This post was originally published on A Globe Well Travelled in 2015. The content has been revised and updated with fresh information.
Let me start by saying—I don’t usually visit zoos.
I’ve always been more of a wildlife sanctuary kind of gal. Wild animals that aren’t enclosed in cages, or ones that have been rescued and rehabilitated, are definitely the kind of encounters I prefer. But I’d heard good things about Taronga Zoo Sydney, especially its conservation efforts for endangered species. So, on a sunny summer Sunday a few years ago, I decided to check it out and see whether this Sydney icon lives up to the hype—or the steep admission price.
Since then, I’ve returned multiple times, including visits with my toddler—and honestly, seeing the zoo through his eyes has completely changed my experience. He’s obsessed with the giraffes, and absolutely loves the tiger exhibit where the big cats walk around a safari-style jeep that you can sit inside. What was once just a “maybe” activity has become a family favourite. Here’s everything I’ve learned from repeat visits to Taronga Zoo.
Quick summary:
Wondering if Taronga Zoo is worth the price? In this post, I share my honest thoughts after multiple visits. You’ll find tips on tickets, transport, opening hours, the best shows and exhibits, where to eat, and whether it’s a good option for families, tourists, or locals.
Recommended tours & tickets:
🎟️ General Entry Ticket – Get a discount by booking online before you go.
🛳️ Zoo + Ferry Combo Ticket – Includes return ferry from Circular Quay.
🐨 Wild Australia Experience – Small group koala encounter and Aussie animals guided tour.
Where to stay:
⛺ Roar and Snore Overnight Stay – Glamping with harbour views and animal encounters.
🏨 Wildlife Retreat Hotel Stay – Eco-luxury inside the zoo with behind-the-scenes access.
How to get to Taronga Zoo:
By ferry: The most scenic way to get to Taronga Zoo is by ferry from Circular Quay. The ride offers some of the best views in Sydney including the Opera House and Harbour Bridge—so keep your camera handy. You can tap your credit card at the ferry terminal – it should costs around $6 AUD each way. The ferry takes passengers across the harbour to Taronga, where it’s a short walk to the zoo’s lower entrance.
🛳️ You can pre-purchase a Zoo & Ferry Combo Ticket which includes the boat ride from Circular Quay and your zoo entry pass.
By bus: You can take bus route 100 directly to the zoo entrance from the Queen Victoria Building (QVB) next to Town Hall train station in the CBD. The bus is air-conditioned, stroller-friendly, and perfect if you’re staying further from the harbour.
By car: Driving is another option, especially if you’re bringing a picnic or travelling with young kids. There is plenty of car parking at Taronga Zoo, but it’s not free—parking costs $22 AUD for the day, payable at ticket machines or via the Taronga Zoo app.
Where to get Taronga Zoo tickets:
Standard adult tickets are $50+ AUD, and children’s tickets are $30+ AUD. You can get a concession discount, though international student IDs may not always be accepted.
🎟️ Tickets can be purchased at the gate or at the ferry terminal at Circular Quay, however, you can get a discount by booking your zoo tickets online in advance.
For Sydney locals or anyone staying longer-term, the Zoo Friends annual pass is great value. We were gifted a pass last Christmas—and it has been incredible. It takes the pressure off having to spend a full day there and pays for itself in just 2–3 visits. This pass also includes perks like discounts at food outlets and shops inside the zoo. If you’re a family living in Sydney (or spending a few weeks or months here), it’s a solid investment.
On arrival at Taronga Zoo:
Taronga Zoo opening hours vary depending on the season – it always opens at 9:30 AM. During the winter season (May–August), the park closes at 4:30 PM (with last entry 3:30 PM), and in the summer season (September–April), it’s open until 5:00 PM with last entry at 4:00 PM. The zoo is open every day of the year, including public holidays, with only Christmas Day impacted.
We often arrive around 9:00 AM to be among the first through the gates. On our most recent visit in June (Sydney’s winter season), we pretty much had the place to ourselves for the first hour. The early arrival makes a massive difference in how peaceful and enjoyable the experience is.
When you arrive, I’d advise that you make your way to the top entrance of the zoo. Taronga is built into a hillside, and starting at the top allows you to work your way downhill rather than climbing up all day.
Unfortunately, the Sky Safari gondola is still closed as of 2025, and has been for a few years now. There are plans to reopen it, but no confirmed date. In the meantime, you can use the Wildlife Express train to ride from the ferry wharf to the main entrance—a lifesaver for tired legs or families with prams.
What’s in the Zoo?
Taronga Zoo is huge, and you’ll need at minimum 3-4 hours, though a full day would be ideal. Even then, you might not get to see it all – we tend to see about a quarter of the exhibits every time we visit for a half day with our toddler. I would suggest that you make the most of your day trip to the zoo in Sydney by spending a whole day there if possible.
Don’t forget to pick up a Taronga Zoo map at the entrance (or download the Taronga Zoo app) as you will undoubtedly need to reference it while you’re there.
The park is divided into themed zones, including Australian wildlife, Big Cats, Reptiles, Birds, and Primates. Despite being in Australia, only about 25% of the animals are native species. That said, there are still plenty of kangaroos, wallabies, emus, and koalas for international visitors keen to see local icons.
One of the standout enclosures is the Sumatran Tiger Trek, where the tiger roams around a safari vehicle that kids can sit inside. My 2-year-old son thinks it’s the best thing ever (mainly because he loves cars… the tigers are just an added bonus!). When we visited late last year, one tiger actually stepped down from the roof onto the bonnet of the vehicle while he was sitting at the drivers seat. It was an insanely cool moment.
As of 2025, the elephants are gone, and their enclosure is being repurposed to house rhinos and buffalos in future.
Shows, feedings and encounters
Taronga Zoo offers a range of live shows, keeper talks, and feeding sessions throughout the day at various enclosures. These are listed on the park map and the website, and it’s worth planning your visit around a few of them.
🐨 If you want to see Aussie animals up close at Taronga, book a Wild Australia Experience which features a zookeeper tour and a koala encounter! This tour also includes your zoo entry ticket.
My personal favourite of the shows that are included on a Taronga Zoo ticket is the free-flight bird show, set against the Sydney Harbour backdrop. The keepers share conservation messages while letting owls, cockatoos, and eagles soar overhead.
There’s also a seal show, but to be honest, it made me feel a bit uncomfortable. While it’s well-loved by kids, I found the idea of training seals to perform tricks—even if they’re rescues—felt a little more like entertainment than education. It’s one part of the zoo that doesn’t quite sit right with me.
Taronga Zoo highlights
- 🐅 Tiger Trek: Overhead pathways and an interactive jeep exhibit make this a must-see.
- 🦒 Giraffe photo spot: Iconic views of the Sydney skyline behind these gentle giants.
- 🕊️ Bird show: A breathtaking and educational performance with harbour views as the backdrop.
Taronga Zoo lowlights
- 🦍 Gorilla and chimpanzee enclosures: The primates often seem lethargic or withdrawn, and their enclosures feel too small for such intelligent animals.
- 🦭 Seal show: While technically impressive, I felt conflicted watching trained seal performances—even knowing they may be rescues.
Where to eat (or picnic!)
There are a few cafés, eateries, and souvenir shops scattered around the zoo that sell meals and snacks. However, prices are on the higher side and I have previously been unimpressed with the food, which is fairly standard tourist fare.
The good news is that you’re absolutely allowed to bring your own food and drink. I highly recommend packing snacks, lunch, and water bottles. Our favourite Taronga Zoo picnic spots are just outside the top entrance (great for a peaceful morning bite) and the grassy area next to the bird show. There are also benches and shady spots dotted around the park, so you’ll have no trouble finding somewhere to sit.
Other experiences at Taronga Zoo
There’s more to Taronga than just animal exhibits. The zoo also offers:
⛺ Roar and Snore: A glamping experience where you stay overnight in safari tents with up-close animal encounters.
🏨 Wildlife Retreat at Taronga: A luxury eco-hotel within the zoo grounds, which includes breakfast and behind-the-scenes tours.
Wild Ropes: A treetop ropes course and zipline adventure overlooking the zoo and harbour—great for older kids and adventurous adults.
These extra experiences are bookable online and make Taronga even more memorable if you’re looking to splurge. I haven’t tried any of them, but I’m definitely interested in giving Roar and Snore a go one day!
Final verdict: Is Taronga Zoo worth it?
Taronga Zoo is a scenic, well-maintained, and conservation-focused zoo. Despite being a tourist attraction, they are also connected with many conservation, research, and breeding programs. They also rescue injured wildlife, treat them at an on-site veterinary hospital, and rehabilitate them for release back into the wild if possible.
When I first visited Taronga over a decade ago, I found it to be a bit meh, but I think the folks running Taronga have improved the visitor experience over time. It’s now become a regular family favourite for us, and I honestly think keeps getting better with each visit. The scenic city views, the facilities, and the interactive exhibits make it a standout Sydney attraction—especially for families.
That said, not every aspect is perfect. I don’t love the seal show and primate enclosures, and I still prefer to visit wildlife sanctuaries for ethical reasons.
If you have the chance to visit a wildlife sanctuary instead, then I’d say that a visit to Taronga isn’t necessary. There are no wildlife sanctuaries near inner Sydney, but Featherdale Wildlife Park (about 45 minutes drive from downtown and on the way to the Blue Mountains) offers a more hands on experience with Australian animals and it’s much cheaper than Taronga.
Before having a kid of my own, I used to avoid places that contain so many young children (tantrum-throwing toddlers and swarms of oversized prams blocking pathways is not really a fun time for anyone). Taronga is packed with families, and yeah, there are a lot of kids, but I barely saw any tots having a bad time. It seems to be a fairly universal fact that kids just love being at the zoo.
Accessibility is also a strong point—ramps are everywhere, making it easy to get around with prams or wheelchairs. As for the swarms of prams, there are many, but most of the walkways throughout the zoo are fairly wide so they don’t feel like they get in the way (unlike at Sea Life Aquarium Sydney, where it felt like they were always in the way!). Foot traffic moves along fairly quickly in most places, there are few bottlenecks. Taronga has ‘pram parking’ in the popular spots and where shows are held, (complete with a staff member shooing away the wild turkeys who are attempting to steal the kids snacks from the storage while the prams are unattended).
So, after all that, here’s what I think: If you’re visiting Sydney with kids or want to visit Taronga Zoo with toddlers in tow, then yes—Taronga Zoo makes a great family day out in Sydney. For an urban zoo that is so easily accessible from downtown Sydney, Taronga really delivers.
🎟️ I recommend that you buy Taronga tickets online to get a discounted price, as the tickets are more expensive if you buy them on arrival at the zoo.
Also, if you’re a first-time visitor to Sydney and want to see Australian animals in a beautiful harbour setting, then yes, Taronga Zoo is worth the ticket price. I think it’s an especially good option for international visitors, as it allows you to see plenty of Australian animals without leaving inner Sydney. Taronga really is one of the best zoos in Australia.
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