Taronga Zoo

Taronga Zoo and its collection

Taronga Zoo, opened in 1916, is a zoo in Mosman, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

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.

History

From 1884 the state's first public zoo operated at Billy Goat Swamp, Moore Park, in the hands of New South Wales's Royal Zoological Society; two secondary schools occupy that ground today. Albert Sherbourne Le Souef, secretary to the society, returned from Hamburg in 1908 with the idea of a zoo without bars. The present park was officially opened on 7 October 1916, under a name taken from an Aboriginal word for a fine outlook.

Animals and collection

Roughly 5,000 animals of more than 350 species are cared for, many of them threatened.

Exhibits

A free-flight bird show is run using species such as the barking owl and the black-breasted buzzard.

Things to do

Things to do include Wild Ropes, Wildlife Express, Seals for the Wild, Free Flight Birds and Keeper for a Day.

What the venue says

• Seals for the Wild
• From family favourites, sweet treats and harbourfront dining, you'll find a range of delicious food and drink options across the Zoo.
• Features an onsite paid parking lot (with a flat rate typically reported around $22) as well as nearby street parking options.
• wheelchair-accessible entrances
• parking lots
• restrooms
• seating