Australia is full of unique creatures, most of which are native only to the island nation. They’re on their coins and coat of arms and I’ve been lucky to see many of them in the wild or throughout my travels. But for a well-rounded introduction to exactly what makes Australia a special place for wildlife, you should start at Sydney’s famous Taronga Zoo.
I dismissed the zoo during my last time in Sydney, as I was sure I would be able to see the same animals as I traveled up the East Coast. I was, as it turns out, to see many different creatures, including kangaroos in the wild in Agnes Water and rural South Australia. I saw echidnas and koalas at Bungalow Bay on Magnetic Island. And, of course, all of the sea creatures in the Great Barrier Reef.
But this time around, I wised up. Taronga Zoo must be popular for a reason, I rationalized. And since I was bringing along my sister, who works at Zoo Atlanta, I knew I couldn’t not go. Taronga Zoo was built in 1916 in the luxurious suburb of Mosman, across the harbor from the Opera House and Circular Quay. It’s named after the Aboriginal word for “beautiful view,” and once you’ve taken the ferry across, I’m sure you’ll agree that it’s aptly named.
While for many years the focus of the zoo was entertainment, with a more circus-like style that included elephant rides, the 1960s saw the property turn towards an educational emphasis. Today it has over 2,600 animals and keeps its focus on teaching visitors about the animals and the problems they face. This is one of the few places in Australia that has witnessed respective births of platypus and Asian elephants.
While I love seeing animals in their natural habitats, the majority of the animals at Taronga Zoo are here because they’ve been rescued from other places or were born in captivity. They wouldn’t survive in the wild, so they now serve as a way for us to learn more about them. For example, the Tasmanian devils are rescued because of the type of cancer running rampant in the devils back in Tasmania.
What makes Taronga Zoo such a special place is how close you actually get to the animals. You can walk right up to kangaroos and emus and will see kookaburras and the species of spiders above your head. For a fully immersive trip to the zoo, you can even join an overnight program that allows you to stay in tents and see the animals at night.
While the ticket price may not be backpacker friendly, a visit to the Taronga Zoo is great for travelers who are short on time but are interested in seeing Australia’s diverse wildlife.
If You Go
Tickets to Taronga Zoo are $44 for adults, $22 for children and $31.50 for students and seniors with IDs. Admission includes entrance into the animal shows and keeper talks, which are put on nearly every hour. You can purchase tickets before you go to cut the lines and also buy a combination ticket with your ferry ticket. Ferries run from Circular Quay every half hour. The zoo is open 365 days per year.
I received complimentary admission into Taronga Zoo, but all opinions are my own, namely that this is the best zoo I’ve ever been to.
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