Atlas Dawnrise_Taronga Zoo_Attractions_Sydney Short Term Rentals

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- Taronga Zoo

· Taronga Zoo sits on hills in Sydney's North Shore, offering spectacular views of Sydney Harbour, Opera House, and Harbour Bridge from its giraffe enclosure.
· Larger than the city zoo, it houses Australian native animals including koalas, kangaroos, wombats, platypus, dingoes, Tasmanian devils, and native birds. Other animals include chimpanzees, penguins, otters, rhinoceros, seals, raccoons, and reptiles.
· Visitors can interact with free-roaming kangaroos, but koalas are view-only. Koala photo opportunities require booking before 2:30 PM. Daily animal shows are featured.
· This hillside zoo offers two touring options: take the cable car up and walk down, or walk up and take the cable car down.

Transportation

Water Transport:

Sydney Ferries from Circular Quay (every 30 mins, 12-min trip)
Zoo Express by Captain Cook (connects zoo with Circular Quay/Watsons Bay/Darling Harbour)
Sydney Harbour Ecohopper from Manly Wharf or Circular Quay
Fantasea Cruising Sydney (twice daily from Darling Harbour Wharf 8 or Circular Quay)

Train:

Take train to Circular Quay for water transport
Or train to Central Station/Town Hall/Wynyard, then bus M30 (30-45 mins)

Bus:

M30 from city center (via Harbour Bridge)
257 from North Shore (transfer to M30 at Mosman Junction)
238 from Balmoral Beach
228 from Clifton Gardens
Northern beaches areas: Take bus to Spit Junction, transfer to M30

Admission
Standard tickets:

Adult: $45.90
Child (4-15): $27
Family 1 adult + 2 children: $88.80
Family 2 adults + 1 child: $105.60
Family 2 adults + 2 children: $129.60
Free: Children 0-3 years

Opening Hours
09:30-16:30 (May 1 - August 31)
09:30-17:00 (September 1 - April 30)

Location
Bradleys Head Rd, Mosman NSW 2088, Australia

Atlas Dawnrise Mar 13,2025

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!