Taronga Zoo
Ten things to see and do at the zoo
Taronga Zoo is at or near the top of every tourist’s list and it’s a favourite with locals too. Why? Because it is set in one of Sydney’s most beautiful harbourside areas and there is always something new to see and do.
A walk around the Zoo will add about ten thousand steps to your daily count. And you’ll have a great day out in the process.
Incidental exercise - Just one of ten reasons to visit Taronga Zoo.*
1/ Watch the animals
That’s what you’ve come for right? And there are so many to see. Here’s a taste.
Grab a map at the entry or download the app so you don’t miss seeing any of your favourites. Check the map or app for new arrivals - like the recently born lion cubs and spider monkeys, which you won’t want to miss.
The zoo is big enough to offer a full day experience but not so big that you can’t see most animals in the one visit.
There’s no telling what each animal will be doing on any given day. The monkeys, chimps and gorillas are always ready to amuse (or shock), and the otters, seals, and busy little meerkats are almost certain to entertain.
But even the usually docile animals like the reptiles and koalas will occasionally wake up and put on a show, so be prepared to watch, wait or check back on any noontime sleepers later in the day.
2/ See a show
Every day the zoo hosts a couple of bird shows and at least one seal show, and each one draws a crowd.
The Free Flight Bird Show takes place in a large outdoor amphitheatre with the city skyline as its backdrop. Some of the stars of the show include galahs and cockatoos, owls and eagles and sometimes, even an Andean condor!
The Seals for the Wild shows feature fur seals and sea lions, climbing, diving and catching fish.
The content of the shows vary. The 11 am “Seals for the Wild Presentation” (every day but Thursday) features plenty of seal action and interaction. The 2 pm “Seals for the Wild Talk” is more of an educational presentation, peppered with brief appearances by the seals.
During school holidays the talks are replaced by presentations and extra shows are added.
3/ Learn new things
The seal and bird shows are great ways to learn about some of the zoo’s creatures, but there are many others.
At various times in the day specialist keepers give talks on giraffes, meerkats, gorillas, chimps, elephants and more.
Check here for talk times so you can plan what you want to see when. Bookings are not required but viewing points fill up fast so arrive early to save your place.
4/ Get up close and personal
The zoo offers a number of special animal encounters which visitors can book for an extra fee.
Currently on offer are encounters with koalas, giraffes, elephants, meerkats and capybaras.
Experiences vary but all are led by knowledgeable keepers and proceeds from each support vital conservation work.
5/ Lift your step count
Incidental exercise is the best kind, right? If you’re looking to boost your daily step count, a walk around Taronga Zoo will certainly help. With so many animals to distract and delight, it doesn’t feel like exercise at all!
The last time I was at the zoo I mapped out a route which saw me visit every enclosure with as little back tracking as possible. By the end of my visit I’d managed to rack up a healthy 10,000 steps, which made my Fitbit very happy!
6/ Have a bite to eat
The zoo has a few food outlets with food and drink offerings to suit most tastes. Taronga Food Market, located opposite the elephants , and Forage and Graze near the entrance, are the largest. Both have indoor seating. Opening hours vary.
Prefer to picnic outside?
There are lovely grassed areas beside the amphitheatre or on the concert lawns, where you can look out over the Opera House and Harbour Bridge while you eat. But watch out for the brush turkeys and ibises! They lurk around every corner and while you’re taking in the view they just might be taking off with your lunch!
7/ Do a spot of birdwatching…
……and practice your photography.
It’s not every day you get the chance see so many different birds in the one place. If you’re a bird lover, you’re in for a treat.
Taronga Zoo brings together a huge collection of native and exotic bird species in four aviaries. (You can see some of them here.)
The Blue Mountains Bushwalk is the largest of the aviaries and is home to native birds such as lorikeets, finches, and the recently endangered Regent Honey Eater. You might also spy the odd rock wallaby or water dragon in among the trees.
In the Australian Rainforest Aviary, up near the entrance, look out for the Superb Fruit-Dove, The Regent Bower Bird and the Eastern Whipbird among others. The cassowary also resides in the vicinity, in a seperate enclosure.
The Wetland Aviary has spoonbills, herons, ducks and kingfishers while the Palm Aviary, smallest of the four, has some of the most colourful birds including the Golden and Lady Amherst's Pheasants.
To see some of the bigger birds like the Barking Owl, the Black-breasted Buzzard and the Andean Condor, check out the Free Flight Bird Show..
8/ Walk through Nura Diya
Nura Diya invites you to connect with Country and reconnect with nature. It features four unique Australian landscapes and the creatures that live within them:
buru nura - Kangaroo Count
gulamany nura - Koala Country
wuragal nura - Dingo Country
nguwing yana - Night Walk (opening 2023)
The 400 metre walking trail allows visitors to see up close the unique characteristics and behaviours of some of our most loved native animals.
9/ Buy a gift for someone special
There are a few shops scattered around the zoo offering plush toys, clothing, jewellery etc in all shapes and sizes and at all price points.
The zoo is not-for-profit, so you can purchase gifts here knowing that at the profits will go toward the support, care and conservation of wildlife.
Looking for something different? How about the gift of an overnight stay in the zoo, falling asleep to the sounds of the animals?
Taronga has two accommodation options both of which include behind the scenes tours. Roar and Snore is glamping, harbourside, while the Wildlife Retreat is an eco-retreat in designer digs with views of the harbour or the animals, take your pick.
Taronga also offers gift vouchers for accommodation and encounters.
10/ Join up and come again!
Enjoyed your day at the zoo? Why not get a Zoo Friends Annual Pass so you can visit as many times as you like? You’ll enjoy half-price parking, free entry to Western Plains Zoo and other benefits.
Even if you only visit the zoo twice a year, it’s worth considering. If you have kids in tow, it’s a no brainer. The Family Flex memberships are especially good value.
Annual memberships are available online or from the Zoo Friends office outside the entrance. If you’ve already purchased a day ticket the cost of this will go toward the purchase of a Zoo Friends pass if you get it on the same day.
The zoo is always changing, new animals arrive and babies are born. That hole in the ground you saw on your last visit might soon be the next must-see exhibit, so it’s worth coming back.
Download the Taronga Zoo app or check the website before your visit to find out about what’s on (and what’s off or closed).
The sky safari has been retired (January 2023) but will return in a new guise in 2025. If you’re arriving by ferry you’ll need to take a short walk to the lower entrance or catch a bus up to the main entrance.