Taronga Zoo Sydney

Taronga Zoo has occupied its headland on the northern shore of Sydney Harbour since October 1916, when it replaced an earlier zoo at Moore Park. The site at Mosman is built on a steep, terraced slope facing the city, so the views across the water to the skyline and Harbour Bridge are part of the experience. Today the zoo cares for more than 5,000 animals from about 350 species.

Australian wildlife is a major focus. Visitors come to see koalas, kangaroos, platypus and other native species, and the zoo also houses animals from around the world, including large mammals, reptiles and birds. Keeper talks and animal presentations run through the day; check the daily programme on arrival so you can plan your route around the ones you want to see.

Taronga is also a conservation and research organisation, and much of the signage explains its breeding and wildlife protection programmes for threatened Australian species. Look out for the information boards along the paths, which give context to what you are seeing rather than simply naming each animal.

The most enjoyable way to arrive is by ferry. Services from Circular Quay take about twelve minutes and land at Taronga Zoo wharf on Bradleys Head Road, a short walk from the lower entrance. Note that the Sky Safari cable car, which used to carry visitors from the wharf to the top of the zoo, closed at the end of January 2023 and is being replaced, so be prepared for some uphill walking on the sloping paths.

Allow at least half a day, and a full day if you have children or want to see most of the exhibits. Buying tickets online in advance saves time at the gate. Animals are often most active early in the day, so arriving at opening time is a good idea, and weekdays outside the school holidays are the quietest. Comfortable shoes, sun protection and water are essential in summer.

The zoo suits families above all, but its harbour setting and conservation work also appeal to adults travelling without children. Combine the visit with a walk out to Bradleys Head, part of Sydney Harbour National Park, which is close by, or simply catch the ferry back to Circular Quay in the late afternoon and enjoy the view of the city from the water.