The Cairns Zoom and Wildlife Dome (CZWD) is a 20 metre high enclosed glass dome located on the top of the Cairns Reef Hotel Casino building. The dome contains 3,000 plants [1] and 400 animals, including 60 different species of birds, mammals, reptiles, frogs and fish [2]; so visitors can see cockatoos, lorikeets, and other native birds flying freely, as well as terrestrial animals including wallabies, turtles, crocodiles, snakes and lizards [1]. Complimentary wildlife tours occur throughout the day [3].

In 2012, the Cairns ZOOm ropes course was added to the wildlife dome [1], delivering 65 different ropes courses and zip lines [4] along with the Powerjump, a freefall bungee activity [5], thus delivering challenge activities in a rainforest environment where animals roam freely [6]. The CZWD is an example of “product innovation” [7]: by combining fun ropes activities with environmental learning in an all-weather rainforest setting, it has become “the first challenge ropes course within a wildlife immersion exhibition” [6]. The Cairns ZOOm ropes course has added additional experiences to the existing wildlife dome, extending its appeal to new markets and drawing additional customers to the business.

By Stuart R M Reid

Recommended Citation

Reid, S. R. M. (2016). “Cairns ZOOm: Product Innovation in a Wildlife Dome” INNOTOUR Innovation Cases. from https://www.innotour.com/innovationCases/?p=3324

References

1. CZWD. Cairns ZOOm & Wildlife Dome: About. 2015  8 May 2015]; Available from: http://cairnszoom.com.au/about.
2. CZWD. Cairns ZOOm & Wildlife Dome: Wildlife. 2015  8 May 2015]; Available from: http://cairnszoom.com.au/wildlife.
3. CZWD. Cairns ZOOm & Wildlife Dome: Shows. 2015  8 May 2015]; Available from: http://cairnszoom.com.au/wildlife-dome/shows.
4. CZWD. Cairns ZOOm & Wildlife Dome: Courses and Ziplines. 2015  8 May 2015]; Available from: http://cairnszoom.com.au/ropes-courses-and-ziplines.
5. CZWD. Cairns ZOOm & Wildlife Dome: Power-fan. 2015  8 May 2015]; Available from: http://cairnszoom.com.au/power-fan.
6. QTIC, Tourism Business Success Story: Cairns ZOOm and Wildlife Dome. 2013, Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC): Brisbane, Australia.
7. Tidd, J. and J. Bessant, Managing innovation: integrating technological, market and organizational change. Fifth ed. 2013: John Wiley & Sons.