Monarto Safari Park has taken home three of the state’s top tourism honours at the 2026 South Australian Tourism Awards, winning Major Tourist Attraction, the People’s Choice Award – Experiences/Services, and celebrating Tourism Manager Lauren Schroeder being named Young Achiever of the Year.

The triple recognition celebrates an outstanding year for Monarto Safari Park, recognising excellence in tourism, exceptional visitor experiences and the people helping to shape the future of South Australia’s tourism industry.

The People’s Choice win marks an incredible fourth consecutive year at the top for Monarto Safari Park, following wins in 2023, 2024 and 2025.

The Major Tourist Attraction award also sees the Park return to gold after taking out the category in 2023 and 2024 and receiving Silver in 2025.

Zoos SA Chief Executive, Dr Phil Ainsley, accepted the awards on behalf of Monarto Safari Park and said recognition from both the tourism industry and the public made the result particularly special.

“To be recognised by our industry and by the people who visit and support us is an incredible honour,” Dr Ainsley said.

“These awards belong to our staff, volunteers, members, partners and every visitor who chooses to spend a day in the wild with us.

“Winning People’s Choice for a fourth consecutive year is something we never take for granted. It tells us that people are not only enjoying their visit, but connecting with our animals, our people and what Monarto Safari Park stands for.

“As a not-for-profit conservation charity, tourism plays an important role in helping us connect people with nature and save species from extinction. Every person who visits Monarto Safari Park helps support that purpose.”

During the 2025-26 financial year, Monarto Safari Park welcomed more than 253,000 visitors, an increase of almost 12 per cent on the previous year, with eight record-high months of visitation.

Set across 1,550 hectares, the Park is home to more than 700 native and exotic animals, with 70 per cent of species classified as threatened in the wild.

It has also been a significant year for the visitor experience, with five Asian Elephants now calling Monarto Safari Park home and new premium safari experiences expanding the ways visitors can explore the Park.

The opening of the Safari Lodge created opportunities for new experiences including the Sunset Safari, which takes guests into the Wild Africa precinct before finishing at a purpose-built sundowner site, and the Back Roads Tour, which gives small groups access to areas beyond the Park’s public roads.

Visitor satisfaction remained strong throughout the year, with 93 per cent of surveyed visitors rating the Park’s customer service positively and its Net Promoter Score rising to 74.

A rising star recognised

Monarto Safari Park also celebrated individual success on the night, with Tourism Manager Lauren Schroeder taking home the TiCSA Young Achiever Award.

The award recognises an outstanding young tourism professional aged 30 or under who has made a significant contribution to South Australia’s tourism industry.

Zoos SA General Manager Tourism and Events, Jason Simpson, said Lauren had played a pivotal role in delivering some of the organisation’s most significant tourism initiatives.

“From launching new safari experiences in Wild Africa to helping bring the Monarto Safari Resort experience to life, Lauren has made an incredible contribution to the growth of tourism at Monarto Safari Park,” Mr Simpson said.

“Lauren is passionate about creating meaningful connections between people and nature, and ensuring our experiences inspire visitors to appreciate wildlife and conservation.

“She’s an emerging leader with a very bright future, and this recognition is so well deserved.

We’re incredibly proud of what she’s achieved and the respect she’s earned from her colleagues and volunteers.”

Dr Ainsley said the awards highlighted the important connection between delivering exceptional tourism experiences and Monarto Safari Park’s conservation purpose.

“We want people to have an unforgettable day, but we also want them to leave feeling more connected to wildlife and understanding that they can play a part in protecting it,” he said.

“That is what makes tourism at Monarto so powerful – a great visitor experience can also create meaningful outcomes for conservation.”

The Major Tourist Attraction win means Monarto Safari Park will now represent South Australia at the Australian Tourism Awards in Geelong, Victoria, in February 2027.

“South Australia has an extraordinary tourism industry, so to represent our state on the national stage is a privilege,” Dr Ainsley said.

“We’ll be very proud to fly the flag for South Australia, our region and conservation-led tourism.”