Taronga Zoo: Sydney Largest Zoo
Getting to Taronga Zoo
There are several ways to get to Taronga Zoo, including by bus, car, or ferry. If you’re staying anywhere near the central business district, the best option is to take the ferry from Circular Quay. All of the ferries use the same system as other public transportation by simply tapping an Opal card. The ferry departs every 30 minutes and takes about 12 minutes to reach Taronga Zoo. It’s not only a fun way to travel, but also offers incredible views of Sydney Harbour Bridge, and the Sydney Opera House. With nothing but water between us and the city skyline, the scenery was breathtaking.
Animal Exhibits
Taronga Zoo is very large and it can be tricky to know where to start. There is a separate entrance for people who arrived by ferry, therefore we started at the back of the zoo. Our plan was to start at the red pandas and finish at the seals making one giant loop of the zoo. There are over 4,000 animals at Taronga, making it impossible to talk about them all, so instead I’ll share my favorite exhibits.
One of my favorite exhibits was the Tree Shelter since its main highlight are animals native to Australia. I had never seen a koala in real life before, so I was so excited to finally see one. We were able to view the koalas from a platform as they slept peacefully in the trees. They looked just like little teddy bears, and it was so cute! It is possible to pay to get up close to take a picture, but I was happy to view from a distance.
Our second favorite exhibit was Tiger Trek. Usually when we try to see tigers at the zoo, they are sleeping at the back of the enclosure. Luckily, we finally got to see a tiger with its eyes open. There were also some tigers chilling by the glass, so it was nice to see them up close. I was really impressed with the size and quality of their enclosure, they seem to have a very natural place to live.
Nearby are the sun bears, which have such beautiful fur. They were also fun to watch as they moved around and explored their space. One of the best exhibits was the chimpanzee area, with a massive jungle gym and plenty of space for one of the worlds largest captive chimpanzee troops. It was amazing being able to see so many animals up close and observe their different personalities. Overall, we really felt like all of the animals had very large, clean, and well decorated enclosures. It always sucks to get to a zoo and see enclosures that are dirty and cramped, but Taronga really exceeded our high expectations.
I really enjoyed seeing animals native to Australia like dingos, emus, kangaroos, and wallabies. Since we arrived in the morning, a lot of the animals were out and active because it was their feeding time. In the Nura Diya area you can walk through and see wallabies, kangaroos, and emus up close without barriers. This was some of the best theming I’ve ever seen at a zoo, and it really felt like we were in the Aussie outback.
Shows & Animal Encounters
Taronga Zoo offers a variety of animal encounters, including capybaras, koalas, giraffes, rhinos, and more. These encounters require an additional fee, and are limited to small groups, making the experience more personal and memorable. I recommend booking in advance and checking the scheduled times, as they cannot be changed. Even if you choose not to participate in an animal encounter, you can still have a fantastic time exploring the zoo and seeing the amazing animals.
Twice a day Taronga Zoo has a free flight bird presentation that starts at 12 and 3. I suggest arriving an hour or half an hour early as seats fill up fast. We went during off season but still every seat was taken. The show happens in the Bird Amphitheater overlooking the Sydney Harbour. It lasts about 20 to 25 minutes and features amazing birds such as the cockatoo, barking owl, Andean condor, and many more. During the presentation, visitors can learn about these fascinating animals and their unique behaviors. The show was very entertaining because the zookeepers were funny and made the information easy to understand. I highly recommend taking the time to watch the show, as it is both educational and enjoyable for visitors of all ages.
Tips for Visiting
Taronga Zoo is very popular with both tourists and locals. I recommend taking the first ferry and getting to the zoo as soon as it opens. It’s a popular place for school field trips, so after 11:00 a.m. it can get pretty busy. When we arrived, we practically had the zoo to ourselves for a few hours because most people came later through the main entrance. The zoo has plenty of food options, but they are on the pricier side, so I suggest bringing your own food. There are tons of great spots to have a picnic, whether it’s on the grass or at one of the picnic tables.
The zoo is also really big, and luckily they have a PDF map on their website. I highly recommend downloading it before you go or keeping it open on your phone. The zoo has good signage, but I still got turned around a few times, so having the map handy made it much easier to find my way.
Final Thoughts
Overall, Taronga Zoo was such a fun and memorable experience. I loved being able to see so many amazing animals up close while enjoying the beautiful views of Sydney Harbour. I highly recommend visiting Taronga Zoo if you are in Sydney, as there is something exciting to see around every corner.
