Vale Blackthorn_Taronga Zoo_Attractions

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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

Vale Blackthorn Mar 28,2025

Taronga Zoo is a must-visit spot for first-time visitors to Sydney. The zoo isn't very large - I covered it in half a day, entering around 10 AM and leaving after 2 PM. Being alone, I moved quite quickly; families with children might need more time.

Since New South Wales doesn't allow holding koalas, you can only say hello up close and take photos. The koala photo sessions at Taronga are limited:

Time: 11:00 AM - 2:30 PM daily
Only about 40 groups per day, first-come-first-served
Cost: 24.95 AUD

I made this my first priority and managed to book slot #31 at 1:35 PM at the Koala Conservation Center. The koala was huge and awake, peacefully eating - absolutely adorable! While you can't hold them, seeing them up close is amazing. At the center, you store your bags, take your own photos, and staff will take photos both with your camera and theirs (which you can later purchase prints of online).

In the kangaroo area, all the kangaroos were drowsy and lounging around lazily. While there are different species, it was hard to tell them apart as they were all lying down. Seeing the echidna was exciting - just like in cartoons! I found myself looking around for Pumbaa, haha.

Finally saw the seals - missed the 11 AM show, but watching these chubby creatures swimming underwater was quite cute.