Reviews of Riverview Park & Zoo (Zoo)

Syed Jaffar

Excellent place for family time. My kids always love to come here.

Krissy Wolfenberg

Great place to take the kids for some fun. Great park, water park and a fun train ride. Not a ton of animals but the kids loved the otter feeding.

Neil Barker

Good local zoo with free admission. Some nice picnic areas along the river as well.

Rich Wigmore

A gem in the Kawarthas. Where else will you find an admission free zoo complete with a splash pad? Great exhibits, very well taken care of. Always a destination on a hot day!

Paul D

Had a great time with my little ones and will be coming back for sure

Seth Hannah

Not only is this beautiful zoo free, but it has a very well maintained playground, park area, pathways, frisbee golf, and even an island that you can go and spend a day on! I've posted so many pictures of this place, I absolutely love it! I come here to see the animals, but even more than that, it's a wonderful place to bring friends to chill, plenty of space to play casual sports. In addition to it just being an overall wonderful place to spend time, there is so many places to practice photography. Please, come here and enjoy the view!

Angelo Garcia

I am so amazed and impressed with the Riverside Zoo, The Zoo is open, it's clean and the exhibits well kept alongside with the animals, even with this weather I was able to stroll around and get a great view of a lot of the animals!And Best of all,????Free Parking and Free Admittance! I also used the bathroom facilities and the man's washroom was clean, well heated and inviting! I can't wait to come in the Summer and bring my nephews!

Ram Orquiza

For a free zoo, this place is definitely a keeper! I was surprised how clean it was and how healthy looking the animals were. Kids will definitely have fun in here because they do have splash pads and decent sized play grounds for all ages. Again, did I say it was free!?! You rarely get good stuff for free and this place is definitely one of them. Make sure you give donations to keep this place going.

Matt Gray

Awesome, my kids love going to ride the train every year.

Valwynn Williams, RVT

I love Riverview! Grounds are well kept, exhibits are awesome and the animals are beautifully taken care of. I go at least 2 to 3 times a week to see Ferrari! Their magnificent sloth! Peterborough is fortunate to have this lovely zoo in such a central location????❤

Karen Bonello

Fantastic full day. A lot to do. Fun splash pad. Lots of play areas for all ages. Loved being able to see the animals. There is a small snack bar with hot and cold . Nice area to sit on picnic tables in the shade. AND all free. Better than any of the bigger zoos, for sure !!!

Sheri Deas

It's a great zoo tones of fun things for the kids to do and the train rides pretty neat for $2 it's the only zoo that's free to get in

Warren Day

Great for kids, free admission and only $2 for the mini train ride.

Rachyl Elliott

It's a cute little zoo though there aren't too many animals as far as zoos go, and most of them are more "normal" (and herbivores for the most part) than the really exotic ones you find elsewhere. But it can still be a fun day out with your kids because there is a great park and a huge slide. I like it a lot for the landscaping. It's great for a jog or walk through.

Johnson Lau

nice zoo with variety of animals. Definitely a place to go while you are around the area. FREE.

Alex TenWesteneind

I grew up near the zoo and I love how much is the same from 20yrs ago and how much has changed. Peterborough is lucky to have such a great free option for a family outing. The splash pad is great, love that there's an ATM for all the cash only purchases. The train hasn't changed much at all and that's great. Thank you.

Neil McFarlane

A fantastic free attraction, great to spend a few hours with the kids.

Cassandra Morrison

Very kid friendly zoo, the free entrance makes it very affordable as well as being able to bring your own picnic, the train ride is a must! Only $2!

Matthew Barnes

A smaller selection of animals than most, but hey, it's free, and a nice way to spend a sunny day!

Balaji Muthukrishnan

Great little Zoo with decent park and good water splash place for kids.

Michelle maureen

A good suzed park for under teens lots for them to do and see they have a large play park as well as a splash pad. The cost is free but they do accept donations.

Deanna szajewski

Great place for all ages.. relaxing.. the walk is comfortable for all ages. An awesome water park for the young and old to cool off on those hot summer days. A play ground devided for age appropriate area.. beautiful picnic area by the water.. and last be not least a train ride through the park.. always a fun adventure..

Shenel Boyce

No complaints. Kids loves it there. The animals are well kept and protected. Splash pad, and dry park is fun and clean. It’s a free zoo and serves not only the Peterborough area but everyone in the Kawartha Lakes. My kids enjoyed the train ride at $2 a head. Excellent staff as well. Parking is free and convenient.

Milena Weinberg

Well laid out zoo with lots to do for the kids. Best feature, it is free (donations based).

David Leatherwood

Great place to walk around, see some animals, and let the kids play. Plus it's free! Definitely a win.

John Driscoll

For a free zoo this place was really awesome! The little guy loved it. Felt bad for the one cat that was pacing and seemed a bit sad but outside of that this place is a hidden gem. The play park was so awesome as well. Highly recommend checking out if in the area!

Jody B

Reindeer resting Christmas Day after a long night.

EDA ÇETİNKAYA

Free small zoo, gigentic children's park, parking, accessible washrooms, water station, picnic tables. Lots of family time :)

Cosmin Muresan

Perfect for families with children. Has everything you need so you can spend some time outside and let the kids burn some energy. We always used it as a pit stop on our way to the cottage.

Dawn R

Great place for a family picnic by the river. No entry fee to the city ran park. Zoo animals, playgrounds and splash pad for the kids..There is a small kiddy train ride available for a nominal fee.

Michael Gao

Wonderful park and very friendly zookeepers. Large picnic area and children playground. Gets very busy in the summer time.

Pratheesh Prasad

Plenty of new animals of various kind where there. Although dueing winter those animals go to hibernation. The best time to visit the zoo is during summer and spring.

Frank-Jürgen Jablonowski

The ONLY free and accredited Zoo in Canada, supported by individual donations a municipal tax dollars!

William McPherson

The washroom were dirty and smelly. The fries were undercooked and very limited seating at the splash pad. The park and animals were nice to play and visit but that was it. Parking is very limited as well.

Jessica Rocha

Free zoo which is great. Friendly staff, enjoy going on the train ride when it is in season. Great for the family. Nice splash pad and park for children.

Amanda Blake

Great spot to bring the kids. Family get away and no charge to get in. Giant play area for the kids, and a splash pad.

Stephen G. Burley

We take our grandchildren here probably three times four times a year a great Park free parking costs free of Entry costs just make sure that you bring $2 extra for every person in your party because you will want to ride the train we could not this weekend because the train does not start running until June 1st there is a lovely picnic area and an amazing group of play parks for the children a fabulous water park this is the place to go 45 minutes from Curtis Oshawa an hour and 10 minutes maybe an hour and 15 minutes from Toronto East don't miss out on visiting this park at some point during any summer you have some free time we always by KFC go eat in the picnic area and then let our grandchildren playing the parks then we go visit the animals and then we do the water park on the way out so we can dry them up change their clothes hop in the truck and on our way home usually about this time of day anyone with children this is an absolute must go to you will have so much fun

Azim Hoque

Nice and clean spot

Karen Widling

I was blown away by this park. The playground has something for everyone and it kept all the kids in our group ( aged 1-12) happy and occupied. The kids especially loved the big slide and my friend's kids remembered to bring towels for a smoother ride. The zoo itself is pretty amazing. The selection of animals is quite varied, cages are well labelled, with a bit of information about each animal. The touch table manned by a teenage volunteer was equally informative. Incredible for a zoo that does not charge admission. The size is perfect for little feet to not get too tired. All of us enjoyed the 10 minute train ride and we were happy to end our day cooling off at the splash pad.

Diane Martin

Great place! See animals up close, talk to zoo keepers, train ride, playground and splash pad for the kids...of all sizes lol

Alison Chatzis

very nice and clean, alot of animals and space for kids to play and explore. it also has a nice splash path.

Becky N

Park with play ground, picnic, mini zoo for free. Not much to see if you are from out of town more for locals.. wouldn't make special trip out of here as its long drive from Markham

Kashif Imran

Historic, friendly and clean place for family gatherings, picnic and kids enetaintment. Kids loved the splash pad, animals and play area. Gift shop and amazing drinking water tank was my favorite.

Jacquie - Drink Ketones

a fantastic place to go for a walk or take the kids

Fernando Torres

Very nice place. Enough to see for a fun mooring or afternoon. You can grab something to eat for much too. Nice playground area for kids while adults grab something to drink or simply take a break and rest to keep going.

Stephanie Morrison

They've been changing animal enclosures up this year. Don't think they're asking new animals just improving the home's four who's there. We played at the park mostly this visit and they're was even a new spinny thing for the kids! Always a good time at the zoo!

Dennis Kwon

Calm & fresh

Isha Misra

Very adventurous place, good place for kids and adults to hang out. The nature is calm and soothing. Some different creatures to watch at the zoo which is really exciting.

Amanda D

Best place ever to bring the kids! Could easily spend a full day here! So clean, well maintained and big. Lots of places to sit down and be in the shade. The kids love to run around. The new train was so so so fun even for me! Great views and was worth the money to go across the river. The water park is fabulous. Lots of shade, however when the big kids get in there they are beyond rowdy and most you wonder if their parents are even there. It's hard for the toddlers to be around the rowdies, but if you come early enough or in a day that the kids aren't there in heaps then it's baby/toddler heaven. The many parks that lead to the entry of the zoo are absolutely incredible as well. Again, so clean, spacious, lots of places to sit and there are shady parks within the line of parks. Parking is close and we always find a spot. Great picnic sites along the water. All around no complaints! Can't beat the price ????

Amanda Rolson

Great outing. Awesome splash pad. A few animals. Great park. Concession stand. Bring a toonie and ride the train! My kids loved it. Thanks!

Stephen G. Burley

We take our grandchildren here probably three times four times a year a great Park free parking costs free of Entry costs just make sure that you bring $2 extra for every person in your party because you will want to ride the train we could not this weekend because the train does not start running until June 1st there is a lovely picnic area and an amazing group of play parks for the children a fabulous water park this is the place to go 45 minutes from Curtis Oshawa an hour and 10 minutes maybe an hour and 15 minutes from Toronto East don't miss out on visiting this park at some point during any summer you have some free time we always by KFC go eat in the picnic area and then let our grandchildren playing the parks then we go visit the animals and then we do the water park on the way out so we can dry them up change their clothes hop in the truck and on our way home usually about this time of day anyone with children this is an absolute must go to you will have so much fun

Aaron Johnson

Can’t beat a free zoo! It’s easy to spend 4 or 5 hours here with the kids from the playground to the animal exhibits to the train and the splash pad. We’re lucky to have this spot in town!

Rajesh Periyasamy

A very friendly zoo and park. The splash pad was amazing. Great place for summer outings especially if you have kids!

Kyle Middlestadt

This municipal zoo is free and open to the public with a variety of different exhibits. Whether it's just for a quick stop on a bike ride or an afternoon with kids, this has plenty to offer.

MrJizac

Amazing place for a walk during a nice day! Definitely bring the family here. Incredible water pad in the summer hours!

Shaun Lindsay (Pop Illuminati)

Had a great time there never knew there was a zoo in the city

Bonnie McWilliam

Fabulous place for Peterborough locals and visitors to bring their kids for half a day of activities. There's several large playground structures, a splash pad, lots of fascinating animals and the train of course. My 3 year old loved it, we visit every summer and this year he certainly got the most out of it.

Benjamin Rempel

Going just before dark is the best time to see the animals being active. They are also active after a stretch of bad weather.

Selda Panchishin

The best free zoo around. Animals, playground, riverside picnic area - amazing place all year round.

Chad Peterson

Great and free. Lots of fun for the kids. Otters are my favourite. The meerkats are fun too.

Dawn R

Great place for a family picnic by the river. No entry fee to the city ran park. Zoo animals, playgrounds and splash pad for the kids..There is a small kiddy train ride available for a nominal fee.

Paul “Budo Dad” Teleki

This is an essential resource for our community! Lots of potential and opportunities for the community to donate. There are elements that can be improved, such as: repairing toys on playgrounds faster and removing winterized equipment earlier. One of the few places I am proud to allocate my tax dollars.

B Inthavong

Pleasantly surprised at how nice this free zoo was. Wide variety of animals. The best part was actually the amount of walking trails that connect. Very child friendly. Beautiful in the fall.

Adrian Wu

Small but very nice zoo.

Andrew Tompsett

An excellent zoo and play area. Few thoughts: bring cash as they have no credit or debit options. Also, the splashpad needs some maintenance. Still, for a free public zoo, it's a lot of fun for kids.

Traveling SweetPea

I've been coming here for my entire life. I remember when they used to have zip lines, 2 giant slides, and the monkey house by the river! Of course the animals are the highlight. A great diversity of species and really well laid out. This place is made even more amazing by the fact that there is no admission!

Krisztina Kiraly

Amazing place to walk and explore! Trails and water are beautiful. Zoo is fun to see. I would recommend this to anyone in the area!

Trina Lamb

The parking lot needs to be a little bigger to hold the amount of people this place attracts but other than that this is a great place to take the family! Bring a picnic and baiting suits for the kids and enjoy a say at the zoo for free! Yes that's right FREE zoo! ????

Scott Cromie

Great place to take the kids. It's free, has a decent amount of animals and a great playground and park area!

Brandon Lynchock

Had a blast here! Parking and admission is free and there's some very cool animals to check out. Pay the couple bucks and enjoy the train ride, makes you feel like a kid again.

theGamerGunvir

Peaceful and beautiful, meerkats are the best!!!

Alan Scott

Free admission. Donations accepted. Many animals including otters, peacocks and many more. Fantastic family opportunity.

Joe Newbery

Stopped in to use the playground. Large selection of play structures for all ages. Well maintained play space with engineered surface including accessibility features like a swing for wheelchairs and bucket seat teater totter.

Wendy Davis

Beautiful for a walk through. Kids love the animals and splash pad. Train is lots of fun for everyone!

Joseph Talbot, Royal LePage Locations North, Broke

Great spot for kids and it's free. There were just a few empty exhibits.

John Ellison

Love the Zoo all the animals are well cared for I grew up in the area and always loved the slides! One day I will bring my kids here it's at least a good hour or two of fun to enjoy all the exhibits.

D Willowmeadow

Animals, beautiful walking path, otters, splash pad, park and clean washrooms/change rooms, all by donation. Who could ask for more.

Scott Martin

Always a great day. Animals, train ride, playground and splash pad. My 5 yr old loves coming here.

TheWildOne V

Great Place to take the Kids & it's Free ! It can get busy but it's quite big and lots of parking . Three playgrounds and a splash pad and trails a snack bar and picnic tables and then of course a nice size zoo with lots of animals to see !! Our 4 kids under 10 love this place !!

Amanda Dew

Love. So much fun. Many wonderful animals to see plus huge playground for kids and a spray park.

Teegee72

Even though its free entrance, i did not like the fact these animals were in such small confined spaces, on the up side, the train ride was awesome the park is amazing and the splash pad was great and the kids had a blast.

Apple Berry Kid

Beautiful place. Not many animals to see but on the whole it's a nice picnic place. Plenty of seating areas, nice views of water, pretty good free parking lot. Kids loved it.

Christina Melaney Stabrowska

I have been to this zoo since I was a kid. Always a great place to go, lots of fun for children, and cute animals too.

sarah busby

Free, great selection of animals, and a fun train for the kids. Overall an awesome zoo.

Magdalena “Mags” Stoeva

For a free Zoo it's not too bad. Maps were flipped in a couple of spots. The splash pad was very much enjoyed by the little ones. Bonus was the EV charger

Craig Senior

The Zoo has changed quite a bit since I was young. They have added some new animal exibits and there are more on the way. I always take my family anytime we are in Peterborough. Its a nice place to walk year round and its free!

Andrew Rank

Had a great time with my family. We saw the otters being fed. Very cool

Mike Stevens

What's not to love about a free zoo that also has a large playground, splash pad, picnic areas and a fun train ride. A great place to take kids.

Amanda Charlton

Always love bringing my kids here. It's clean, the park is well maintained. Did I mention it's FREE!!!!

T. Lee

Amazing little zoo that is FREE! - $2 train ride - a bunch of animals to see (nothing exotic but fun for the kids) - nice little water park & large playground area with a host of kid friendly apparatuses - water from area for picnics & BBQing

Melinda Young

A great zoo experience for free! My 2.5 year old absolutely loved it and it exceeded my expectations given the price. Enough to keep his interest and a great playground to enjoy as well. Will definitely return again and again.

Melinda Young

A great zoo experience for free! My 2.5 year old absolutely loved it and it exceeded my expectations given the price. Enough to keep his interest and a great playground to enjoy as well. Will definitely return again and again.

Zed Dean

It is a lovely place , admission free or donation. It is must see for kids ...there are many playgrounds for kids and they divided them by age. I was traveling to Ottawa, and I made this as a family this stop.

Roger Spencley

I go there to fish along the river. But it is a nice place to bring the family. Snack shack serves a good hamburger. Good areas for picnic lunches for the budget minded.

Adriana R Melo

A great day from dawn til dusk! Zoo, snack bar, souvenir shop, water park and regular park! There are other great amenities to inquire about (ex: wheelchair and wagon rentals)

Jeff Blackman

Kids can lead the group as they explore a world of animal life. Although species are from all over most are out throughout the year. Extra amenities like splash pad, playgrounds and fast food make for an easy trip for any family.

Ben Layton

Great day out with the kids. The splash pad is awesome and the otter exhibit is enjoyable

Emil Schreiner

Free zoo, great place for a walk with young kids. Even though the pictures don't look the best, the kids had a great time running around. Looking forward to returning in the summer.

Kathleen Ingram

Love this zoo and the kids love it too. Free except for the 2 dollar train ride (optional). Bring a picnic lunch and you're set :)

Tiffany J

It is free! Always a fantastic experience. A great way to spend the day. Water splash pad, lots of parking, big play grounds with lots of activities. Animals are happy, well kept and obviously well fed ????. There is a chip truck with all sorts of choices. The train ride is super fun for little ones. Park is clean and tidy. Staff are friendly. They also have a cute little gift shop.

Mischievous Mistress

I know it's a zoo, but it seems really dirty and dreary. I came here as a kid and animals seemed more lively - now they all seem very low on energy and hidden, almost depressed. I like being able to see these wonderful creatures but not at the cost of their happiness, they still need proper care. Seems like a less fun experience now.

sasmit deshmukh

Very nice park, wonderful area for trolling with family. Kids will sure like seeing animals there.

Lemy Paul

It was an amazing place. Learned lots considering I moved from the Miami, Florida, to Ontario. A must go place

Nancy Jane-Botwin

Great place for a family day trip, not a lot of animals but the park and splash pad make it worth it. Take a picnic and have a day out with the family!

Tyler Allen

Used to go here all the time when I was a kid. Yesterday, I got to take my own two year old there. Train ride costs the same as what it did 20 years ago. Just $2.00. Lots of animals to look at and so much playing space all of it wasn’t even being used. Excellent place for kids, admission is FREE. Hard to argue how great this place is for kids. My son loved the animals, and he got plenty of play time in!

Jodi Sharpe

We love visiting this zoo. My kids have so much fun. The park and splash pad are great too. Best of all it's free!

Amy Gannon

Free zoo! Clean and had a good assortment of animals for a small zoo! I love it in the summer for the picnic spaces. It also has a great playground and water park for the kids!

Robert L

A perfect way to spend a day with little ones. Pack a lunch and let them tire themselves out!

D Thunderstone

Zoo is always a fun time.. Never too busy and walkway is always clean..... One thing that could improve is the canteen/eating area... I understand a lot of children frequent the area and create spills and mess on the picnic tables, but tasking an employee to inspect and clean tables every hour would be a huge improvement... In a place where seating is limited to non existent, customers always look forward to relaxing in the dining area and enjoying a drink and snack... The quickest way to ruin someone's mood and potentially ruin the entire trip is to offer a seating area, but ensure the area is covered in ketchup, mustard, relish, ice cream, and pop. There's nothing like Hornets flying, ants crawling, seagulls battling eachother, and I haven't even begun to describe the joy that washes over your tired body when you sit in sticky pop or ice cream spilled by a previous customer. If that was fixed, it would go a long long way in ensuring customer satisfaction... Now strong points :) The play area is excellent, and quite large. lots of kids can play at the same time and not ever get in eachother way.. The train ride around the zoo is another great attraction and continues to be fun regardless of how many times you go... There's a good selection of animals and the exhibits are informative plus lots of standing room for spectators... Last but definitely not the least, The Sabre Jet is a great addition and definitely adds a level of uniqueness to the zoo... The positioning of the Jet being mounted high upon the pedestal is awesome. The refinishing of the jet in 2009 revived it's appearance and really made it stand out.

Christina Lucescu

Such an awesome place to bring the kids. Amazing that it's free. They love the splash pad, the huge playground and visiting all the animals.

Zi Islam

Free admission, free parking with a beautiful zoo in Peterborough Riverview Park; amazing place for kids. The ticket for train is only $2.

Sarah Bencic

Dont think zoos are ok or natural or ever good for animals. But I know people like to take kids there. In my mind thats messed up but there are nice views of the river all over the property. And it extends down to pretty picnic space and freezbe golf course

Lora Powell

I love this Zoo and I always have ince I was a child. I couldn't tell you how many times I've come and gone but it's an experience that I never get tired of! I dont know if its because it's free to come but that's defeiently a perk! The little train ride is great for kids but also fun to just take a little trip around! The staff really seem to care for these animals, I've always seen clean cages and default cleaning and feeding of the animals with lots of space for the animals to move around their space. It's also nice when they have live music going on down at the gazebo! Its defiently worth the trip! Make sure to also check out their Gift Store!

Dennis Wilson

What an amazing place to spend a very hot day. Lots of shade and tables for our picnic. And all for free!

Tim Parrish

Nice little place. Good for smaller children. Play area and lots of places for picnic lunches.

Mark Willsie

It was wintery and snowy a nice walk. The animals were interesting.

Jeremy Malloy

We often make this a stop in our travels further north. Great little splash pad, clean facilities. The animals are a real hit with younger kids. The large playground suits many ages and the massive tube side kept my kids entertained for many many runs. And it's all free!

Matthew T

Best free zoo around. Good place to kill an hour wandering around.

John Sousa

Took my granddaughters to the adjacent play park, which they loved and then proceeded to visit the few animals at the zoo. It is a small, free entrance park and very popular by Peterborough residents and visitors alike. It is a nice outing for children. Recommendable.

Andrew Tjestvold

Very nice public zoo... clean, well kept and great selection of animals !!! Facilities are great, kids loved the splash pad and the play areas were amazing. Great parking and centralized in Peterborough, so you're minutes from all amenities. Will definitely be going back !!!

Jason Reynolds

We have a free zoo...who else can say that! It's great and the kids love the play ground area.

Mary Margaret Pitt

This is a wonderful quaint little zoo with a good number of animals. What I loved most was that you feel like a part of their environment as there are a lot of trees on the paths. I will be back!

Nelly Vieira

Lively park along the river front with a small zoo free of charge, with some really cool animals like sloths, capybara, iguanas, spider monkeys and more. Nice playground for kids as well at the entrance to the park. Free parking.

CJ Pudsey

Great space for a meeting out of the office.

Rashid Al-Saffar

Good place for family and visitors coming to Peterborough, there's water park and it's free, zero $ admission fee.

Our journey

It's free! They have a great splash pad in the summer. Huge play area with jungle gyms for each age group. Lots of animals to see. A snack bar that is reasonably priced and you can take a fun train ride for $2.00

Debbie Hemmens

Beautiful FREE Zoo.

Jessica Holdcroft

What a treat to have this attraction, and free! in Peterborough. There is a small well-maintained zoo with interesting animals, playground, splash pad, park, picnic areas, beach areas, and disc golf course.l#

Ninja Academy

This is an essential resource for our community! Lots of potential and opportunities for the community to donate. There are elements that can be improved, such as: repairing toys on playgrounds faster and removing winterized equipment earlier. One of the few places I am proud to allocate my tax dollars.

Hailey G

Very cute animals, completely free entrance, and kids love it! I would totally recommend this zoo.

Jen Gaffney

For a free zoo, this place is top notch. There is plenty of animals (though not exotic, which makes sense as they don't have the type of funds to purchase or maintain those animals). They have regular feeding times for the otters so people can watch them, and they are very sweet little creatures. The kids enjoy walking around and exploring and we finally tried the little train which was quite fun for a young audience. We always enjoy our time at the zoo, way to go PUC!

John Crossley

Fantastic, can not believe that it's free. You can make a donation throughout the park,( l did), it's such a beautiful space. Kid's play area's and information center are the best. And a small train station and ride, best $2.00 l ever spent. Places like Ottawa, our Nation's Capital can't even offer to you something like this. Go out and enjoy, bring your lunch and make a day out of the Zoo.

Amanda Zyla

Always a great day when we visit

Ken Sowers Jr.

a pleasant surprise! This tiny zoo has a train ride for the young ones, and a handful of animals to admire.

Lish I

Went a while ago before it closed but amazing staff and great view of the animals!

Matt Nalder

We loved the Zoo, entry into the zoo is free and they have a 10 minute train ride that's $2 per person. The spray park and play park are worth the time too.

Jake Paleczny

Love this zoo! Great animal care, exhibits and conservation work and stories. Awesome to see what Jim and his team have accomplished!

adam anderson

Pretty good for a free zoo. Most the animals hide in winter tho

Ed Hickey

It is a lovely little zoo that is well taken care of by both the curators and the public that visit.

Mark Ryckman

This zoo is completely free-of-charge and is operated by the Peterborough Utilities company. Three parks provide kids of all ages with a space to play. Animals include: yaks, servals, bobcat, otters, takins, barbary sheep, camels, turkeys, caribou, emu, rhea, various exotic waterfowl, spider monkeys, sloths, snakes, turtles, alligators, and domestic farm animals. There is also a splash pad and changes rooms.

mampasa laurie

We love this zoo and park. It does look like it has been somewhat effected by the economic downturn-- with some of the exhibits being closed down. However, for a free park, it is an amazing place to go. It has a splash pad and extensive playground for children. Plus there are the animal displays and the train rides for everyone to enjoy. We don't get here often, but the Riverview Park & Zoo is always a memorable experience.

Parampreet Singh

Beautiful, well maintained and great amenities... The best thing is this park has got something for all ages... kids’ play areas, picnic areas, nice zoo, toy train, water front and what not! It’s a beautiful drive from GTA (less than 2 hours) We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to this park

Chin Chinchilly

I love this zoo. It's free, clean, has lots of animals, and for $2 you can ride the little train! It's big for a city like Peterborough, staff on site, otter feeding, water park for kids and a huge playground. Great parking, lovely sights off the decks that overlook the water and more. Well worth the visit. Very family friendly. Treats that you can purchase on site too :)

Mr Goose

Awesome zoo free admission with a splash pad and lots of playgrounds for the kids and of course there is a short train ride over the hydro dam to the Enchanted Forest

Adam Bartol

Wonderful park, even if the zoo is closed right now. Beautiful walking trail by the water. Very clean. Playground is clean and safe as well.

Christopher Donaldson

Great for kids. Large playground suitable for multiple ages. Small zoo with decent exhibits. Easily walkable for all ages.

Kaitlin Brunet

Was amazed at the amount to see based on the free admission. The park was well kept, lots of Animals to see, staff ws very friendly!

Brooke Surridge

First time visiting this park yesterday afternoon .. We came at peak time , but it was great ! Families of all ages enjoying the outdoors and activities :) . Such a great place for kids .. the animals are amazing and you learn a lot , the splash pad was excellent & it was very hot so great to cool down , the trails were very nice to walk along ... Highly recommend this to anyone !!!

Fatemeh Jafargholi

It's a little zoo, very interesting for kids. There is also a large playground with many different types of games there. But not limited options for food.

David Kroeger

Great park with multiple play areas and a splash pad, and a lovely littel free zoo!

Jennifer Evans Cario

Free zoo run by the local utility. Far exceeded our expectations. Don't expect pandas and Bengal tigers, but they had a nice variety of animals. We had a great time speaking with the other keeper, who clearly loves her job. There is a splash park too, so bring towels if it's a nice day.

craig scott

It's a nice little zoo and park with free admission and parking. Make sure to pack your own food. Extremely long wait for overpriced, cold french fries and grilled cheese sandwiches for the grandkids.

Candace Wells

Perfect place to take the family for a walk. Interesting variety of animals to look at and enjoy. Splash pad for the kids in the summer.

Sierra Hockaday

My daughter loves this zoo! The 2 camels are her favorite. I personally love the emu’s ???? very clean zoo and splash pad!

David Onichuk

Very nice public zoo... clean, well kept and great selection of animals !!! Facilities are great, kids loved the splash pad and the play areas were amazing. Great parking and centralized in Peterborough, so you're minutes from all amenities. Will definitely be going back !!!

Jennifer Segovia

Wonderful small zoo. Great for young kids. The zoo has small animals and a few larger ones, gives the kids a great understanding of animal care and knowledge. The park also contains a miniture train ride across the river, great park and splash pad. Great for a short day trip with enough activities to keep little ones busy.

Ruthless Susan86

Always clean and well maintained. Animals are all healthy and happy looking. My daughter loves going there and playing in the beautiful park area. I love that it's free and we can go there anytime...and the splashpad is such an awesome addition!!

Lynda Mattucci

Great place to take the kids splash pad animals play ground equipment picnic areas and its all free

zumishi loves

Awesome place to take the little one! Lots of shaded area to eat/feed. Easy to get around with the stroller. ????????

Colin Parkes

Great place to take the family!! Large playground & Splash pad!! Lots of places to setup a picnic!! Entrance is free! $2 for the train ride!! Will definitely be going again!

Justin Storks

It's free, it's fun it's clean. Lots for the kids to do we enjoy coming here in the summer

Jessica B

Can't be beat for a fun, free day! Lots of cool animals and exhibits, a train ride ($2 each), splash pad and amazing playground. There's also a huge waterfront picnic area with shelters and extra parking.

Shelley Buckler

For a free Park zoo and splash pad you really get a great experience

Michael Kuehne

For a completely free zoo, you cannot ask for more! There is a small variety of animals you can see and a gigantic play area for the children after they have checked out the animals. If it is summer, you can also enjoy their little water park which has a change room beside it if required. There are also walking trails and a picnic area closer to the water. Good place to spend an afternoon.

Tony Cack

The best secret zoo in the greater Toronto area and it's free! Lots and lots of animals, trails and even a miniature train ride. Splash pad in the summer. Will definitely be going back. I want to try some fishing.

Pascal Blais

Lots of amenities for kids, including a zoo, a playground, and a splash pad. Also has a small train ride for $2 per person aged 2 and up.

Adam Emery

A wonderful place to spend the day with friends or family - whether you're there for the animals, splash pad, playground or train, you'll have a fun time! Just wish the refreshments kiosk was open more frequently for ice cream!

BoomShark Boom

Small Zoo. A nice place for small children and adults. Its Free to Visit. Kids and adults can also ride a small train for $2 a ride. Children under 2 years are free. A fairly large Playground for the kids. There is a splash pad too.

Bipqr slef

Fantastic place to go for a stroll. It's a retirement home where the residents, wayward animals, get to enjoy watching children play on good quality playground equipment and while the animals are not allowed to ride the miniature train the children seem to really enjoy it. Pete from Peterborough

Mark Swiatkowski

Green& quiet w picnic space and lots of room for kids to play. Fabulous disc golf course. & best of all (although closed at the moment) a great free zoo.

Jeff Suddes

Great family fun

Elie Sloukji

Great place for the family. Splash pad, zoo and 2 playgrounds + picnic area all free.

Joel T

The price is right.(Free admission and even parking through sponsorship and funding from a Peterborough utility) Playgrounds look great for all ages. A non-corporate snack bar run by the Kiwanis Club. Nice and low key place to bring the kids without breaking the bank

MEG ROKOS

A lot more than I expected from a free zoo. Lots to see and a great way to spend the afternoon.

Kristy Ng

Free zoo, lots to do for kids to spend the whole day. There's also $2 train ride here for you to enjoy a bigger part of the park

Abhishek Sharma

It was empty, which was surprisingly great. Love the trails and the clean water

Julie Hamilton

The snack bar took way too long we were in line for 20 minutes then waited for our food for 30 minutes. All we ordered were 3 orders of fries, the woman making the food would only make one order at a time no multitasking or planning ahead.

Edward North

Awesome place ...leave a donation its considered free but it cant be cheap to run. We often make this a stop in our travels further north. Great little splash pad, clean facilities. The animals are a real hit with younger kids.

Christopher Murray

We both enjoyed our walk around the zoo, the staff were very informative and friendly.

Cato Liu

Great spot to hang out with free parking and free admission. Tons of playground space and splash pads make it a great spot for kids. The food is super expensive, I guess to make up for free admission. It's not a very elaborate zoo but I think it has a bit more than the free one in High Park.

Cassie Dombroskie

Great zoo to visit, free admission and parking is so amazing but wish we could see more animals!

Stephanie R

What a great free park. There is a lot to do and it is easy to spend a few hours here. I would definitely recommend this park.

Sean Pero

This is an unbelievable gem. It's a neat, well kept park area with some of the coolest playground equipment going AND a really cool small zoo. The most amazing part is it's all run by the town water commission and its 100% FREE Kudos to the folks at the zoo for a job well done.

Bev S

An awesome place, free, family oriented, great walking, playground and zoo.

Derek Kwan Seki

Very nice and free. For sure will go again when I'm in the area. There is also a children play area and splash pool.

Rachel Cornejo

I always stop at the zoo when we pass through Peterborough. It just keeps getting better and better. The animal displays are kept tidy, the facilities are big and clean and the atmosphere is friendly and welcoming. I can't encourage it enough!

Maggie Garvin

Very clean & staff is helpful. Take cash unless you dont mind atm fees (train is cash only & so is the snack bar) there are change rooms on site for the splash pad

Alexander McDonald

Love the Zoo all the animals are well cared for I grew up in the area and always loved the slides! Very nice park . It was a great way to spend time with family plus parking is free and no admission charge.

Kristine Harding

Awesome place, great splash pad! Food isn't too pricey but it does need a bigger parking lot

C Schneider

Such an amazing, and FREE, community space. Animals to enjoy, a kids train ride for a small fee, splash pad, super slide, playground and picnic area.

Nicole Fisher

Awesome free zoo, playground and splash park. You must visit with your family!

Stacey

Great little zoo to take young kids. Best part - its free! Also a little train ride $2, a large splash pad and play structure area. A great day!

judy bell

Beautifully keep grounds - plenty of picnic tables - well kept animal cages and just a Really nice place to enjoy the moment of Zoo animals and plants and flowers and trees

Silvina Moniz

Fantastic initiative for the town. We had a lovely day. Donations are highly recommended

Jennifer Jermey

Great place to take your kids. The animals are well looked after and it is free. There is a water park and beautiful playground for the kids. You could spend the day there and not spend a cent. Great place to visit.

Graham Adams

Great place to bring little children....see animals and play in the splash park ....all for free!

Glenn Bray

It's an awesome zoo when you consider it's free admission. The animals are very healthy.

D.

The zoo is awesome, if you go around 9ish they feed most of the animals , even in the winter. Me and my daughter were there today in winter and there was lots to see !

Derek Wilson

This park and zoo is owned by the city of Peterborough. Admission is free, however, free will donations are also accepted to help offset operating costs. The animal displays were well maintained. There were multiple playgrounds and a long, downhill tube slide for the kids. Normally there’s also a short train with a $2 fee, but the tracks were under construction when we visited yesterday.

Charlotte McDonnell

Nice zoo but it's too small for the animals

Benjamin Palmer

I cannot express how much fun i had at this zoo and park. I cant believe how awesome it is that it's free admission. Not many people care about others having a fun time these days.....except the Riverview Zoo and Park!!! Thankyou!!!! PS the train was a blast ))))

Anotherone Chance

Great place to take the kids. Very clean.

T “Tea”

Great park, splash pad with clean bathrooms at both ends of the park and small but fun zoo and all free! Also great picnic area with pavilions and a decent frisbee golf course.

Scott Fischer

Great zoo and playground for kids. Some cool animals there to see. Loved it.

Melissa M

Great place to take the kids, parks animals food, what more can you ask for for free? (Food is not free)

Chris Dawe

Lots of playgrounds & a splash pad and a decent assortment of animals to see and the train ride. Considering everything except for the food and train ride is free of charge you can't really find a more entertaining place for cheap that Riverview. Train tickets are $2/person.

Maureen Heffernan

Can't complain about this zoo! Free! Wonderful green space with day use facilities such as picnic areas, calm waterfront, large playground, splash pad and of course, all the critters! Trails are well laid out and the train was always my favourite part - they even punched the tickets back in my day.

Pascal Blais

Lots of amenities for kids, including a zoo, a playground, and a splash pad. Also has a small train ride for $2 per person aged 2 and up.

Red Tornado

Usually visit here each year. Zoo for kids as well as water park. Nice easy stroll.

Nancy Scott

Even though it was not fully open for the season, things were still quite nice and a fun afternoon stroll. Animals are well cared for, with comfortable enclosures suitable to animal type.

Kevin Ironside

My family and I are here weekly. The kids love seeing the animals for the first bit, and then they always demand to use the playground after! It's always a great day when we visit and the kids are kept entertained and then sleep very soundly that same night due to being exhausted. 10/10 would recommend.

Quinte Security Systems Don

The perfect place for kids and kids-at-heart! Picnic, animals, train ride, splash zone and a fun playground ending with a few trips down the big slide to the parking lot. Such a great afternoon of fun!

Mia Jap

It is a zoo, park, playground, splashpad. What's not to love? Great place to bring the kids. Too bad the miniature train was closed last weekend when we were there

Tory Kenny

A great family zoo with a nice gift shop and friendly staff. All for free! Expansive playground.

Mel Moore

Always excellent! Love that it's free and has so many things to amuse the kids.

Uncle Cyncle

I drove all the way from Markham and it is worth the 1.5 hour drive. First off the zoo is free but you can make a donation of your choice. Lot of animals to see and you can ride the train for 2 dollars. You can walk along side the lake for a small hike and it brings your back to the picnic area with playground. Awesome place to visit.

Sky Lisette

A free zoo to take the family. Has an amazing and large park for the kids, a mini train ride, snack shacks and great animals.

Alexia-Rose Gregoire

It's a great zoo! Free entry, friendly staff and a decent variety of animals! I reccomend it and it's also great for kids

Mystic Knight

The place has a lot of attractions blocked off or not available. No debit machines. The only food serving place does not take debit or credit. Very disappointing.

Caleb Hunt

This zoo is FREE! Our little kids love it. I think the playgrounds win out over the animals.

Nathan Nahrgang

3-4 parks right beside each other for the kids, great

Brandon Tisdale

It's a great zoo, but everything and anything was shut down due to renovations. There isn't much to see, but bare in mind that its a free zoo.

John Hebertt

Lots of animals and free

Terry A

Beautiful place for a picnic.

Ann Gillespie

Wonderful place to visit. I used to bring my children. Now I am bringing my grandchildren. We always go visit all the animals first, then maybe a train ride, saving time for the playground at the end. They even have a splash pad!

graeme “Bigyin” Burt

Good free day out with the kids. Just leave a donation towards running the place. There's ev charging too.

Keith Chau

Well maintained park. Small zoo but lots of lovely animals. Camel feeding is awesome!

Jay L

Great place to take the kids or if your on a date. Only takes an hour or 2 to do. Big park for the kids to play, and also a splash pad.

mark henwood

old zoo and run down. The city should charge a fee for entry, keep the freeloaders out that create a parking nightmare. Forget about the splash pad, you'll never get near it on a hot day... due to freeloaders. Now with the plandemic on you can't see the animals which is absurd.

Mark Biddle

Certainly not a lot of animals here, but it is a great place to take young kids to see the animals they have, grandson thoroughly enjoyed the little train they have that goes across the river and back. And a nice big play area that has everything from swings, monkey bars, See Saw just about every kind of kids play equipment.

K Thompson-Hitchins

Great place to take the kids for a family day trip. It is free plus there is a park to play your own games, have a picnic then walk around to see the animals at the zoo or go to the splash pad.

S Thomas

Interesting zoo.. park. Entry is free.

Dennis Favro

It's a wonderful zoo. There's a lot for kids to do and see, and the design and layout of the park, playgrounds (there's three, arranged by age appropriateness) a great splash pad, and zoo, is great for parents. There's even trails to and from it to the city centre , concerts at the bandshell in the summer , and picnicking and Frisbee golf areas a short walk away. The surprising part is that, other than the train ride, its free to visit. It's a real treasure for the city.

Paul Schaedlich

Spent a few hours with the family here, seemed like they were still getting ready for season, but we had a good time. Fully accredited zoo with free admission.

Karen Doonan

It's a great little place to visit and offers free admission

Becky Knoester

Love it. We go all the time. Great playground. Picnic areas are beautiful and a splash pad to boot. The animals are awesome too.

Mona Homsi

My son had lots of fun here the zoo is free and the park was big and lovely

TURNIPTIGER GAMER

This zoo was fantastic! It is really well maintained and there are so many animals to see. There is also a great playground in the park area which is awesome for kids! If you are ever in the Peterborough area, and want to do something outdoors, definitely check out this park!!!

Pablo S

For a free zoo in an beautiful park setting on the Otonabee...never disappoints.

Signery Quinte

One of the last free zoo's ... but a lot of exhibits were closed and train wasnt running even though it should have been.

Jeremy Alexander

Great zoo, and it's FREE. Lots of cool animals to go and see, i would recommend this place to anyone. When you go please stop in the gift shop and buy some of their items, it is a big way that the zoo gets their money.

Chapman Fok

Fun place. Free admission. Buy souvenirs or donate!

Aruneek Khera

Relaxing, cool, enjoyment. Weekend get away! Must go!

Mike loves to fish

Was here today to discover there is a frisbee golf course through the picnic area. Lots of children around. I was there with my grandkids and people slinging frisbees around. Who is the idiot who ok'd that. We have been coming here for years to the same spot near the bridge. We will now have to find a park that doesnt have objects zipping through the air. GIANT FAIL !

Jazmin Marie

An amazing learning experience, wish they would open up

Kaci Fallen

Such a fun place for the kids. They got see some animals and play in a splash pad

DreaminMachine

Very impressive facility, with a great playground and slide to entertain both children and adults, along with those in between. The zoo contains a great amount of different animals, and has great connections with the city of Peterborough.

Alicia Desroches

We had a fantastic day out with the kids, I love that it's easy to get a stroller around and up close to the animal enclosures!

Kaitlin Partridge

Amazing place to take your family, the animals are awesome and there's a big playground and splash pad

Sarah Vahey

Good for tobogganing not too big of a hill for smaller kids

Relish 09

Awesome place to go with the kids on a lazy summer day. The splash pad was a favorite attraction for the young ones, very well maintained.

Mahmoud Aablue

Graet and Beatiful place!

powerful Stuffys

Went here as a kid so happy that it is still open to take my kids 30 years later.

Abdul Rehman

A free zoo entry, close to university, a fun train ride, many animals to see and kids can play.

Stephanie Pascual

Love this zoo! ???? free admission, good set of animals to see, and good place for picnics and walks.

Raychel Lynn

I loved how open and casual it was. I am not a fan of being rushed through the zoo because of crowd control, which makes this a perfect space to go! I would love to see more animals being rehabilitated there. The play yard and water park was also a huge hit. The food form their little kiosk was also great and I loved the prices in the store for merchandise.

Mario Nguyen

A great place to bring the family at no charge. There is a nominal charge for the train ride though very affordable.

Samma Smith

The zoo is a great place with scenic views and very nice exibits. The parks and the splash pad are great for children as well. There are no admission fees, which makes for a great place to pop into. Riverview will definitely be a place we visit again.

Marcus Nolan

This Zoo is free and very well maintained great place to visit Animals seem well taken care of.

Rebecca Marshall

We love coming to the zoo to play at the playground, go down the hill slide, see all the animals, or use the picnic area. COVID note: the zoo itself is not open for viewing the animals, but access to the park is still available.

Chris Gerow

Fun for small kids. Lots of Reno's but all the animals were still presented. Look forward to returning.

Joshua

Wonderful place. Very scenic and they have well treated animals. Great for families and kids.

Eli B

The playground is amazing. The zoo is not very big, but it's interesting and it's free so you can't go wrong.

Rich Wigmore

A gem in the Kawarthas. Where else will you find an admission free zoo complete with a splash pad? Great exhibits, very well taken care of. Always a destination on a hot day!

Jamal Ajli

So big playground for kids Huge park for families to enjoy picnic Zoo is very helpful to educate kids about some animals Good place to have good time and enjoy the day

Sunny Dola

Really nice exhibits for the price of free, alot of interesting animals

Sampathkumar Rangasamy

Beautiful park. Kids can enjoy a lot. There is much good play area with water splash in the entrance. Also outdoor play area. And there is toy train ???? for just 2 CAD. The park is free and you can donate to it. Well maintained and beautiful.

Meredith Blunt

Lovely for a day out on the cheap! Great fun, good animal enclosures, very nice park to meander through ????

Dan White

Great place for a walk. The park is nice and clean most of the year. The play equipment isnt as good as it used to be but I still recommend for the kids.

Jonathan Ng

Can't believe this park and zoo us free, only train ride cost $2

Lindsay Rous

I love this zoo. If you have never been here, go! The animals are diverse and well cared for, and the surrounding park is beautiful.

Lindsay

Great free zoo

Ashley M.

This place is amazing. We go every year and it's always a blast. Great exercise walking through to see all of the animals and then stopping at the splash park is the best park to cool off after a hot day walking around. The best part... IT'S FREE!

Lena Hansen

One of my favorite free places to go. The train cost money but it's fantastic for kids.

Bethany Hartwick

Nice to be able to see "wild" animals. Playground and splash pad for kids. Great tourist attraction. Gift shop. Decent prices. Excellently maintained grounds.

Amy G

Very nice play park. The kids had a great ti.e. unfortunately a lot of the animals weren't around. They were either under construction or the animals were temporarily moved. Would go back

Manjadi

Beautiful place for kids ❤️ and Picnic

The Halletts

Best deal in town if you have kids...or not! Spend the few dollars for the train ride - totally worth it!

Tatiana McIntosh

A great, free way to have fun with my daughter. The train is a childhood memory, and I’m so happy to be able to share it with my child! The splash pad and playground are amazing. It’s really nice to have age specific playgrounds. Try to make it to the otter feeding at 1.

Kevin Derrick Photography

This is a small zoo but its well kept and the animals appear healthy. It free to the public

Martin Verkruisen

It was great love the place wonderful wonderful Zoo can't wait till the new attractions arrived in the whole thing's finished with his renovations nice place to have a walk with kids in a nice playground

Stormie Wayling

Beautiful small city facility with lots of thinks for children, climbing equipment, splash pad, and a small train for rides with children . Admission is free ( donations accepted ) with a small charge for train ride. Lots of parking with attached park for a small picnic. No dogs allowed.

Lisa Prenty

I think its wonderful that this zoo is free...I made a donation. The animals are well looked after and the staff is very nice

Madalyn and Memphis Skeeter and Moose

Love the Riverview Zoo, we are hoping that all the construction means that there will be more enclosures for more/different animals. The family is impatiently waiting for the train ride and splash pad to open.

Jonas Brandon

Free zoo, open year round (yes, even in the middle of Winter), fun local activity with young kids.

Darrell Magee

Zoo is still closed... park for kids in the front thats about it.

Sarah-Lynn Brown

Amazing, free park! Clean washrooms, great splash pad, play equipment for all age groups, great animal displays and a cute train ride ($2). Food available. It's easy to spend a whole day here.

Craaam

Lots of active and engaging animals. The zoo was clean and I had a great time. Plus, it's free!

C Saint

Awesome spot to visit with our two young children. Highly recommend.

Christina

A great little zoo and park. Admission is free but donations are accepted.

Jessica Connor

This zoo is free (donations accepted) which is a cheap family fun day. The kids park is 6/5 stars- absolutely amazing.

Tyrone Wheeler

Incredible, the fact that you can walk through a zoo for free. It was very clean,.

Jordyn Van Belle

I always love coming here it's very calm, a nice place to go for a walk and enjoy seeing some animals

Shannon Miller

Great place to bring your kids! The playgrounds, splash park, and train ride are al big hits! For being a free zoo, it is definitely worth a visit!

Diana Scanlon

Awesome place to take the kids to see the animals or go for a picnic or enjoy the splash pad all absolutely free. And there snack bar is really reasonable the money all goes towards the park.

shane grimm

A decent zoo, a fun water pad and playground... and it's FREE! What a great way for a city to support families getting out for the day.

Adam

Nice little spot in Peterborough. Awesome that it's free. Kids love it every time we come here.

The White House Exuma

Awesome place for all ages, taxpayer funded so free entry. Great little train ride for $2 too and excellent splash pad!

Pascal Blais

Lots of amenities for kids, including a zoo, a playground, and a splash pad. Also has a small train ride for $2 per person aged 2 and up.

Sebastian Kluth

Riverview Park & Zoo is an amazing spot for children. There are beautiful parks, a big playground and obviously the free zoo where you can admire parrots, reindeer, snakes, turkeys, yaks and more. The only downside is that maintenance is at times lacking. When I visited, I saw several peacocks walking around the area and even leaving the zoo which probably wasn't planned.

Judy Le

This is one of my favorite day trips. Coming out to this park is a nice get away from the hustle of Toronto. The paths are beautiful. The playground is large and has tons of options. The walkways are gorgeous. Over all this place is beautiful and great for the whole family.

Eric Gregory

A great place to take your family for the zoo, splash pad, a picnic or just to sit by the river.

Michael Moskau (QuatMosk)

Totally cool park and zoo for kids and adults alike! No cost, free parking (but donations are welcome), and lots to see AND do. We love this place when we are in Peterborough.

Meranda Brock

Amazing little zoo! We come here every year while we are visiting!

Daru Bhargav

Great place for families. Free to enter, lots of space for picnic, parties and family gatherings.

Jason J. Knott

Nice place to visit .. ..calmly, a family retreat..

Cindy Ford

It's a great place to take the kids. Not a ton of animals but there's playgrounds and a splash pad & a little train ride

Katie Robertson

Great zoo! It is free and a great walk. There is a train for the kids that shows you a different side of the zoo. There is a splash pad to cool off. The gift shop and canteen are not too expensive.

Todd Steenburgh

Largest free zoo in North America, so many activities for the family and especially children. It's a must visit place.

Paul Schaedlich

Spent a few hours with the family here, seemed like they were still getting ready for season, but we had a good time. Fully accredited zoo with free admission.

B S

Wonderful place to take your kids to. Nice large playground area, free admission to the zoo, polite and knowledgeable staff. The train ride is $2 but it's well worth it.

Adrienne Clark

Always a fun filled afternoon following my three daughters around checking out all the animals. They are full of questions for the people feeding the animals. The selection of animals is not extensive but it makes sense for the small size of the zoo. Just make sure you take the time to get to experience the train. Yes, there is usually a line up but little ones really love the trip. It is neat seeing places you would not be allowed to go otherwise.

Wil Pialagitis

A great place to take the kids and either play in the parks, splash pad, or see the assortment of animals.

Kevin

Keep in mind this zoo is free to visit and manage expectations accordingly. That said - definitely a solid small zoo with interesting animals and good for a walk. They maintain the grounds really well, including in the winter. Personally, I love the zoo and have gone here my whole life with my family.

Richard charnoe Szponarski

A great place to visit...from the dry parks to the Waterpark. .from the play full otters to the surprisingly long train ride...Highly recommend going!

Sabrina McHugh-Thomas

It was really fun experience for my family and I. Considering it's a free zoo, I was pleasantly surprised by the selection of animals. I would definitely return.

NeonJ RacerD

Was upset that its closed due to covid-19

Sunalini Rana

This is one of the best parks we have been to. So many swings and activities for kids. It has a splash pad too. The zoo, however was not as good as we expected. The train wasn’t working on the day we visited so check with the management before you head there. Otherwise the place is very clean and welcoming. There are many picnic tables and people are allowed to bring their own food. It has a small cafeteria too for where you can get ice creams and other eatables.

Paul Scobie

The Riverview Park & Zoo is located in Peterborough, Ontario and offers a new children's splash pad, playground equipment, an awesome 1860 locomotive train ride the entire family can take, and many varieties of animals and birds including camels, monkeys, cougars, reptiles, and more. There are also several picnic areas along the banks of the Otonabee River where you can take the time to relax and several trails around the Zoo. The Riverview Zoo is a CAZA/AZAC Accredited Zoo, is open all year round and best of all is FREE to all zoo goers.

TheHotMess Mom

It's a great zoo most of the Time but right now renovations are taking place therefore there are very few animals,the train is out of order due to high water levels and the big slide is broken. Save your time wait until the end of July weekend when Renovations are expected to be done

Laurie Whatley

We love this zoo and park. It does look like it has been somewhat effected by the economic downturn-- with some of the exhibits being closed down. However, for a free park, it is an amazing place to go. It has a splash pad and extensive playground for children. Plus there are the animal displays and the train rides for everyone to enjoy. We don't get here often, but the Riverview Park & Zoo is always a memorable experience.

Adom Postma

For a free park and zoo it definitely can't be beat. Newer park equipment, lots of animals, it's a good way to spend some time with the kiddos.

lloyd ingraham

Nice spot for a picnic on the river. 2 covered pavilions and washrooms handy. Lots of tables as well. Beautiful place to chill!

aaron patel

Best free zoo I've ever been too. Must go. Great for family's or date night

R White

Great place to go with the family. Plenty of animals, nice walking trails, huge playground to play in, nice splash pad.

Roca Koo

The zoo is spacious, a bit small but just enough for young kids to be entertained. The exhibitions are interesting and well maintained. There's a huge park and slash pad as well with a train ride (ticket required) on the far side. Did I mention it's free?

Bran

Very clean small zoo, some interesting animals like Meerkats and otters, suitable for children of all ages. Various different play structures.

Owen Macklin

Beautiful grounds and well looked after animals

Linda Kallaste

Great place to see the animals

Jodie Brand

It was nice, got to see the otters playing. And check out some new things to play on. But man the wind was brutal.

Mathew King

Great place to take the kids for the day, awesome playground, splash pad, and the animals are fun to visit and observe. Excellent for a free attraction.

Hailey Batchelor

Everything you need for a day of fun. The parks and splash pad in summer are enough on their own in summer but you've also got a great zoo and train to enjoy. My son loves it here.

Lyndsay Fintelman

A free place to take children?! Yes please! My 2.5 year old loved every time we took her this summer. It was a blast!

Emese Kis

Love this place! Thank you local utility for maintaining it and making it accessible for free!

Rayanne Scott-Pierce

Educational, clean & a good variety of animals with addition to a children’s play area with splash pad for warmer weather.

Justine Nagy

Love this place perfect for toddlers, not too big, splash pad, and playground. You will need to keep a close eye on your kid at the playground.

Denise McBain

Grandkids loved the water park area and all the animals they could see, especially the otters.

Pat Thomson

Beautiful zoo and grounds, needs a ĺittle maintenance here and there. Enjoyed the visit.

Katie Koesters

Everything free.. So you might not find a parking spot or one close and the quality of exhibits are sometimes rough. I wouldn't care but I felt some animals needed far more room to roam than they were given, specially the cats. Other than that it was a decent zoo even with a splash park for the kids.

Bernie Charbonneau

We brought the Grand kids to this gem of a place and they absolutely had a great time! Small splash pad, 2 or 3 playgrounds, picnic areas that are covered and a wonderful small Zoo that will fascinate anyone with animals from all parts of the world! Oh, did I mention that this is ALL FREE! EVEN THE PARKING! 10 OUT OF 5! NOT KIDDING.

Louise Lazarich

Excellent free little Zoo to take the kids. They have a water and park play areas for the kids as well. A nice day out with the little ones.

Louise McLeod

Free zoo. Variety of animals to see. Most exhibits are outdoor. Excellent play areas for the kids with different zones for different ages. A really good splash pad in the summer. Clean toilet facilities. From spring to August they have a train that you can ride on. It's about $3. Totally worth it!!

Gabrielle Tayag

Nice place to spend a few hours, seeing some common and some unique animals. Definitely family friendly with plenty of play structures and space for kids to run around.

Jessica Hoflick

Amazing zoo with professional staff, the animals are very happy and properly cared for, the zoo is a wonderful way to spend th day, and its free! The train is cute and adorably fun for kids, tickets are inexpensive. :)

Jessica Hoflick

Amazing zoo with professional staff, the animals are very happy and properly cared for, the zoo is a wonderful way to spend th day, and its free! The train is cute and adorably fun for kids, tickets are inexpensive. :)

Julia

August 2020 COVID-19: The actual zoo is closed as of now (can see a yak from the fence) but the playground is open. When it opens again I highly recommend going as it is free and a great experience for any age.

Julia

August 2020 COVID-19: The actual zoo is closed as of now (can see a yak from the fence) but the playground is open. When it opens again I highly recommend going as it is free and a great experience for any age.

Derek Robicheau

Free Zoo and splash pad, amazing place to take the kids for a fun afternoon

Cathy Henry

Best free zoo around. Great place to spend the day with family.

Bearded Canadian

Really good place to take the family for a day out. Lots of stuff to do the train, there is a splash pad and parks for all ages. its Every inexpensive day out and fun for every one.

Kattiya Noonan

Free to the community with animals, a large play area and picnics by the water. Donations welcomed.

Neil NARBONNE

Good for a free zoo. Interesting animals and a fee good children's playgrounds on the same grounds.

Alicia B

How can you say anything bad about a free zoo that is a childhood memory and has awesome animals in it? I mean, it's no Toronto Zoo but it's a Peterborough staple and has a great playground and splash pad.

A M B

Always free, some parts currently under construction but still accessible. Very accessible to persons with limited mobility (includes swings adapted for use by wheelchairs). There is a good variety of animals including camels, merekats, emus and agouti, monkeys crocodiles and big snakes. My kids have loved this place since they were little and i love it too. Dont forget to check out the $2 train ride across the bridge and the awesome picnic areas along the waterfront trails (has a few large shelters for events, no booking required). And the playground is all ages appropriate. A real peterborough staple. Dont miss it.

Andre Zhang

Awesome community space! This completely free zoo has more animals then you would ever expect, and the splash pad is thrilling for kids. The train ride was always very beloved- only $2 for an 10 minute ride over the river and through the forest. A must go!

Robin Sutton

Not only is this zoo and park free admission, it's an awesome place to bring your children and entire family for a day of education and absolute fun and relaxation. If you don't plan a family day here your missing out.

Cassidy Winstone-Kirk

Amazing place, super family oriented! The train ride is so cute my little guy LOVED it. The animals actually come to the fence to see you, not just hide. There is a bunch of playgrounds, with wheel chair access (even accessible swings!). Splash pad is well kept and super fun. Even the food and gift shop are great, not over priced and well kept. Highly recommended!

Peter Bohac

Small but great to get out and enjoy a walk with family and friends. Awesome picnic area and lovely veiw of the lake. It's free with lots for the kids.

Bobbie-Jo Fowler

What a great place for kids and adults. Free and clean and just a wonderful spot to spend the day!

sam likopulos

Splash park was Awesome the Zoo kept in great shape thank you Peterborough for a great job my grand kids had a blast

Valwynn Williams, RVT

Excellent! Conveniently located. Just minutes away from downtown Peterborough! Grounds are very well kept, exhibits and enclosures are very pleasing to the eye and informative for all ages. Children's play area is well set out. And, most importantly, the animals are exceedingly well cared for. It's a joy to walk through and observe the entire zoo! I'm very pleased that a portion of my utility bill goes to the upkeep of the zoo and care of the animals. As well, I make a point of donating a certain amount of money each time I enter the zoo. Thank you!

Chris D'Amico

Fun course for mid-short range shots. Make sure to take a picture of the course layout to refer to after each hole as it can be a little confusing without it!

Shiv Vohra

This is a really cool place! Absolutely love the fact that it is supported by the Peterborough municipality. I enjoyed seeing all the animals and the green open spaces. My only issue is that a lot of people thought that it's okay to have a BBQ set up under the shelters that they have provided... On wooden tables. If that was taken a little more care of that would be great. But other than that we really enjoyed this spot.

Brian Sterling

One of my favourite places to go, love the otters and camels, massive playground, splashpad and the train ride is a must $2 per person. Or head down to the right we for a picnic.

Chris Gerow

Fun for small kids. Lots of Reno's but all the animals were still presented. Look forward to returning.

Fred Layton

Just Amazing, a really really fun experience for everyone, lots of animals and things to do and see. Well worth the trip and did I mention it's all Free, yes Free Except for what you'd like to buy A Great setting and just fun to do

Nicholas Callahan

Not too bad of a park , however I think we need more Canadian wild life in the park.

Lauren MacKay

Great little zoo. Free admission, splash pad, large playground. Train ride (admission extra) great place to take young children. Also a great place for a walk along the river.i would recommend this park to anyone visiting the Peterborough area

Brent D.

Best free zoo in the Kawarthas!

Matt Roque

Best zoo in the world. Zoo's aren't cool but of it benefits the animals, I'm okay with it.

Leslie Sawdon

Love this small zoo. Amazing park area and a great place to visit.

Shawn Hurd

Great place for kids to play and learn about lots of animals for FREE! Animals include: Monkeys, Otters, Camels, Deer, Snakes, Lemurs and many more. There is a (seasonal) snack/lunch stand, washrooms, and splash pad in the summer. Open year round, a staple for locals and travelers entertain kids without cost for admission.

Lorraine Lightfoot

Beautiful not to big not to small perfect size to spend the day with family and friends visit. We had lots of fun. Our lil guy is two and was good just enough time to go through have lunch and finish ur trip in a decent time. Only thing is animals not supervised with ppl during ur visit if an issue with animal u notice like my husband did with one of the big birds we had to report it. Other then that had an amazing time and to go out to the bottom parking lot you go down a huge slide and. Out boys thought that was the best way to leave is the huge slide To go down to get out.

Stop Motion Production Entertainment

Absolutely the perfect family-centric destination. Accessible for all! The Otter Exhibit is my sons favourite exhibit.

Shawnie Roach Cardinal

one of the most beautiful places I have been...cant believe its absolutely free...amazing

Erebus Eight

Nice little zoo, free to the public. Has a good sized park and play ground for kids and food vendors.

Kim Titus

Great place to take the kids. It has a great splash pad and it's FREE!

Amanda

I loved this place as a kid and I still do. The train rides are fun and the area is beautiful. I highly recommend!!

Jamie-Lee Wagler

This place was phenomenal, especially considering it was free! Incredible so and the animals have a lot of space. We were very impressed and highly recommend a visit there!

Margaret

Always a pleasure going to the zoo. Clean . and so much fun for the grandkids. Not to mention it's Free

Deborah Wittekoek

River veiw zoo is a great place, I have lived here all my life and it is one of the first places I tell people about always because we are very fortunate to have it.

Owen Archer

very fun zoo i just find it odd how alot of the time there big slide is closed

Rosh P

Love this place. We drive here every summer from Toronto. They have a wide variety of animals ( not as many as Toronto zoo). A huge picnic area and a nice splash pad. Plus everything is free. No admission. Except for a train ride which is $2 a person. My kids love it here.

Irfan Khan

A nice place for family picnic. Zoo had different animals. Play area for kids. Small lake and family spots with tables and chairs. Most fun part was long slide. Parking area has electric car charging spot.

Frank L.

There really aren't that many animals, but just enough to keep my 2.5 year old plenty entertained for the afternoon. The train ride ($2/person, free for kids 2 and under) , splash pad (bring your water gear), and playgrounds make it a good day trip option for kids.

Karen Wadlin

We stop into this wonderful little gem each year on a small holiday with our grandchildren. We love it and so do they!! The vintage train ride is always fun. The canteen is surprisingly very good. Enjoyed an order of fries, grilled cheese sandwich, hotdogs (not your usual small dogs either lol) and some icecream treats. My hat off to all the people behind this zoo to make it work, we love yah!!

Yaris Hernández

Nice are to go with the kids. This time it was many attractions close

Manuel Dudler

Nice Zoo, no entry fee, free parking, splash pad is great!

Gabriela

Although the zoo portion is closed and there were no animals, there is still a large playground area for the children. It is composed of 4 interlocking large playgrounds with lots to do. My son always wants to come HERE to play!

E Mayhew

My grandson James was in his glory! Thank goodness the Riverview Park Zoo train is still operating :) Thank you to all dedicated donors. It was a delightful way to break away for a few hours and connect with nature's gifts.

John Chartrand

Great playground and splash pad for the kids! The zoo is concise but really fun, and the price is right...FREE!!

Matt Kilfoil

Best free zoo in the area and plenty of play equipment for the kids! Oh, and they have a FREE full frisbee golf course right beside!

Jade Legacy

Great place for the kiddos to run themselves tired. So much to see and the animals are really taken care of. There's a bunch of playgrounds for kids of all ages and abilities to enjoy themselves as well.

Kevin

Keep in mind this zoo is free to visit and manage expectations accordingly. That said - definitely a solid small zoo with interesting animals and good for a walk. They maintain the grounds really well, including in the winter. Personally, I love the zoo and have gone here my whole life with my family.

Kristy Deforge

Great big park, splash pad and bathrooms. I'm not generally a fan of zoos due to the animals being in captivity so it's hard for me to fairly rate it but I believe most of the animals are older and came from others zoos.

Glen Campbell

What a great place !! Free to go and enjpy. That is very rare. Highly recommend it for families.

Majid Khodabandehloo

Very nice park and zoo! 4 large playgrounds for all ages. Perfect place to spend a day with family.

jimmy k

Great small zoo, well maintained and animals have nice habitats. Lots of activities for kids with splash pad, playground and picnic area.

K Neufeld

Awesome free zoo. Mostly all wheelchair accessible (unsure of bathrooms). Very cool accessible swing but needing to book it ahead of time.

Lyndsay Frey

The train ride is cool and the splash pad is great for kids.

Gareth Wells

Great zoo where you can get close to the animals and a great splash pad and play park. Dont forget the train ride in summer too.

Peter Zhang

It’s a nice place to the local residence. Went today however lots of places are still under renovation.

Rowena Patterson

Earliest opened splash pad in town. Perfect in this heat. Love taking my kids to the Riverview Park & Zoo!

rick sharpe

Kids loved it. Could use little more parking for bigger vehicles but over all worth the visit.

Ryan Lawrence

One of Peterborough's great treasures. A very well kept zoo and large playground in a great location on the river. Best of all...free admission!

Robert Marten

Giving it a three star only because I used to have a trailer there. If you like no rules and anything goes, enjoy.

Odin Kiff

Great place to spend the afternoon with the family. Splash park and huge park. Food isn’t always open so pack your own lunch. Plus a train too.

James Patterson

This is one of my favourite places in Ontario. It's very well run, and the animals are cared for. The staff is very friendly. Did anyone tell you that it's FREE? Yep. Open all year round except for Christmas day! Go check it out!

Doug Macisaac

Will be better when it opens to see the animals.

Ashley Ferguson

Free park and lots of animals nothingg better. However, the food there is super lack luster. Friea were cold as hell amd burger tasted undercooked bun was cold. Not to complain but 16 dollars later...

Barbara Herring

Excellent tour. Come and see the amount of construction and work that is ongoing. The animals love ❤️ to see you. Many thanks to our tour guides.

Brian Suggs

Great place to come with young children. The splash pad is not huge, but plenty big enough to cool off on a hot day. The animals seem to be well taken care of and it's great that it's free, even the parking.

Andrew Taylor

A great place to bring young children on the weekend - playground, splash pad, animals, train ride

Brendan Ryde

Great little zoo, lots for the kids to do. Train ride is a must, splash pad and playground were big winners. Only downside was the only food vendor closes early. Advertised hot food served until 5pm, but had stopped service at 4:15pm. Worth the 2.5 hr from Kingston!

Daniel Ferguson

It's free and the kids love it. Great playground equipment. Good way to have a nice afternoon with the family without spending any money.

Shehla Anjum

Love it its really nice zoo with playground , park and splash pad for kids.Parking and entry to zoo is free...just pay $2 for tarin ride.

Peter Oleskiw

This is a " zoo " in the middle of Peterborough Ontario and it's free. Many animals to see and learn about in an very nice park like setting. There's also a great little train the family can ride on and there's a fee of $2.00 per person. It's on the river , with swings , slides , and climbing devices. There's also a long approximately 80' slide that's fun and enjoyable. Bring a blanket for the slide and you'll go faster and have a better time. It takes about 1.5- 2 hours too see the park at a quick pace , more if you take your time.

Geoff Braida

Nice lil zoo. Great place fpr the kids to burn off so e energy for free!

Jessica Laws

Great place for a stroll with the kids. Not only is it educational but they have a beautiful playground as well.

Susan Auld

Had no idea this little zoo existed! Admission is free which really surprised me however there are boxes where donations can be left (which we did do) to help with the running of things. There were a few exhibits which were empty due to work being done and a few others where we could not find anything at all but it was a really hot and humid day so possibly the animals were staying in the shade. The almost 4 year old in our group thoroughly enjoyed himself as did the adults. I would certainly go back here in the spring or fall.

Dave Shaw

It is a fun place. There is 4 parks there is lot of animals like penguins. And there is a water park.

Angie Zavitz

A fantastic little Zoo! Beautifully maintained and cared for, friendly staff, educational for many levels and all for the price of donation. Always a fun time at the splash pad or three other play grounds too!

D L

Free Zoo, not too big, not too small. Animals appear happy and well cared for. Fun train ride is a minimal extra cost. Clean and well kept. A Nice splash pad and a great playground too. Can't go wrong here.

Adonis L. (kc.dad.sportster)

Free Zoo and Park. Animals ready for photo ops. Cheap train ride great for kids. Fun splash pad.

Gerald Macdonald

Great place for a walk with the animals and all at no cost. Great spot to entertain the kids.

Siegrid Varty

Great place to wander around and all the animals. The 10 min train ride is quite educational and fun for the young ones Splash pad always a favorite for the kids and gift shop , all this with a free admission

Norm Obey

This is a great place to bring the kids. Free to enter with lots of playgrounds and splash pad. Not a whole lot animals but some pretty cool stuff.. Always well maintained and clean. Also there is a train ride there which is pretty cool. (Under construction at the moment) you can also enjoy some frisbee golf there too.

judith maclellan

The train and long slide did not appear to be open on this Victoria Day weekend. The website did not indicate that these 2 attractions would be closed. There was no further information as to when they would be reopened. Please improve your website information and signage at the sites. My grandkids travelled from Bowmanville to visit and were very disappointed.

Sarah Thompson

Wonderful walk

Justin Petsinis

Its a zoo and its free. Fun place to go with the kids not to big.

Carly

I too remember a time when the monkey house was down by the river, the zip lines, the pond with the swans and ducks and the gazebo where concerts were held. That was 20+ years ago. Riverview Park and Zoo has been a part of Peterborough for many years and has only gotten better. Adding in additions such as the otters, the splash pad complete with changing house/washrooms, gift shop, newer monkey house, etc. I've heard before it is the largest free zoo in all of Canada. I'd believe it! I still come here every year I visit my hometown.

Jennifer Hutton

We've always loved this little Zoo. Perfect for young people. Small enough to do in a couple hours, more than enough to see. Little water splash thing for the small ones. And donation based. Perfect.

Dan Serson

All free to get in great park animals it is an amazing family fun place

Meghan Thurston

What a great day! Many thanks to the all-star Lindsay for allowing us to meet our sponsor animal "Petunia" the Red-Rumped Agouti!

John

Nice little Zoo/park north of downtown Peterborough. Entry is free and they have a small collection of animals, a playground and a splash pad. Can get busy during the weekend, but nothing crazy. The animals are a nice feature and are both fun and educational. The train in the far corner of the park is great, it costs $2 per person to ride, which is cheap enough, and the ride takes about 7-10 minutes. The wait is usually the same since the train runs continuously. Kids love this ride. The splash pad draws a crowd, but it broke down while we were there. Overall a good place to visit when in Peterborough.

Kathryn Mallory

For a free zoo its a great place to take the kids for a day of animal watching and otter feeding. Great playground and splashpad! 2 dollars for a train ride the kids loved!

David Bold

Very clean.fantastic for all.wish I lived in that town.would go every day.so good

sarah ricker

It's free due to donations from some very generous people. It's a lovely park and zoo. The water park is a great place to take your children to play after seeing these amazing animals.

Rob James

Free is nice, park staff are friendly but it's not like the Toronto Metro Zoo.

Kelsie Mary

Great place if you have young kids, its free and it has lots of playgrounds and splash pads for the kids to run around and lots of picnic areas. As a zoo I'd say it was a disapointment as they really only had 10 animals, however for being free I cant complain. The 2$ train ride was the highlight for the kids. Not worth the trip down from Toronto but wouldnt hesitate to go again if living close by.

Margot Shaffer

Love this zoo in the middle of town. Price is Right (free). Variety of animals. Lots of space and play areas for kids

Joshua T

Good assortment of animals, well laid out, lots of shade, and free (well, subsidized through tax payer money, but it's free to park and enter)

Daniel M

There is room for improvement, but for a free Park/Zoo it has quite a bit to offer!

Shawn Benjamin

Great zoo with splashpad, playgrounds, and miniature train ($2 per ride). Admission to the zoo is free.

Jon Tooke

That was a great time lots to do with the kids. The parks animals splash pad and train were all really fun. Had a great time with the family. The only cost if you want is at there snack bar and train is 2 dollars anyone over two.

Ahmad Kakar

Today, we wanted to have a family get away day, and wanted some nice place to go to, so I searched the internet and found this place marked on the map as park and zoo, so took the kids and grabbed some fast food and left for it from Richmond Hill. It took us around 2 hours and got there around 3pm. As the reviews clearly say it, IT IS a beautiful, nice and very clean place for kids and family to have fun at. It has a zoo part with a rail track( rail fee is $2.00 per person, under 2 years free). Apart from this, every thing is free. Lots of garbage bins, places to party, nice staff and a lot of upgrade in progress. Definitely, will go again soon, and do suggest it for families with kids. I do hereby, thank the management and staff for the very hard work they do every day in operating this hidden gem!

Gregory O'Neill

Well maintained free zoo. Great for kids. Small but fun

Tiffany Sanderson

Love this zoo! It's free, has an amazing park and splash pad! We always have a great time!

Andrew Strutton

Absolutely loved it! For a free zoo this is wonderful and you can see why it's full of happy families and smiling children.

Greg Torrance

A zoo that is free to visit. A great learning experience for all ages. FREE parking. Great splash pad.

Jessica Nickason

Worth the drive for the little ones. Lots of play structures, a splash pad, and animals to see. We had a great day.

Cary Lauzon

Excellent place to go with a family or yourself beautiful park well kept and lots of animals

Dillon Murray

Loved it, great opportunity to see some wonderful animals. My kid had a fantastic time

Grace Acheampong

We would never have come across this great place to visit if it wasn't for our daughter's soccer tournament nearby. With our handy GPS we were able to find this wonderful, quiet, informative and fun place with animals, splash pad, park, trails and even a miniature train ride.

Sarah Cloutier

Lots of fun for the kids, great picnic area, animals are interesting and the train ride was neat for the little kids to go on. And it only costs $2 for the train!

Roberta Marie

Good zoo! No entry fee and a great time for people of all ages

Christine Bonnell

Nice play area for kids ...nice to see more options for food and exhibits

angela green

Worth the drive. The kids had a blast. Wish there were more zoo's in the Kingston area and Free at that????

Oksana Rotman

Super cute zoo. Not a lot of animals but I was so happy to see the few that they had during winter time. Highly recommend for animal lovers ????

Trevor Hill

A free zoo to look at all the animals and more? Absolutely great place for the kids!

Liv Neshevich

Great experience for young kids and it's free!! $2/person for the cool little train ride. The kids loved it. Take lots of water. The water refill station was nice but the water tasted dirty.

Denice Christopher

Free, fun zoo and park with many play structures and splash pad. A wonderful place to spend with family or alone.

Edith Robichaud

My family loves visiting this place every year. The little train, lots of park space and the big green slide are always a hit. We also enjoy the animals but last time we were there (August 2019), there weren't as many animals, it seemed but that's ok.

Courtney Lockhart

Great zoo to take the kids. They enjoyed it!

Lisa B

Perfect for children, it's free and there is a water park, playground, snack shack, and public washrooms. It's relaxing and low key.

Paul Schaedlich

Spent a few hours with the family here, seemed like they were still getting ready for season, but we had a good time. Fully accredited zoo with free admission.

Teira Browny

Great zoo. Nice that it's free. Donation are appreciated. The kids love the park and huge slide. Also running through the splash pad.

Amy Pharoah

Fabulous place for kids!! A MUST! My kids still love it (age range 7-14). We make the long trip one to three times a year! It is free and younger kids can handle the amount of walking. Toronto Zoo is too much for them. This place has a zoo (even camels), and incredible amount of playground equipment (even a massive tube slide that I would estimate is around 8-10 meters long), great splash pad, gift shop, washrooms, changeroom, snack shop, and a train ride. The train ride is the only thing that costs money. The last I checked, it was $2 per kid; parents ride free. They have an Otter and a Meet the Keeper demo. The Otter feeding is always fun for kids; it is around 1 or 1:30. They love to watch them swimming above and below water. *See my pics for more info. I don't have pics of all of the playground options. Oops, forgot to take a pic of the massive tube slide!

Cindy Duncan

Very few animals. Several enclosures have signs saying under renovation with no sign of any changes being made and no animals in them. Disappointing if going to see animals. On the other hand it was a pleasant walk, if you have children there is a few nice playgrounds and water features to play in not to mention the train ride at $2.00 per person according to the signs, unsure of the age the cost stats as we did not go down to the train station. The zoo itself is free and I do not know of any other free zoos. All in all it was a nice afternoon worth while going.

Ri ZAW

Great little zoo. Especially at the price $0.00! It is also a nice park. The only downside as at my visit was all the construction and renos to the exhibits and park in general. But dont let those issues deter you if you have little ones they will love it.

william seeger

Great place for the kids third year in a row going. They've bin doing stuff and upgrading every year

CL L

good place to go with your family

Mark Urquhart

Peterborough's Riverview Park and Zoo is a great place for the whole family to enjoy. Your kids will love the train ride and splash pad and of course all the wonderful animals.

Darlene Watson

2nd time going there. It has always been good. They take good care of the animals. Lots to see. A great fun train ride too. Snack bar has fair pricing and for the quantity. The food we ate was good. My grandson loved it too. A full day to enjoy yourself with the family. Like the splash pad so the kids can cool off afterwards. That's a bonus to keep them happy and cool.

Kevin Black

We absolutely love this place. Can't get enough if it -- a visit to Peterborough isn't the same without stopping at the zoo. The otters, meercats and monkeys are so enjoyable to watch. We highly recommend it!

Gina H

Waterpark was superb, playground is amazing. Animals of course are always the highlight of the trip

Ryan Reeson

We brought our daughter here during a road trip. This park/zoo is VERY impressive given the no-cost admission. No trip to Peterborough complete without stopping here.

justine faragher

I feel like every time I go there it less and less to see

Jackie Fee

Wonderful place for adults & children. No cost to get in. Have taken our granddaughter many times. Love it there.

Patricia Aitken

Had a great time with my daughter and husband . Went just after labour day and no train . That is one thing I would have liked to try but am definitely going back

Laura Welsh

This is a wonderful place. We came into town for Thanksgiving with family. I absolutely love this idea and so glad that this is available to all residents. The place was well maintained and had plenty of space for my toddler to run around. We will be back!

Jonathan Moore

Had a great time at the public zoo, but watch out for some of the animals - they charged the fence!

Chris Girard

This is a great spot to bring your kids - easy to navigate and lots of interesting animals to see! Everything was well maintained when we went and it's free!

Noel Michael

FREE FREE FREE. FREE TO ENTER ZOO AND SPLASH PAD. $2 FOR THE TRAIN RIDE. Small zoo but mice because the kids don't get tired walking for miles and miles. Friendly staff. Cart rentals available you need for the kids and stuff. Hard to find parking in weekends though.

Wenson Gan

Awesome zoo. Emus love to eat grass

Chapman Fu

Love this free zoo! Especially the train ride!

Nancy Savage

Great family day. A wonderful park to bring the family and all is at no cost. We enjoyed the whole day there

Alana

Free zoo with great exists and a splash pad, large playground, picnic shelters and lots of shade!

bob anderson

Must be one of the last places on the planet that you can go to that is free. It's also a sanctuary for injured or sick animals and a learning facility for people who want to care for them. You can make a donation on site if you wish.

Susan Regular

We try to visit about once a month. Our 4 year old loves it there. The zoo has everything you can possibly need to entertain a little one. Then end it all off with a run around the splash pad. Highly recommend

Kevin Chard

Always a good time here. Easy to do 8 an afternoon. Not too much walking for my young kids. Lots to see.

Christina Brinklow

Wow! The Riverview Park and Zoo is fabulous! It is owned and operated by the City of Peterborough so it has a really open and inclusive feel. It's free to visit here! No admission. There is also a waterpark and a separate playground right at the entrance. Really well maintained, clean and inviting. There is a cute little train ride (3 dollars), at the other end of the park. Some of the animals we saw were parrots, lynx, otters, wallabies, a tortoise, lemurs, monkeys, reptiles, capybara and more!! There is a lovely canteen midway through the park where they serve ice cream, drinks, burgers and hot dogs, fries and popcorn. Other items available I'm sure. The washroom near the waterpark was busy and wet...to be expected. The washroom further into the park was quieter and tidier. I think the staff and the city do a fabulous job running this property. I was truly impressed and had a fabulous day! I will be back!!

J K

Nice place. Free of cost. Many playgrounds. Not that crowded. Nice little train ride for kids and adults. Different types of animals that keep the children's interest. Highly recommended and will definitely visit again.

Santiago Rey

It's a nice place tu spend the day

Amber Brownson

Very sweet little zoo! We have been coming here for years, the train ride is adorable and the park is huge.

Pamela Manning

My 4yr old has loved this zoo since he was a baby and we brought his 9 month old sister for the first time today.

My Own

Great spot for young kids to play and see animals. No charge to enter and free parking.

Elizabeth Kieffer

Great little zoo! I love the animals, it is rarely crowded, and it’s free!

Jason Nester

Fabulous place to bring the kids! Splash pad and a train ride to enjoy on a beautiful summer day in Peterborough.

Ted Sues

Great place for kids. Playgrounds ,train and splash pad. What more could you ask for. Oh yeah, animals. It is great. And no admission charge.

Nathan Campbell

Beautiful park /zoo. A great place to take the kids for the day on a budget. Entrance is free, huge playground, well kept and clean, and a fun train that runs through the park. A surprising amount of animals for a free zoo. We will be going back!

paulette naccarato

So blessed to have this in our wonderful city. Love it.

Nathan Pierce

A free zoo...sign me up. Fantastic park for a nice stroll with the family.

Eyitayo Aloh

Even with its doors closed, this Zoo remains a family favourite. The Playgrounds are open for family fun and entertainment and the management stocked hand sanitizers in strategic corners to ensure that the families stay safe as they play. That is an awesome and caring gesture. We still manage to get a glimpse of some of the Animals and I really can't wait for the doors to open after the Covid enforced closure.

Kyle Reed

Free zoo for everyone to enjoy. My kid loves the splash pad.

elsa welch

Great place to take the family. They have lots for kids to do. There is also a splash pad for kids as well.

Katie Morewood

This is a great little place. The animals are limited, but considering that the zoo is free that can be excused, and the ones they have are nicely displayed and always seem happy. They have a huge playground with an awesome giant slide that goes down a big hill. There is also a splash pad and a mini train (seasonal and $2 per ride). Definitely worth a visit if you are in the area.

Vanessa M

Wow! It's free with an amazing staff!? The employees were polite and friendly. The animals looks happy and the place is clean. Lots of respect to their team! Keep up the great work!

Dan Corner

Free of charge, donations very welcomed. Animals well kept. Train ride in the summer and splash pad. Big playground for the kids. If you haven't been, check it out...it's worth it.

Bridget Farret

This is a very nice place to take young children. They don't have a lot of animals but the ones they do have are interesting. They have ample parking and you can purchase drinks, ice cream, etc. There are several play places for kids with slides and swings and a bonus splash pad. There is also a very cute little train ride which is quite reasonably priced at two dollars a person. Best part entrance to the zoo is free!

Jill Hernandez

This zoo is absolutely fantastic. We go often and really enjoy seeing all of the animals. The train is also a great experience. The splash pad and Park are also really great.

Ben Rempel

The zoo is free, fun and educational. Great walking paths that lead down to the river. Lots of free parking. Giant playground, looks like it's fun but I'm too old. Little splash pad that is fenced and treed in. There is a decent number of animals. Be sure to check out the daily otter feeding.

David zhulin

Very nice and calm park including a cozy clean splash pad, the zoo is more than you even expect and you can see many of rare animals there.

Patricia Marshall

So much to see and do !! I will definitely have to go back a couple of more times. Watching the otters get fed thrilled bother kids and adults...lol

R G-Y

Very nice park . It was a great way to spend time with family plus parking is free and no admission charge.

Jayne Zavitski

Great little zoo, not many animals on display but those that were on display were well taken care off. Gardens, grass, and flowers were well taken care of.

Ben Barker

Great family friendly zoo and the best part is it is free!

Karell Pfeiffer

Great day trip. Splash pad, huge play gyms with a giant slide and a zoo to boot. There's also a train ride for $2 a ticket during the summer.

Harry Sully

Nice, clean park with no admission fee. Kids loved it and enjoyed watching the otters play.

Paul Bahen

If you have small children this is a great place. Not a ton of walking or animals like the Toronto Zoo but enough to keep the little ones amused. Free parking and admission. Tons of play structures for kids of all ages Free splash pad Lots of washrooms Food is about as expensive as everywhere else but seeing as you are getting in for free it is understandable. You can bring your own food and drink without issue. There is a train that takes you around for about 10 mins and costs $2 a person ( kids under 2 free). Was a fun ride. Was my first time going today but honestly for free admission and parking it was worth the drive. The kids had a great time and it's about a 1 hour drive from Oshawa by highway.

Asif Mahmood

Park is very good. But there is one portion of the zoo where they need to assign some security people. The animal is very aggressive and almost has access to the door. Looks scary

William Price

Clean and interesting park. Lots of facilities for young families and a very good zoo. The railway ride is fun too and well worth the $2 fee for adults and kids over two years old

Colleen Bell

Who doesn't love a free zoo with a great playground and a great splash pad! Lots to do and see!! And all for free! I have lived in Peterborough most of my life and this zoo just keeps getting better!!

Shannon O'Keefe

Great free zoo with amazing children's park and splash pad!

Angie Matthews

This is a beautiful zoo. It's great for kids . The train ride is fun. And the splash pad is great. The play ground is big and has lots of stuff for all age kids.

V. Hooper

Beautiful spot. It was nice to take our time get some food and see the animals. Wonderful that its free

Cassidy Richter

Such a sweet little zoo! Open all year and free admission. Lovely place to visit in Peterborough and a nice walk. Additionally there's a sweet little train ride for children/families.

John Dodge

Cute park and the animals all seem decently cared for. They train ride is hokey but fun for little kids. I did have some concerns with the way certain animals were kept, but the staff all came across as genuinely kind and caring.

Alexander Murphy

Fantastic zoo. It's free and they have a good variety of interesting animals.

Heather Harper

The animals are neat and well cared for. The splash pad and playground are fun and the little train ride is fun and only a few dollars.

David Sfiligoi

What an genious way of using boring city land for water treatment to attract tourists and locals to see a small free zoo, play at a large play ground, cool down at the water splash pad and finally take a cheap 2$ ride in a miniature train that will bring happiness to all small child. Well down Peterborough!

Quentin

Always nice to have something to do for free with the kids around here. Beautiful animals and the park is always a favourite, lots of different stuff for different ages.

Ravi Kiran

Ample parking and not entrance fee for Zoo. Kids love waterpark.

Melody Priestley

This free community zoo is so much more than that. Peterborough and it’s residents should be proud to have maintained such a jewel.

Jessykah Jeffrey

Amazing all around! Animal enclosures are large, animals look happy! Big playground and splash pad for kids. Everything is FREE!

Lianne Monette

It was wonderful as usual. We try to get there at least once a year. We absolutely love it.

Melanie T

Its free! Free admission, free parking! Great for the kids. (Or just go for a walk around with a date) Three beautiful play grounds and a nice little splash pad area. Theres a snack bar as well with a little lunch area. Well maintained. The washrooms are kept clean and updated.

Bernadette Code

Great fun and basic park. There is a small variety of animals both local and lots international. Kids seem to love the river otter when it can be viewed. The day we visited the sloth seemed to want a photo shoot. There is also a cute little food stand if you want a snack. Remember to bring cash for that! Splash pad has change rooms/bathrooms available. Oddly enough there is a cool water bottle refill station.

Jimmy Matejic

Great for a walk . unfortunately everything is closed.

Martin Barclay

The best free attraction in the Peterborough. Something for everyone from splash pad to Otter feeding

Iris FMlm

Great place to go with small children. The place has also a big playground. Even though, the zoo admission is free, everything is clean and well maintained. The animals look happy and healthy.

Courtland Ruel

My family loves this zoo. This was our first time there since the pandemic and we had a great time. We went on a Sunday and it wasn't crowded at all. You may want to check ahead, I'm glad I did because we had to buy tickets ahead of time. I was surprised how clean it was, which was really nice. The peacocks were beautiful and you can have lunch with them. It is perfect for families but anyone can have a great time. We didn’t even cover the whole park in a day; I can’t wait to come back! The animals are incredible! I highly recommend this place.

Shaun Tryan

It is a great place. It is free, so there are not a lot of animals. But there is a big playground and water park. There is also a train ride that only costs $2.00. Great place to take the kids on a budget.

John Nichols

Good walking paths. Great for pokemoning and even to see some cool animals

Cal Clarke

One of the best zoos around!! And it's free! Good for little kids with the new waterpark.

DH257 Abba

A great place to bring small children. Only serves Pepsi so that was a minus. A lot of the exhibits were under construction but the staff were friendly.

Dean B. Terriah

Beautiful little zoo. The train is fantastic. Staff were cheery and friendly.

Kenny Annett

Fantastic place to take the kids. Free of charge. Playground, Splash Pad and even a train!

Mitzi Albright

It is free. Went with my girlfriend and our baby, baby slept pretty much the whole time so it was a visit more just for us.

Paul

Come on people, it's a free zoo! Well maintained and good play area etc...its FREE! Lot better than a few other zoo's I have been to that cost 100 bucks to e term for the day

Lancelot Williams

Chose a bad time to visit; half of the exhibits are undergoing maintenance or construction. The few animals that were there looked mangy, very sad. The kids had fun at the play park, but that's not why I brought them to the zoo; unfortunately, I couldn't find the animal donation bin to leave them.

David Brownlee

This a great park for young and old, lots of animals to see, a splash pad and some awesome play structures for kids

April Platt

We love this zoo! Animals, park, the train ride, the water park all fun and educational. The only complaint would be to pack a lunch or just don't order food. I ordered two fries and I waited about 25 min. Three people had orders in front of me and it was very slow service.

James McGowan

Totally free. Several playgrounds for children and a splash pad in the summer. Great for families.

Jeffery Meyer

Free and small which is good for little kids. However it was so hot when we were there that a lot animals were laying low in the shade. Otters were the highest hit with our kids.

John Castle

I always went to the zoo riverdale they turned it into a farm still great for the kids

Ned Foley

Great for the whole family. Its free and fun. Where else can you see a collection of well kept animals.

Heather Lewis-Cochrane

Amazing place to bring the family. Animals, a splash pad, playground and picnic area. Very well maintained. Also has a fun little train ride

Leonard Dobratz

Wonderful experience.Great shady locale on a hot day.Admission price is awesome too.

Nigel Peters

It's a nice zoo to visit with the family - no entry fee and no parking charge too. We went for the train ride and the kids were thrilled. Saw some animals like the Camel, Burmese python ( huge fellow ), Otters ( done so well with a semi submerged aquarium ) etc etc. The total area is vast and we were not able to cover even a quarter of it. The zoo is so green and it sort of matches with what you would expect it to be. Also have a children play area with plenty of things to do. Its a perfect low budget place to enjoy with your family and friends.

Leo Delaire

Free zoo with nice displays. Meet the keeper on weekdays during the summer. Otter feeding twice daily. Fun replica train that crosses the river and back. Only $2. Huge playground and very long super slide. Really nice splash pad with change rooms and washrooms including a family change room. There is a reasonably priced snack bar during the summer. Monkeys, camels, sheep, reindeer, emus, wallabies, boa constrictor and HUGE Burmese Python, turkeys, bobcat, oxen, exotic birds, swans and lemurs. It can be VERY hard to find one of the 100+ parking spots. FREE. Feel free to make a donation.

JACK LI

Great zoo with unbelievable free admission, and the mini train ride is really worth it!

Julie Bird

We had a Birthday party under a pavillion down by the river! It was really nice, you can park close to the sheltered areas, lots of picnic tables, was reasonably clean Washroom closeby, also reasonably clean( squirrel stealing toilet paper off roll) lol I am fairly certain you can bring a barbeque..but double check first Recycling and garbage bins on site!

Wayne North

Let me start by saying that this is a free admission Zoo. There is a good splash pad for the kids at the entrance, and good restroom/change room facilities adjacent to the splash pad. There is a snack bar that is open in the summer. You can also ride the small scale train across the water and back. Also near the entrance is a large playground area where you will have to supervise your children and a large tube slide that is staffed in the summer. The zoo has a variety of animals. This can be a great place to take the kids for the day!

Jay Hennessy

Quaint and exciting for all ages. Free admission is a bonus. Lots to do here from playground to splashpad and changing facilities. Things to eat and drink too.

Neill McEntyre

By appointment.....we were the only 2 people on a guided tour. Excellent way to see the zoo.....took a little over an hour.