Zoo / Aquarium/ Animal parks, Sydney

1 more image

Getting around the zoo was a lot of fun, it was our first zoo experience down under and we were in for a unique treat. A wide range of kangaroos make the zoo their home as well as storks, tree frogs, emus amd koalas. Pelicans, wallabies and exotic snakes are just a couple of the diverse animals and reptiles living at the zoo. We also found plenty of cafes and bistros serving food. There are also picnic areas located in the main areas of the park. It all adds up to its popularity by tourists as well for the locals.

What makes Taronga Park something really special is its location at Bradley's Head, Mossman. The Zoo is located at elevated land along the waterfront, in one of the most beautiful vantage points on the Sydney Harbour. We zigzagged our way up along the paths among the animal enclosures and we were able to enjoy magnificent harbour views.

1 more image

Taronga Park Zoo is the nation's leading zoological garden, featuring Australia's finest collection of native animals and diverse collection of exotic species. This excellent Zoo does not restrict itselves to native animals like kangaroos and koalas, but most visitors will probably focus on the Australian fauna anyway.

We visited the Taronga Zoo on our second visit to Sydney. During our travels along the East coast we had encountered several native animals so our interest went out to the rest of the Zoo population. To make a decision like this is very important. Taronga is quite large and and extensive tour of each section is more than a day's worth of adventure. It has over 340 species and well over 2600 individual animals. So, we decided to visit thrilling places like the Giraffe House, the Aquarium and the Tiger Pits.

1 more image

Opened in 1884, the Taronga Zoo is the first public zoo in New South Wales. The Taronga Zoo is located on the North side of the harbour. It's in a direct line of the center of Sydney. Just for its spectacular view on the Sydney skyline the Zoo is worth a visit.

Although you can drive to Taronga Zoo we prefered (like most visitors) to go there by ferry. You can reach the Zoo by the ferry from Circular Quay, from Wharf 2, which is a 12-minute journey. Once you're on the harbour of the Zoo there are three ways to travel to the enterance. Of course you can go by foot or by the bus, but the most spectacular way to do this is by cable railway (the Sky Safari cable car) along the hill towards the enterance. This journey provides spectacular views of the harbour. The most popular travel package referred to as the Zoopass, offers a there-and-back-again ferry ride, Zoo admission, as well as Sky Safari access.

4 more images

After a visit to Germany in 1908 the elected Secretary of the zoo, Albert Sherbourne Le Souef, returned with a vision for a new Sydney zoo, based on the bar-less exhibits of Hamburg Zoo. The site at Moore Park had become too small and was not suited to the vision. A new site for the zoo was sought. On April 24th, 1912 the NSW Government granted 43 acres of land north of the harbour which were part of Ashton Park. Another 9 acres were granted in April 1916.

In 1913, Management of the zoo passed to a Trust named the New Zoological Gardens Trust which became the Taronga Zoological Park Trust.

The first exhibits to be built were the seal ponds, elephant temple, monkey pits, top entrance, aviaries, paths and roadways and the refreshment rooms. In all, 228 mammals, 552 birds and 64 reptiles were moved from Moore Park to Taronga. Many, including the elephants, crossed the harbour on board a flat top barge.

Taronga Zoo was officially opened on October 7th, 1916.

We spent the whole day at the zoo starting with the ferry from Circular Quay then onto the Gondola up to the top of the zoo. Very well set out, 90% of walking was downhill which was great for our son. Could have spent longer here but ran out of time.

3 more images

The Taronga Zoo is a 15 minute ferry ride from Circular Quay. For about $40 Australian, you receive admission to the zoo, the return ferry ride and the bus or Sky Safari ride to the zoo entrance. I normally don't go to zoos when I travel as they don't provide a unique local experience and they all have similar if not the same animals. While Taronga Zoo has a few unique species, the real draw for me was the view across the water back to the city.

The giraffe/zebra area is fabulous as you get close enough to the animals to get great pictures - and the fence is placed so as to not block the view. The backdrop to the giraffes/zebras is the Sydney skyline including the opera house and Harbor Bridge. Another, immense view of the Sydney skyline is at the stadium where the Free Flight Bird Show is. The show is at 12noon and 3:00pm, but you can enjoy the view across the water anytime.

4 more images

I first went here when I was 7 years old, and was awe inspired by the place. It has an incredible underwater viewing gallery, with a load of big sharks that make you realise the beauty of the animal. All kids will love it, and adults too, especially anyone with an interest in aquatic life.

As well as the sharks, they have stingrays, turtles, penguins, big fish, little fish, eels, snakes, octopus, crocodiles, aligators, tourists and sea lions.

Its located in Darling Harbour, so its very easy to egt to and find. Entrance costs in the region of $25 dollars for an adult, and it is a great way to spend a morning or afternoon.

3 more images

The brand new Sydney Wildlife World has just opened in Darling Harbour.
It is a very good native animal experience for tourists and locals alike.
I find when you visit zoo's in big cities you see the same old animals, elephants, monkeys, giraffes etc.

If you are after a 100% native experience then SWW is for you.
Zoo-oligists wander around the different sections carrying snakes, possums and baby koalas.

There is a really cool free service in the zoo. If you switch your bluetooth on in your mobile phone you can choose to download free animal sounds, ringtones, wallpapers and bizarre facts about these fascinating native animals of Australia.
The best thing is that it is free to download.