There are a plethora of Zoos and Wildlife Parks to explore in Sydney. But what is the best Sydney Zoo? Which one should you head to on your trip to New South Wales capital city? We’ve got you covered with all the details you need to know to help you make your decision about which to visit on your trip to Sydney or during the Sydney School Holidays.
Discover the best Zoos and Wildlife Park in Sydney
Table of Contents
Which is the best zoo in Sydney?
A number of factors will come into play when choosing which Sydney zoo or wildlife park you should visit. Location, accessibility, animals, animal encounters, price and opening hours are all considerations. Each zoo in Sydney has a number of features that make it unique.
To make things easy for you on your trip to one of Sydney’s zoos, we have attempted to highlight all the different factors that make the zoo or wildlife park great so you can choose the one that suits you and your family best.
Taronga Zoo Sydney Mosman
Situated on Cammeraigal country, and offering the best views across the Sydney Harbour, Sydney’s Taronga Zoo is a not-for-profit zoo that is over 100 years old and has been the place to go to learn about African, Asian, American and European animals, as well as a range of Australian wildlife.
Currently, Taronga Zoo Sydney cares for over 5,000 animals from over 350 species including the world’s rarest species of bear – the Sun Bear; Sumatran Tigers (the estimate that there are only 400 left on Earth); Chimpanzees: Gorillas; Asian Elephants; Giraffes and more.
Most recently, Taronga Zoo welcomed a litter of five African Lion Cubs for the first time in 18 years.
Other than Christmas Day, Taronga Zoo is open every day of the year.
Animal Experiences at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo
Free Flight Birds
For the last two decades, Taronga Zoo has been showcasing the incredible natural behaviour of birds via the Free Flight Birds show. One of the highlights is watching an Andean Condor spread its three-metre wide wings
The Taronga Free Flight Birds show is included with your entry ticket and runs, subject to weather conditions, at 12.00 pm and 3.00 pm each day. The show fills up quickly, so make sure you arrive early so you can secure a spot in the stand.
It is also worth noting that you will spend much of your time looking up. The birds in the show will fly above your head, and in some instances, they will be very close. If you are afraid of birds, consider sitting on the edge of the stand.
Make sure to bring your camera. The Free Flight Bird Show at Taronga has the best view of Sydney Harbour!
Seals for the Wild Presentation
The Seals for the Wild Presentation is an opportunity for Taronga’s Australian sea lions, Californian sea lions, and New Zealand fur seals to display their natural strength and agility while communicating a powerful conservation message.
Just like the Free Flight Birds show, the Seals for the Wild show is included with your entry ticket, although the stand fills up super quickly too, so make sure to get there early.
Currently, the show runs at 1.00 pm on Monday to Friday at 1.00 pm. There are two shows on the weekend, with the show running at 11.00 am and 2.00 pm on Saturday and Sunday. When considering where to sit, be mindful of the splash zone where you are more than likely to get wet.
Check out our Kid Bucket List Instagram Story of our trip and note how what happened to Sunshine at the Seal show!
Keeper Talks
Each day at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo there are over 20 Keeper Talks around the zoo. Use your map (or the Taronga Zoo App) to plan your journey around the zoo so you can learn about each animal from the experts who know them best.
Zookeeper Experience
Visitors can experience a day in the life of a Zookeeper with the Taronga Keeper for a Day program for adults and children.
The Adult Keeper for a Day experience is hosted by an experienced senior keeper and takes participants on a behind the scenes adventure to meet the animals at Taronga. The day is quite immersive with participants tasked to devise enrichment activities, food preparation and more.
The Junior Keeper Experience is for children aged 8 to 11 years old. Each child is provided with their very own Taronga Junior Keeper t-shirt and can look forward to a day where they can get up and close with some of Taronga’s Australian Native animals and learn how to care for and protect them in to the future.
Read about our Kid Bucket List Junior Keeper experience at Taronga Zoo.
Animal Encounters
Taronga Zoo offers a plethora of animal encounters where participants can get up and close with some of their favourite animals with a private talk, encounter, and in some instances, an opportunity to feed the animals.
Animal Encounters at Taronga zoo include: koalas, elephants, giraffes, meerkats and penguins.
Make sure to check out Taronga’s partner zoo, Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo which is super fun with kids.
Special Experiences at Taronga Zoo
Sky Safari
Taronga zoo’s Sky Safari is the only cable car in Sydney. A ride in the Sky Safari is included with the zoo’s entry and provides breathtaking views over the harbour and an aerial view of the Asian Elephants.
This Sydney cable car runs from the zoo top entry to the lower entry and wharf from 10.00 am to 3.00 pm daily, with extended hours during the Sydney school holidays.
Wild Ropes High Ropes Course
Suitable for kids and adults alike, Taronga’s high ropes course Wild Ropes is a fun outdoor adventure activity which will get the heart racing whilst taking you through the canopy of the Australian nature area.
Check out our Taronga Wild Ropes experience with kids.
Stay at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo
Have you ever thought about staying at a zoo? Well now you can with two accommodation options, or rather – experiences, on offer at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo: Roar and Snore and the new Wildlife Retreat.
Roar and Snore
Taronga’s Roar and Snore is an unforgettable overnight experience where you can stay in safari-style accommodation and participate in intimate animal encounters. When everyone else leaves, you will explore different areas of the zoo with passionate keepers and guides.
The Roar and Snore experience includes canapés and beverages (a variety of beers, wines, soft drinks, juices, tea and coffee) upon arrival to the harbour-side campsite, delicious dinner and breakfast and your accommodation in comfortable safari-style tents.
Taronga’s Roar and Snore was one of the most amazing Sydney experiences we’ve had to date. Read about our experience of Taronga’s Roar and Snore with kids.
Wildlife Retreat at Taronga
Wildlife Retreat is the newest accommodation option to arrive at Taronga Zoo and offers a range of packages that feature up-close animal experiences.
Staying at Taronga’s Wildlife Retreat provides accommodation guests with exclusive access to The Sanctuary, the Australian native wildlife habitat at the centre of the Wildlife Retreat which is home to Koalas, Wallabies, Echidnas and other unique Australian species.
All packages include an À la carte breakfast at Me-Gal restaurant, free parking, Complimentary access to Taronga Zoo Sydney, and a Sanctuary tour. The Family package includes a guided Family Night Walk of Taronga Zoo. The Ultimate Retreat includes a three-course dinner at Me-Gal restaurant.
Access Taronga Days
On select days throughout the year, Taronga welcomes guests with autism and their family or friends to enjoy early entry to our Zoos. Access Taronga days like this are a great opportunity for you to enjoy the peace and quiet of the Zoo before it opens to the general public.
Register your interest in advance to receive information and dates about the next day.
Accessibility
Taronga Zoo is situated on 28 hectares which is steep in many areas. Despite this, 95% of Taronga’s animal displays are wheelchair viewable and a number of elevators and ramps have been installed around the zoo to link the zoo and make it fairly accessible.
There are numerous accessible toilets around Taronga Zoo. These can be found at the north and south entrances, at the Food Market, outside the Function Centre and at the Concert Lawns. There is also a wheelchair accessible bathroom at Parents Change Room located near the Giraffe exhibit.
Taronga Zoo Tickets
Taronga Zoo has a range of ticket options including single tickets and family tickets, with the option of a single visit or annual pass.
If you are a teacher then you are spoiled with Taronga Zoo tickets a mere $60.00 (but $20.00 joining fee) which gives you and two children access to Taronga Zoo, Taronga Zoo Sydney, Taronga Western Plains Zoo Dubbo and Adelaide, Melbourne and Perth Zoos. Head to Teacher Taronga Zoo Tickets for more information.
Taronga Zoo offers free entry to carers or essential companions of those with disabilities and accepts the national Companion Card.
How to Get to Taronga Zoo
Ferry
When you discover that it is only 12 minutes from the CBD to Taronga Zoo by ferry, it makes sense that this is the best way to get to the zoo. Sydney Ferries services depart Circular Quay every 30 minutes or you could select Captain Cook Cruises which operate the Zoo Express and all-day hop on, hop off services departing daily from Darling Harbour and Circular Quay.
Driving
Driving may be a more convenient option for you depending on where you live. Parking is available at Taronga Zoo Sydney with entry from Bradleys Head Road. The all-day parking rate is currently $19.00.
Sydney Zoo Bungarribee
Sydney Zoo aka as Western Sydney Zoo, in Bungarribee, opened in 2019 and is home to over 1,000 animals including a wide range of exotic and native animals, Australia’s largest Reptile and Nocturnal House and an aquarium.
Read about our trip to Sydney Zoo and all of our top tips for visiting with your family.
Animal Experiences at Sydney Zoo
Mini Zookeeper For a Day
The Mini Zookeeper for a Day experience at Sydney Zoo is available to children aged 8-12 years. Throughout the day, participants learn about what it takes to become a zookeeper whilst also enjoying a number of opportunities to get hands-on experience feeding and caring for a range of different animals.
Animal Encounters at Sydney Zoo
Sydney Zoo offers a number of animal encounters with animals for visitors. The encounters last for 30 to 45 minutes each, and offer a chance to learn about the animal, hand feed them and have your photo taken with them.
Current Animal encounters include: Camel, Lion, Capybara, Giraffe, and Meerkats.
Accessibility
Sydney Zoo was specifically designed to be inclusive for all our guests. The pathway around the zoo is largely flat and wide. There are no stairs in the entire zoo.
Sydney Zoo Tickets
Sydney Zoo Tickets are purchased for each individual person. They do not offer family passes. Tickets to Sydney Zoo are heavily discounted if purchased online.
Sydney Zoo offers annual passes for both individuals and families online.
Sydney Zoo offers free entry to carers or essential companions of those with disabilities and accepts the national Companion Card with the purchase of a ticket or membership for the person needing support.
How to get to Sydney Zoo
Drive
Sydney Zoo is in Western Sydney on the Great Western Highway in Bungarribee. The zoo has excellent access to the M4 and M7 Motorways and offers on-site parking.
Bus
Route 729 services travel to Sydney Zoo every 25-30 minutes from Blacktown and Mount Druitt train Stations via Minchinbury.
Route 723 services travel to Sydney Zoo every 15-30 minutes from Blacktown and Mount Druitt train Stations on weekdays.
SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium
Situated in the exciting Darling Harbour precinct, SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium is an all-weather location which is open every day of the year. The aquarium features 13,000 animals from 700 different species which can be viewed across a range of exploration zones that replicate the different Australian water environments.
Read about our trip to SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium
Animal Experiences at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium
Feeds and Talks
All animals need to eat, right? That includes fish and all other sea life. Daily presentations include the Little Penguin Talk, the Dugong Discovery Talk, the Living Fossil Talk and many more, all which are included in your ticket price. Make sure to check the schedule when you arrive so you don’t miss out.
Shark Dive Xtreme
Available to those aged 14 years and older, the Shark Dive Xtreme experience offers an opportunity to swim with sharks, giant stingrays and other aquatic life outside the cage. Actually, there is no cage!
With no experience necessary, Shark Dive Xtreme offers introduction sessions through to a certified dive. The dive lasts around 30 minutes and all diving equipment, as well as expert instruction, is included.
This experience is an additional cost to the SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium entry fee.
Penguin Passport
The Penguin Passport experience lasts for 75 minutes and takes participants behind the scenes to see the penguin food preparation area as well as how this state-of-the-art exhibit maintains its chilly temperatures, before a close penguin encounter with the SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium’s sub-Antarctic penguin colony.
Your ticket includes sub-Antarctic snow gear for you to wear throughout the encounter to keep you warm. This experience is an additional cost to the SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium entry fee.
Read about our SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium penguin adventure.
Glass Bottom Boat
Hop on the Glass Bottom Boat and experience the NEW Day and Night on the Reef exhibit as you glide across the water and view a range of gorgeous aquatic animals underneath the boat including several species of shark, huge sawfish, dozens of species of vibrant tropical fish and the aquarium’s rescue marine turtles.
Please note that this experience is open to those aged 3 years and older. This experience is an additional cost to the SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium entry fee.
Other Special Experiences
Private Dining
With six incredible locations to choose from, all with a magical view of the reef exhibit, the SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium Private Dining experience is quite unique.
The SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium Private Dining experience includes a self-guided tour, three course dinner, drinks & intimate dinner locations set up in the NEW Day and Night on the Reef zone with its huge floor-to-ceiling window into the reef.
Virtual Reality Experience
The SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium has VR pods near the rockpool zone. For $15.00 per experience, or $20.00 for two, the kids (or even you) can enjoy 4 different ocean and sea creature themed immersive Virtual Reality experiences.
Current experiences include: Swimming with Humpbacks, Shark Dive, Legend of Lusca (a shipwreck exploration) and Drift (follows a young boy’s journey through the ocean).
Accessibility
SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium is an accessible site with no stairs, wide walkways and ramps. The Aquarium offers free entry to carers or essential companions of those with disabilities and accepts the national companion card.
SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium Tickets
If you are heading to SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium and are also interested in visiting other Merlin attractions then the Merlin Annual pass is the most cost effective choice offering access to 10 attractions in Australia and New Zealand for an entire twelve months.
How to get to SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium
SEA LIFE Aquarium is located in Sydney’s Darling Harbour.
Train
Take the train to Town Hall or Wynyard stations. If you are coming from Wynyard Station, head for King Street from and then walk west down the hill towards Darling Harbour. If you are coming from Town Hall, head to Market Street and then head west to Darling Harbour.
Car
You can drive to Darling Harbour, park and then walk across to the aquarium. Parking pricing will vary depending on when you visit. Make sure to check out our Cheap Sydney Parking options.
WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo Darling Harbour
Situated in Darling Harbour, right next to SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium and Madame Tussauds Sydney. It is a small zoo in comparison to others in the Sydney but is conveniently located in the heart of the city and is an all-weather location.
WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo is the home to a number of native Australian animals including the ‘Aussie Big 5’ (Kangaroos, Koalas, Wombat, Platypus and Saltwater Crocodile), Tasmanian Devils, quokkas, birds, reptiles and more.
Animal Experiences at WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo
While you can’t hold a koala in NSW, you can get up and close to one and WILD LIFE Sydney zoo will provide that opportunity through one of its animal encounter experiences.
Koala Photo
Step into the koala enclosure and get up close to one of the most iconic Australian animals for a memorable photo opportunity. Plus, you’ll even take home a printed photo.
Breakfast with the Koalas
This is an experience for the early riser as the experience starts at 7.15 am. On arrival, participants enjoy a one hour guided tour of the WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo when they are most active, before heading to the Koala Rooftop for a hot buffet breakfast.
Australian Wildlife Tour
This tour runs twice daily at 10am and 2pm, and takes participants on a behind-the-scenes zoo experience over a 90 minutes period where they will access restricted areas, and get up close to the zoo’s koalas and other Aussie animals where they can take some images.
Accessibility
WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo is an accessible site. There are ramps connecting each level, all the low lighting may be tricky so watch your step. There are accessible toilet facilities located at the beginning of the attraction just before the entry and in the middle of the attraction.
WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo Tickets
As a Merlin attraction, we recommend the Merlin Annual pass which is the most cost effective choice if you want to see more of Sydney, with the pass providing access to 10 attractions in Australia and New Zealand for an entire twelve months.
How to get to WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo
WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo is located in Sydney’s Darling Harbour next to the SEA LIFE Aquarium.
Train
Take the train to Town Hall or Wynyard stations. If you are coming from Wynyard Station, head for King Street from and then walk west down the hill towards Darling Harbour. If you are coming from Town Hall, head to Market Street and then head west to Darling Harbour.
Car
You can drive to Darling Harbour, park and then walk across to the aquarium. Parking pricing will vary depending on when you visit. Make sure to check out our Cheap Sydney Parking options.
Featherdale Wildlife Park
Located in Doonside in Sydney’s Western Suburbs, Featherdale Wildlife Park was established in 1972 and is the home of 2,000 Australian native animals from more than 260 different species. Featherdale also boasts the largest collection of koalas in NSW.
Featherdale Wildlife Park is the zoo to head to if you are interested in learning more about Australian animals as the site is specifically focused on our native animals.
Read about our Animal Encounter experience at Featherdale Wildlife Park.
Animal Experiences at Featherdale Wildlife Park
Featherdale Wildlife Park offers a range of animal experiences, some paid and some included with your ticket. These include:
- A Quokka Encounter – Suitable for ages 10+, participants are able to enter and sit in the quokka enclosure where they can feed the animals. All participants receive a professional photo keepsake of their experience.
- Croc Deck Encounter – Sutable for ages 16+, participants are escorted onto the crocodile viewing deck where they will have the opportunity feed Max, the 2.6 metre saltwater crocodile before holding a juvenile crocodile.
- Penguin Encounter – For ages 10+, participants will enjoy the experience of hand feeding the penguins and are able to sit inside the enclosure and watch the animals. Participants will also receive a professional photo keepsake of their experience.
- Visit the Featherdale koala kindy – For ages 10+, in this encounter participants will have the opportunity to assist keepers with placing out the koala’s daily diet of Eucalyptus leaves, into our feeding pots before having a private interaction with the koalas which will assist keepers with their conditioning training.
- Meet a Koala Experience – this encounter is included with the entry ticket. All visitors can meet a koala and ask the koala keeper questions.
- Walk Through Lorikeet Aviary – this encounter is included with the entry ticket. Guests will have the opportunity to walk through our new lorikeet aviary to get up close to these colourful and curious native birds.
- Roo Feeding – this encounter is included with the entry ticket, but you will need to purchase some kangaroo food at the entry if you want to engage rather than just watch. You can visit three kangaroo and marsupial walk through areas at Featherdale where you can feed the kangaroos and wallabies.
Accessibility
Featherdale Wildlife Park is largely accessible to wheelchair users with wide, sealed pathways and virtually no incline. The fences tend to be low for most exhibits too, providing a good view of the enclosures. The park also has accessible toilets, both at the main entrance and within the park.
Featherdale Wildlife Park Tickets
Featherdale offers family passes as well as individual tickets. Parramatta Eels NRL Members receive discounted tickets. A number of animal encounters are available for an additional fee and will need to be booked in advance to avoid
How to get to Featherdale Wildlife Park
Public Transport
From the City, take the North Shore and Western line to Blacktown Station. Bus stand E is located just outside the station. Take the number 729 bus for a 10-minute ride which will drop you right outside Featherdale’s gates.
Car
There are two car parks at Featherdale Wildlife Park and it’s free! Featherdale is fairly easy to get to via either the M4, or M2/M7.
Visiting Zoos in Sydney
You are sure to have a bunch of questions about visiting zoos in Sydney in addition to what we have included above. I hope we can answer these for you (or drop us a comment).
Can I hold a koala in Sydney?
Holding a koala is illegal in all states of Australia with the exception of Australia. This is for good reason, as repetitive handling of koalas is very stressful for these animals, making them hyper vigilant for long periods of time resulting in toxic stress.
What is the best zoo to visit in Sydney with kids?
I can’t help but be subjective with my choice. Taronga Zoo has always been my favourite zoos to visit. I have been visiting with the kids since they were babies and they too enjoying visiting, however it is always a big day and we ae exhausted afterwards.
For that reason, I understand that some families would prefer Sydney Zoo or WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo as they are smaller and are almost all a level across the zoos (ie. no hills!).
Which zoo is the cheapest zoo in Sydney to visit?
If you factor in travel (public transport fees, parking fee etc), Featherdale Wildlife Park is currently Sydney’s cheapest zoo when it comes to seeing a large variety of animals, followed by Taronga zoo.
Zoos Just Outside Sydney
If you are happy to drive out of Sydney there are two awesome zoos that we love to visit that offer a unique experience. These zoos are great for families, with both offering school holiday programs
Symbio Zoo
Situated 2.5 hours south of Sydney at Helensburgh on the way to Wollongong, Symbio Zoo is home to a range of Australian and exotic animals.
Symbio Zoo offers a number of behind the scene experiences (at extra expense), as well as opportunities for the kids (or yourself) to feed the kangaroos and farm animals which is included in the ticket price.
One of the things that makes Symbio Zoo unique, aside from its plethora of animals, is the Symbio Splash Park and adventure playground which is included with your entry ticket. It makes it one of the perfect zoos to visit with a family.
Australian Reptile Park
The Australian Reptile Park has never failed to offer us a fantastic day trip out of Sydney. Situated in Somersby on the NSW Central Coast, the Australian Reptile Park is a hands-on, interactive zoo. It is also the only zoo in Australia to boast a snake and spider venom milking program.
At the Australian Reptile Park you can view over 40 species of native and exotic reptiles in the Lost World of Reptiles and throughout the Park and visit Spider World where you will see a funnel-web spider milking as well as see some of the largest spiders in Australia!
Other great experiences include watching Hugo, the giant Galapagos tortoise, on his daily walk through the Park, viewing Elvis, Australia’s Crankiest Croc, have his daily feed, and viewing a close encounter with a koala, alligator, python and more at the daily photo sessions.
Read about our zookeeper experience at the Australian Reptile Park.
Bargo Dingo Sanctuary
Established over 40 years ago, the Bargo Dingo Sanctuary is the oldest dingo sanctuary in Australia as is situated in Bargo, NSW. With over 30 dingos in residence at the Bargo Dingo Sanctuary is dedicated to keeping and breeding the Australian Native Dingo as a pure species whilst providing an educational opportunity to visitors. It is also a non for profit.
The Bargo Dingo Sanctuary offers an Up Close and Personal Encounter with the dingoes in addition to their regular entry fee. For an extra $10.00 person, both you and the kids can pat, feed and cuddle a dingo. We highly recommend this experience.
The Bargo Dingo Sanctuary tickets are quite cheap. A family ticket is currently only $25.00! Prebookings are essential with tickets payable either online or when you arrive.
Read about our Dingo Experience at the Bargo Dingo Sanctuary.