Party Entertainment
Mobile petting zoos and animal parties that come to your backyard
An animal party is the one booking where the entertainment does not depend on holding attention. Children come and go, sit with a rabbit for ten minutes, wander off, come back. For younger groups that flexibility is exactly why it works.
A mobile animal party arrives with a portable pen, a handler and a mix of small animals. Rabbits, guinea pigs, chicks, ducklings and lambs are the usual line up, sometimes with a goat or a miniature pony for larger yards. Reptile parties run the same way with snakes, lizards and turtles, and tend to suit slightly older children.
What you are actually paying for is the handler. They manage which animal comes out, for how long, and how a child holds it, which protects the animals as much as the children. A professional operator will also set up hand washing and will tell you plainly what they need from your space.
Space and surface are the two things to check before you book. Most setups want grass or a flat covered area, shade, and a gate wide enough to get a pen through.
What you are booking
What a mobile animal party includes
Operators differ on animal mix and pen size more than on anything else, so ask for specifics rather than a general description.
Usually included
- A portable pen or enclosure with fencing and bedding
- A supervising handler for the whole booking
- A mix of small, child suitable animals
- Hand washing or sanitising facilities
- Guidance for children on holding and patting
- Public liability insurance and a certificate on request
Worth asking about
- Exactly which animals are coming, not just the category
- Whether a pony or a larger animal needs extra space or a separate fee
- What surface they need, and whether a hard courtyard works
- How they manage shade and heat for the animals
- Their policy if a child is frightened or too rough
Who it suits
What your space needs to support
Animal parties are the most space dependent booking on this site. Check these before you get to quotes.
| Requirement | Typical need | If you cannot |
|---|---|---|
| Flat area | Roughly 4 by 4 metres of level ground for a standard pen | Ask about a smaller pen or a table top setup |
| Surface | Grass preferred, some operators accept concrete with matting | Confirm before booking, it is a common cause of a cancelled setup |
| Access | A gate or path wide enough for pen panels and crates | Front yard setups are usually possible |
| Shade | Essential in summer, for the animals as much as the children | A marquee or a shaded side of the house |
Before you book
What to ask an animal party operator
Animal welfare and child safety questions are entirely normal here, and a good operator will welcome them.
- Exactly which animals will you bring, and how many?
- How long are the animals out for, and what rest do they get during the booking?
- What hand washing or sanitising do you set up?
- What space, surface and access do you need, and what is the shade requirement?
- Do you hold public liability insurance and the animal permits required in this state?
On the day
The pen is calm. The rest of the party should not be next to it.
Animals and a jumping castle in the same small yard is the most common planning mistake with this booking.
Get quotes
Tell us about your space
Animal party quotes depend on your yard as much as your headcount. A sentence about the space saves a lot of back and forth.
- Describe the area. Grass or hard surface, and roughly how big
- Say the ages of the children coming
- Mention any gate or access limits
Questions parents ask
Animal party questions
What animals come to a mobile petting zoo party?
Most operators bring a mix of small, handleable animals. Rabbits, guinea pigs, chicks, ducklings and lambs are common, and some add goats, miniature ponies or a calf where the space allows. Reptile parties bring snakes, lizards and turtles instead. Ask for the actual list rather than a general description.
What age is a petting zoo party best for?
Two to eight works best. Younger children love the animals but need close supervision, and the flexible come and go format suits their attention span. From about nine, a reptile party often lands better than a petting zoo, because the novelty is higher.
How much space does a mobile petting zoo need?
A standard pen needs roughly four by four metres of flat ground, plus access wide enough to carry panels through. Grass is preferred by most operators. Some will set up on concrete with matting, but confirm that before booking rather than on the day.
Is a petting zoo hygienic around young children?
A professional operator sets up hand washing or sanitising as part of the service and supervises every interaction. Your part is making sure children wash their hands before they go anywhere near the food table. Tell the operator in advance about any child with allergies or a compromised immune system.
Can we have animals and a jumping castle at the same party?
Yes, but keep them apart. Blowers are loud and constant, and running children around a pen stresses the animals. Put them at opposite ends of the yard, or run them in separate time blocks. Tell both suppliers what else is booked.
What happens if a child is scared of the animals?
It is common and handlers expect it. A good one will bring a calm animal to the child at their pace rather than putting anything in their hands, and will let them watch from a distance for as long as they need.
Bring the animals to your backyard
Tell us your suburb, your date and a little about the space. We match you with operators who travel to you.