been a dream to bring the concept to the community.
“As locals with young kids, we are always on the hunt for fun and educational activities we could enjoy together, and with our tech backgrounds, 3D holograms felt like the perfect way to do it,” she said. “Hologram Zoo was recognised by Time Magazine as one of the best inventions of 2023 – and Nambour’s history, culture and great transport links make it the ideal spot for us to bring it to the Sunshine Coast.”
Who’s who in the zoo changes regularly – think adventures through Australia, Asia and the Arctic, as well as seasonal treats like spooky Halloween thrills and a festive trip to the North Pole – there’s always something new to discover and wild adventures to be had.
Rain, shine or anything in between, Hologram Zoo Sunshine Coast is one wild adventure you’ll want to put at
the top of your family’s fun list!
WIN one of Three Family Passes to Hologram Zoo!
We have three roarsome Family Passes for Hologram Zoo Sunshine Coast worth $100 each to give away! To be in with a chance to win, simply scan the QR code and enter your details by 22 October. Terms and Conditions apply.
The Hologram Zoo Sunshine Coast experience changes regularly!
Follow @hologramzoosunshinecoast or hologramzoosunshinecoast.com.au to see what’s on and plan your own wild adventure – rain, hail or shine!
