Taronga Zoo

Contact Information
Bradley's Head Rd, Mosman Phone 02/9969 2777

Hours: Daily 9am-5pm (January 9am-9pm) Transportation: Ferry: Taronga Zoo. At the Taronga Zoo wharf, a bus to the upper zoo entrance costs A$1.20 (U.S. 85c), or you can take a cable car to the top for A$2.50 (U.S.$1.75). The lower zoo entrance is a 2-min. walk up the hill from the wharf, but it's better on the legs to explore the zoo from the top down. Prices: Admission A$16 (U.S.$11.20) adults, A$8.50 (U.S.$5.95) children 4-15, and A$41.50 (U.S.$29.05) families. Zoopass (includes entry, round-trip ferry from Circular Quay, and Aerial Safari cable car ride from ferry terminal to upper entrance of zoo) A$21 (U.S.$14.70) adults, A$10.50 (U.S.$7.35) seniors and children.

Taronga has the best view of any zoo in the world. Set on a hill, it looks out over Sydney Harbour, the Opera House, and the Harbour Bridge. The main attractions here are the fabulous chimpanzee exhibit, the gorilla enclosure, and the Nocturnal Houses, where you can see some of Australia's many nighttime marsupials out and about, including the platypus and the cuter-than-cute bilby (the official Australian Easter bunny). There's an interesting reptile display, a couple of rather impressive Komodo dragons, a scattering of indigenous Australian beasties--including a few koalas, echidnas, kangaroos, dingoes, and wombats--and lots more. The kangaroo and wallaby exhibit is very unimaginative; you'd be better off going to Featherdale Wildlife Park for happier-looking animals. Animals are fed at various times during the day. The zoo can get very crowded on weekends, so I strongly advise visiting during the week or going very early in the morning on weekends. Interestingly, the three sun bears near the lower ferry entrance/exit were rescued by an Australian businessman, John Stephens, from a restaurant in Cambodia, where they were to have their paws cut off one by one and served up as an expensive soup.

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