Taronga Zoo

We took a ferry to Taronga Zoo. We bought our tickets online and entered with e-tickets. The cable car service runs daily from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM, connecting the zoo wharf to the zoo entrance.

Inside the zoo, we saw many animals we'd never seen before and got to touch a kangaroo for the first time. From Circular Quay, it's about a 12-minute ferry ride to reach Taronga Zoo. The koalas at the zoo are quite large and look like stuffed toys.

Although we spent about 5 hours there, we probably only covered a small portion of the zoo. Taronga Zoo spans 30 hectares and houses over 2,000 animals from more than 400 species, with fascinating discoveries around every corner.

The ferry ride is super quick - you reach the zoo's private wharf in just minutes. How grand - their own wharf! We bought tickets online as usual - so convenient, tickets issued instantly! Just show them to staff for a stamp, then you can take the cable car. The zoo is beautifully designed. As for the animals... the variety is decent, good for bringing kids, though there's quite a bit of walking - it can be tiring. They actually charge for New Year's Eve fireworks viewing here! But with views this spectacular, no wonder!!!

The zoo has lots of dinosaur displays, both animatronic and static. I was completely mesmerized, especially by the moving ones. I'm such a simpleton - I was totally captivated, they seemed so real and scary! We saw Jurassic Park 2 in 4D at the cinema and it was amazing!! So I've always had a soft spot for dinosaurs.

The first attraction is the precious koalas. Sorry, but I wanted to take one home! If only I knew how to care for them, I really would have!!! Apparently, there's only one region in Australia where you can actually hug koalas, so it's not allowed in Sydney. Just looking was enough to make me happy though. The views of the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge are incredible!! No wonder they charge for New Year's Eve viewing!!!

Sydney Zoo, like other Australian zoos, allows close encounters with animals - it's all based on mutual trust, with animals roaming freely. They mentioned having chimpanzees too, but it was too hot and we didn't see them. There was also a dolphin show, but after seeing the amazing one at the Okinawa Aquarium, this felt a bit ordinary. So we just did a quick tour.

Following staff directions, head to the ticket counter for verification, where they'll stamp a green mark on your wrist - this allows multiple entries to the zoo throughout the day.

The Sky Safari cable car carries about 4-6 people per cabin. From up high, you can survey the dense jungle below and spot all the adorable animals.

Hidden in the bushes are dinosaur models that occasionally spray water to startle visitors - they're about 80% realistic!

Here, you won't see dense netting or tall iron cages. The animals roam freely in their territories, interacting with visitors in a natural and friendly way - there's a wonderful sense of mutual respect while maintaining closeness.

It was my first time seeing live giraffes in my life! These massive creatures move with such unhurried grace - surprisingly elegant.

The seal show at Taronga Zoo is both entertaining and thrilling. The professionally trained seals swim and dive, showcasing their agility in a dynamic performance that keeps the audience cheering and applauding.

The Silver Gulls aren't afraid of people at all - when you sit down to rest, these clever birds will gather around hoping to catch any food scraps.

The zoo's penguins are mainly two smaller species native to Oceania (apparently there are 17 penguin species worldwide) - quite different from the typical penguins I had in mind.

To reach Taronga Zoo, take a ferry from Circular Quay. You can use your transit card - it's about $13? Though the daily transit cap is around $20, so a round trip will hit the limit anyway. The ferry ride offers beautiful views of Sydney.

It takes about 10 minutes to reach the zoo, which occupies an entire island. Take the cable car to the summit to start your tour. I bought tickets through Mafengwo for $94 per person, including zoo admission and cable car. Interestingly, they don't check tickets for the cable car - only at the zoo entrance do staff verify online tickets.

Check the schedule for various animal shows. We visited the elephant enclosure (there's a small pavilion for close-up views), watched the seal show (gets very crowded, go early), and the bird show (absolutely spectacular - seeing all the birds flying together was like magic). Besides these shows, there are various animals, with Australian native species being particularly worth seeing. Highly recommend the reptile house with its snakes and lizards - plus it has air conditioning! It was a perfectly clear day, but we kept getting lost in the zoo... my legs were so tired!

There's a cable car next to the zoo entrance - it runs back and forth on the same route. You can either take a round trip before entering or ride it after touring the zoo.

Getting to Taronga Zoo from Circular Quay is very convenient, taking just 12 minutes. From Taronga, you get clear views of the Sydney Opera House. During March, April, May, and June, the zoo extends its hours into the evening, allowing visitors to enjoy Sydney's enchanting night views. Taronga Zoo offers plenty of paid parking, including specially designated spots for disabled visitors and tour buses.

The reptile pavilion houses an impressive variety of species. Australia itself is home to many unique reptiles not found anywhere else. As is well known, this place has venomous creatures - Western Australia and the Northern Territory are particularly known for their abundance of poisonous wildlife.

Taronga Zoo hand-raises many newborn animals including koalas, possums, and yellow-footed rock-wallabies, ensuring comprehensive care. While freely exploring the zoo, don't miss the opportunities for closer animal encounters. Different shows run throughout the day: milk demonstrations, bird shows, interactive sessions with small animals at Discovery Farm, and seal performances. The highlight, of course, is taking photos with koalas - available at Koala Encounters between 10:30-11:30 AM and 1:30-2:30 PM daily.

The celebrity giraffe with Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House in the background - stunning!

Taking the ferry to the zoo is very convenient, and the setting is beautiful. All the animals are so adorable!

This hillside zoo features diverse species, including many native Australian animals. Strongly recommend taking the ferry there - you can explore from the bottom of the hill up, then take the cable car down.

It's best to download the Taronga Zoo app beforehand. It shows all animal show times and has a location feature to help you quickly find different exhibits. Super convenient!

While the zoo isn't as large as those in China, it's beautifully designed and well-organized. We thought it would only take 2-3 hours to see everything, but ended up spending the whole day there, haha! A lovely day spent with adorable creatures.

Note: You can't hug the koalas for photos here - just pose next to them. Photo sessions must be booked before 2 PM. If you want to actually hug a koala, you'll need to go to Queensland!

TRANSPORTATION GUIDE:

1. Ferry Options from Circular Quay/Sydney Harbour to Taronga Zoo:

• Captain Cook's Zoo Express (every 45 minutes)

• Manly Fast Ferry's Sydney Harbour Ecohopper (every 60 minutes)

• Sydney Ferry's Zoo Pass (services every 15 or 45 minutes)

2. Train Options:

• Total journey approximately 45 minutes (via Inner West Line or South Line)

• Take Inner West Line to Wynyard Station, then bus 247 to Zoo station. Walk 150m to entrance.

Your admission ticket includes either cable car or bus transport - your choice. I recommend taking the cable car to the summit and working your way down.

The zoo itself might not be as impressive as some expect, though their insect and reptile collections are noteworthy. For children, however, it's perfect - they love the combination of animals, playgrounds, and food options.

A major highlight is the spectacular Sydney city views from the summit. Note that the koala photo area charges an extra fee, and you can't touch the koalas. There's also a limit on visitor numbers, so expect long wait times.

One unique aspect of Taronga is that it features land, sea, and air animals all in one location.

To reach Taronga Zoo, take a ferry across the harbor, then ride the cable car - which offers fantastic views of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge.

While not enormous, the zoo has its unique charm. There are various animal shows featuring seals and birds, plus feeding demonstrations with gorillas. You can get up close with alpacas grazing, and see ostriches, kangaroos, and koalas at close range.

We had lunch at the zoo, and it was quite an experience! Lots of ibis birds around - they'll happily accept your french fries. Actually, there are birds everywhere here, and they're remarkably tame. You can feed them easily - they're not shy at all!

After purchasing tickets online in advance, staff will stamp your wrist upon presentation - this serves as your entry pass to the zoo.

The cable car station is located on the right as you enter. Your admission ticket includes unlimited cable car rides, or you can opt for a one-way trip down to the wharf to catch a ferry back to Sydney CBD. The queue moves quickly, with waiting times usually just a few minutes.

From the cable car, you'll enjoy unobstructed views of Sydney's iconic landmarks across the harbor, including the Harbour Bridge, Opera House, and Sydney Tower.

Pick up a zoo map at the entrance and follow the green arrows marked on the ground to begin your zoo adventure. The zoo showcases an incredible diversity of wildlife - from aquatic to terrestrial animals, and reptiles to mammals - there's something for everyone.

The giraffe enclosure offers stunning views of the Sydney skyline.

I spent considerable time at the gorilla exhibit, thoroughly entertained by these fascinating creatures playing and competing for toy branches.

The South American squirrel monkeys, tiny and agile, demonstrate impressive acrobatic skills as they navigate their rope courses.

You can even embark on a virtual journey with zoo staff to track tigers in the Indonesian rainforest through an immersive experience.

The zoo's most popular residents are undoubtedly the adorable (and somewhat lazy) koalas. Their enclosure is located on the left side of the entrance. Pro tip: Start your visit from the left side before following the green line route - this helps avoid unnecessary backtracking. Given the zoo's hillside location, it can be quite a workout - my legs were actually shaking by the end of the visit!

During my visit to the koala exhibit, I caught a keeper talk. While most koalas were sleeping (as they typically do), one greedy fellow was busy eating, already reaching for more leaves before finishing what was in its mouth!

Take a ferry from the ferry terminal in Darling Harbour and pass by Taronga Zoo.

I saw koalas 🐨, kangaroos, platypuses and so on for the first time here. These cute and silly natural creatures might just be a kind of "cuteness offering" from nature to us.

At the same time, I also saw all kinds of venomous animals. For those friends who are afraid, I'd advise you not to go into the small dark room to take a look.

I really love the giraffe garden. And guess what? The backdrop is the Harbour Bridge!

There are cable cars here. The various areas are built along the mountains, and the scenery is extremely beautiful. There are some unique mammals and reptiles in Australia, as well as koalas, platypuses, kangaroos and so on.

The zoo allows night tours and camping, which is a great option for spending the night.

There is also a treetop adventure project in the park. It's really fun and offers a unique view.

You can get a color-printed map at the entrance. It is recommended to use it in combination with the performance times of each show! 

The national treasure of Australia, the koala (also known as koala), spends most of its time eating and sleeping in trees. It's just these two simple things. Just like the giant pandas in our country, koalas have won the love of many people. As I remember, you can't hold a koala for a photo in the zoo. Since I had taken such a photo before, I didn't pay much attention this time. But you can take photos in the koala reserve. The claws of baby koalas are very sharp. If you want to take a photo with one, you must hold it firmly. Otherwise, it may tightly cling to you with its claws out of fear of falling, which may easily cause you to get injured.

For koalas, they like eucalyptus trees the most. Eucalyptus trees provide them with food and a place to live. In the recent past, there have been frequent forest fires in Australia, leaving many koalas homeless. Some were luckily saved by firefighters, and some were forced to look for water near human dwellings. They can always get kind help from humans. Well, what can we do? After all, you are so cute (*╹▽╹*).

In contrast, kangaroos don't have such a good deal. Due to their large numbers, many of them are hit and killed while crossing the road.

The meerkat is a small mammal, and I saw this animal for the first time in Australia. If you want to learn more about meerkats, I recommend a BBC documentary dubbed by Uncle Bo, "Spy in the Wild". A miniature camera that fits the meerkat's body shape was attached to a baby meerkat. From their first-person perspective, it deeply restores the daily life of meerkats, and you will definitely be charmed by them (๑•̀ㅂ•́)و✧.

In addition to these small animals mentioned above, you can also see various birds and beasts such as penguins, seals, peacocks, mandarin ducks, and so on. It is definitely worth a visit for those who love nature.

Of course, the zoo has an additional bonus, that is, you can have a full view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House across the bay from a distance. 

At a quarter past nine on the second day, we arrived at Circular Quay in Sydney. It was just in time to catch the ferry to Taronga Zoo. After getting off the ferry, we could directly take the cable car to the top of the hill with our electronic tickets, and then enter the zoo directly with the electronic tickets without having to exchange them for other tickets. It truly deserves to be called the most beautiful zoo in the world. Australian specialties such as koalas, kangaroos, platypuses, and little penguins can all be seen here. Moreover, the zoo is built along the coast, boasting beautiful scenery. It takes about 4 to 5 hours to tour around the zoo. The layout is very reasonable. We saw many local primary school students in Sydney visiting in groups, and they were seriously taking notes. It is really something that zoos in our country should learn from!