A 12-minute ferry ride from Circular Quay, this forested harbor is teeming with kangaroos, koalas and similarly hirsute Australians, plus a host of imported visitors.
Zoo dwellers have million-dollar views of the harbor, but are blissfully unaware of what humans consider a privilege. Encouragingly, as far as zoos go, Taronga is said to set the standards in animal care and welfare. If you want to know more, visit their website which has detailed information about zoo conservation, zoo conversion and wild animal care.
Highlights include the nocturnal platypus habitat, the Great Southern Ocean section and the Asian elephant enclosure. Feeding and encounters take place throughout the day, while in summer, twilight concerts jazz things up (see www.twilightattaronga.org.au).
The ticket
Book your zoo tickets online in advance for a discount of between 10% and 20%. There’s also the option to add Wild Ropes, a high ropes course that offers special views (it’s cheaper to buy separately with zoo admission).
Accommodation
A visit to Taronga Zoo Sydney (and Taronga’s other zoos in Dubbo outside of Sydney) also includes Roar & Snore, an overnight family glow-in-the-dark experience and a luxury eco-retreat at the zoo.
Visit Taronga Zoo
If you’re driving and staying for a while, remember that the zoo car park is cheaper than metered parking on surrounding streets.
The cheapest option is to reach here by bus. The M30 leads here from the Wynyard in Sydney’s city centre.
Taronga Zoo Ferry
Catching the ferry is part of the fun of visiting Taronga Zoo Sydney. From the pier, the Sky Safari cable car or bus will take you to the main entrance, from where you can walk back down the zoo to the ferry. Accessibility for disabled people is good, even when arriving by ferry.