Universal Kingdom: Ice Age is the ticketed after-dark event running at Adelaide Zoo as part of Illuminate Adelaide 2026. We visited on opening weekend with our 3-year-old, Kayden, and 3-month-old, Jasper, and here’s what the night was actually like.
Universal Kingdom: Ice Age Tickets, Dates and Times
Where: Adelaide Zoo, Frome Road, Adelaide
When: Thursday to Sunday only, 2–19 July 2026
Sessions: 5:30pm, 6:30pm or 7:30pm entry
Duration: Allow around 60 minutes
Tickets: $37 general admission, $32 Zoos SA members, $134 for a group of 4, under 4s free (a $0 ticket is still required)
Note: the event uses water-based haze. It’s not general zoo entry, though the route does pass some real animal enclosures along the way
What Is Universal Kingdom: Ice Age?
Universal Kingdom: Ice Age is the third instalment of Adelaide Zoo’s after-dark Universal Kingdom series. Puppetry and light installations by creative studios Erth Visual & Physical Inc, illuminart and After Dark Theatre bring eight large-scale lanterns to life, including a Woolly Mammoth, Sabre-Toothed Tigers, a T-Rex, soaring Thunderbirds and a Brachiosaurus. The dedicated kids’ zone, presented by SA Power Networks, has fossil pits, interactive dinosaur puppets and a dinosaur egg photo spot.
As Illuminate Adelaide co-founders Rachael Azzopardi and Lee Cumberlidge put it, this year’s edition brings “eight incredible large-scale lanterns, spectacular puppetry, and plenty of hands-on fun” to the zoo.
Full session times and bookings are on the official Illuminate Adelaide program page.
Visiting Universal Kingdom: Ice Age With Young Kids
We went on Sunday night. It was properly cold, but plenty of Adelaide families were rugged up and out enjoying it too, which was nice to see on a winter weeknight.
Kayden spent most of the walk-through calling out “light show, light show!” He was delighted by it, even if he’s still deciding exactly what he thinks of the bigger installations. Jasper, at 3 months old, slept through basically the whole thing, so it’s a genuinely easy outing with a very young baby in tow.
A few real zoo animals are visible along the route too. We caught the pelicans being fed, and Kayden was thrilled to spot two tigers. There’s also a sizeable playground with three different slide sizes, plus fossil pits in the kids’ zone, and Kayden happily spent time in both.
Two moments caught him off guard: the roaming Thunderbird, and patting one of the dinosaur puppets up close. Worth knowing if you’ve got a sensitive toddler, so you can prepare them or steer around it.
Universal Kingdom: Ice Age vs Previous Year's
My family attended previous year’s Universal Kingdomand they remembered it feeling like a small parade winding through the zoo. Ice Age has its own roaming puppetry, including the Thunderbird, though the overall scale felt similar to what they described. From Kayden’s point of view, though, every installation was larger than life, which is really the audience it’s built for.
A few things we’d love to see next time: a campfire-style setup for the already-excellent hot chocolate and mulled wine on offer, a few more animal sounds woven into the individual installations, and a touch more for older kids and adults. None of that takes away from what’s already a genuinely lovely, family-friendly night out. We’d happily bring the kids back next winter.
Universal Kingdom: Ice Age Tips for Families
Dress warm, it’s an outdoor winter event
Under 4s are free but still need a $0 ticket booked
Pram-friendly, though some paths are dark in spots
Keep an eye out for real zoo residents like the pelicans and tigers
There’s a playground and fossil pits worth budgeting extra time for
Food and drink are available for purchase on the grounds
Water-based haze is used during the event
Wheelchair accessible, with accessible toilets available
Relaxed sessions run at 5:30pm on Sunday 12 July and Sunday 19 July
Universal Kingdom: Ice Age FAQs
Is Universal Kingdom: Ice Age suitable for toddlers?
Yes, it’s a family event and pram-friendly, though the paths are dark in places.
Is Universal Kingdom: Ice Age scary for young children?
Mostly gentle, but the roaming Thunderbird and an up-close dinosaur puppet both startled our 3-year-old. Worth knowing if you have a sensitive toddler.
How much are tickets for Universal Kingdom: Ice Age?
$37 for general admission, $32 for Zoos SA members, or $134 for a group of 4. Under 4s are free but still need a ticket booked.
What are the session times?
Entry sessions run at 5:30pm, 6:30pm and 7:30pm, Thursday to Sunday, from 2–19 July 2026.
Is there food available on-site?
Yes, food and drink are available for purchase on the zoo grounds during the event.
Is there a playground at Universal Kingdom: Ice Age?
Yes, plus fossil pits in the kids’ zone.
What creatures will we see at Universal Kingdom: Ice Age?
Across eight large-scale lanterns, expect a Woolly Mammoth, Sabre-Toothed Tigers, a T-Rex, soaring Thunderbirds and a Brachiosaurus.
For more on what’s running throughout the festival, see our Illuminate Adelaide 2026 guide and our visit to Digital Abyss at ILA. Tickets for Universal Kingdom: Ice Age are available via Illuminate Adelaide.
Disclaimer: Glamorazzi representative Roslyn Foo and co attended Universal Kingdom: Ice Age on 5th July 2026 at Adelaide Zoo, invited by TS Publicity. All opinions expressed are our own.
