Updated for September 2026
The Best Zoos in New South Wales
How this list is ordered: by how complete our listing is — how much we hold on opening hours, ticket prices, accreditation, photographs, animals and facilities. It is a measure of our own coverage, not a judgement of the venue. We hold no visitor scores or conservation assessments, so “best” here means every zoo in New South Wales that qualifies for the list, fullest entry first.
Listed alphabetically
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Animal encounterParkingKeeper talk or show
Sydney Aquarium & Sydney Wildlife World
Zoo & Aquarium in Sydney
It opened in September 2006 beside a leisure and retail precinct that also holds the Sea Life aquarium and Madame Tussauds, and is laid out in ten themed zones.
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Keeper talk or showRides and attractionsBehind-the-scenes tour
Taronga Zoo
Zoo in Mosman
The zoo occupies 28 hectares, split into zoogeographic regions. Its name is an Aboriginal word for a fine outlook. From September to April it closes at 5pm.
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Animal encounterGuided tourOn-site dining
Mogo Wildlife Park
Zoo in Mogo (South)
Mogo Wildlife Park, opened in 1991, is a zoo in Mogo (South), Australia. Animals on show include Spotted Hyena, Binturong, Meerkats, Silvery Gibbon and Siamang Gibbon.
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Animal encounterAnimal feeding experience
Symbio Wildlife Park
Zoo in Wollongong
It started in 1975 showing only native Australian wildlife, and later broadened to foreign species, taking on conservation and captive breeding work for both. Purpose-built breeding facilities were set up in 2021 for Bellinger River and Manning River snapping turtles and for stuttering frogs.
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Taronga Western Plains Zoo
Zoo in Dubbo
The zoo lies on the Newell Highway, roughly five kilometres out from the town.
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On-site diningAccessible toiletsAssistance animal policy
Australian Reptile Park
Zoo in Central Coast
The park displays close to 50 reptile species, among the largest such collections in the country.
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Animal encounterRides and attractionsOn-site dining
Central Coast Zoo
Zoo in Wyong Creek
Access is limited to private tours booked by telephone or email, with a full public opening anticipated for 2023. Six African lions taken from circus life, three of each sex, were expected to be the main draw.
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Hunter Valley Wildlife Park
Zoo in Nulkaba
The park began operating in 2007 as Hunter Valley Zoo. New owners took it over in 2021, and the present name was adopted in November of that year.
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Behind-the-scenes tourParkingWheelchair accessible routes
Sydney Zoo
Zoo in Sydney
The site measures 16.5 hectares and lies 38 km west of the central business district. Its enclosures average 2.6 times the size required under New South Wales Department of Primary Industries rules.
Our ranking methodology
This is not a ranking. The 9 venues above are listed alphabetically by name, the same order used throughout this site. We do not collect visitor reviews, star ratings, ticket-sales figures or a conservation-impact score, so none of those exist here to rank by — “best” in this page’s title means every venue that qualifies for this list, not first-to-last by quality. If we ever add a data source robust enough to support an honest ranking, this note and the order above will change together.