Monarto Safari Park named SA’s best tourist attraction for third time
The park and a key staff member, Lauren Schroeder, have both been recognised at the 2026 South Australian Tourism Awards.
An iconic Murraylands attraction has won South Australia’s top tourism industry award for the third time.
Monarto Safari Park was named the state’s best major tourist attraction at the SA Tourism Awards on Saturday night, having previously won in both 2023 and 2024.
It also won a popularly voted award for SA’s best experience or service – a fourth straight win – and Zoos SA tourism manager Lauren Schroeder was named the industry’s young achiever of the year.
Zoos SA chief executive Phil Ainsley described the awards as an incredible honour, and credited the park’s staff, volunteers, members, supporters and visitors.
“As a not-for-profit conservation charity, tourism plays an important role in helping us connect people with nature and save species from extinction,” he said.
“Every person who visits Monarto Safari Park helps support that 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.”
Ms Schroeder’s award, for a tourism industry professional aged 30 or under, recognised her contributions to some of the safari park’s biggest recent achievements.
Zoos SA tourism and events general manager Jason Simpson described her as an emerging leader with a bright future.
“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,” he said.
“Lauren is passionate about creating meaningful connections between people and nature, and ensuring our experiences inspire visitors to appreciate wildlife and conservation.
“We’re incredibly proud of what she’s achieved and the respect she’s earned from her colleagues and volunteers.”
The park welcomed more than 250,000 visitors in 2025-26, building on the opening of the safari resort and Safari Lodge and the arrival of the park’s first Asian elephants.
It will go on to represent South Australia at the Australian Tourism Awards in February 2027.
