HIBERNATION is all but over for several Hunter zoos as they prepare for coronavirus restrictions to ease at the start of next month.
Hunter Valley Zoo and the Central Coast's Australian Reptile Park have confirmed they will open their gates for the first time since March on June 1 after the government paved the way on Sunday.
For Hunter Valley Zoo's Jason Pearson, it will be as close to business as normal as possible.
"Obviously with a lot of cleaning," he said.
"We'll clean the park every two hours and we won't be able to have our shows, because they gather everyone in one place, but just as safe as possible.
"I think a lot of people are like me and want to stop talking about COVID and get back to things."
Mr Pearson, whose Nulkaba venue shut the doors in late March, said the staff had been resilient throughout the closure.
"We're excited, I can tell you," he said.
"The morale of staff has been high but I'm not going to lie, it's been a tough few months for everyone without income."
The animals, whose care continued throughout the closure, had also noticed the difference.
Mr Pearson said the species used to interacting with visitors had left keepers "swamped" at feeding time.
"They're going to be keen to see some faces," he said.
The Australian Reptile Park said it will offer one-hour guided tours with admission upon reopening.
Comment has been sought from Oakvale, at Salt Ash, which also closed in March.
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