Taronga Zoo: Sydney Skyline, Giraffes, and One Very Opinionated Emu
- Dr. K.
- Jul 20
- 6 min read
You don’t walk into Taronga Zoo and immediately see animals. You see signage, a large map, maybe a hand sanitizer station. Then a gift shop. A family sorting out a stroller. A bird trying to steal someone’s sandwich.
For those who feel uneasy about zoos, Taronga is spacious and thoughtfully designed. The walking paths are open. The animals don’t seem boxed in. It feels less like a display and more like an organized coexistence.
But before we get to the animals, let’s talk about how we got there.
Getting There (and Sorting Out the Details)
We took a monorail-style tram, then a ferry, followed by a short shuttle ride to the zoo’s upper entrance. Somewhere along the way, we forgot to tap off with our Opal card and immediately wondered whether we’d be charged a penalty. We weren’t.
We also couldn’t find our ticket confirmation email and spent several minutes checking junk folders. There it was—right where we didn’t need it to be.
It wasn’t the smoothest arrival, but it made finally stepping into the zoo feel like a quiet win.
The Emu That Didn’t Blink (Or Budge)
In the Australian Walkabout area, visitors stroll through a large open habitat shared by kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, and emus. There are wooden paths and minimal barriers, with a general understanding that humans should be polite and non-threatening.
We had just started walking when we spotted an emu standing just off the trail. It didn’t move, blink, or react. It was simply there—still, tall, and close. A small child, without hesitation, reached out to gently pet it. His grandmother quickly pulled him back, realizing in that split second that this wasn’t a petting zoo—and this definitely wasn’t a pet. That’s how close we were.
In the trees above, several koalas were curled up and fast asleep. They didn’t stir, even with a curious crowd below. Koalas sleep up to 20 hours a day, but none of them seemed aware of how effortlessly adorable they looked doing it.
Seeing these animals up close—emu, wallaby, kangaroo, koala—felt quite thrilling. For many of us, this was a first. Not behind glass, not in a documentary, but right there on the path with us.
Kangaroos, Little Penguins, and Everyday Business
A few kangaroos rested in the shade nearby. One stood briefly, then returned to stillness. They didn’t pay much attention to the passing visitors, and no one disturbed them. Kangaroos typically rest for long stretches during the day, and here, they were doing exactly that.
The little penguin area—clearly marked and well-visited—attracted a steady crowd. Also known as fairy penguins, they are the smallest penguin species in the world. They swam short laps, surfaced briefly, and returned to the rocks. People stood behind the glass, quietly watching, most of them staying longer than expected.
The Seal Show We Didn’t Plan to See (But Did)
We didn’t go out of our way to see the seal show, but we happened to walk in just as the doors were closing, so we stayed.
It was efficient and crowd-pleasing. The seals waved, spun, jumped, and splashed right on cue. Parents filmed. Kids screamed in delight. We watched from our spot near the exit, somewhere between observational and slightly boxed in. It was well done. We chose not to stay for an encore.
Giraffes, Chimpanzees, and a Red Panda
We stopped at the giraffe lookout, one of the most photographed areas in the zoo. The giraffes moved slowly across the open landscape, framed by the Sydney skyline just behind them. That contrast—urban in the distance, wild up close—was part of what made the moment worth lingering for.
We spent even more time at the chimpanzee habitat. The space was large and active. Younger chimps climbed and jumped between structures. One kept trying the same move repeatedly. A baby held tightly to its mother. Two older chimps stayed in the shaded back corner, still and alert. The dynamic kept changing—noisy one moment, quiet the next.
Later, we turned onto another path and spotted a tiny red panda curled into the crook of a tree. It didn’t move or look up. Whether it was asleep or simply uninterested, it seemed entirely comfortable being watched. Red pandas are typically more active early and late in the day. At this point, it had clearly decided not to participate.
Lunch with a View (and a Lot of Wind)
We took a break at Blue Salt Grill, a high‑up indoor café near the upper entrance. Through its large windows, we could see the lawn below and a sliver of the harbor in the distance. A few black birds—pied currawongs, native to eastern Australia—hopped around, distinctive for their white wing patches and bold yellow eyes.
It was sunny, but the wind had picked up—not just a breeze, but a sharp, chilly gust that made you wonder how the animals were handling it. The glass doors occasionally shuddered, and we wrapped our jackets a little tighter. It was a good place to pause. The café used real plates, not paper boxes, and the indoor air conditioning still managed to compete with the weather outside.
The Wind Tunnel, the Flying Hat, and the Way Out
After lunch, we passed through the open-air food court near the zoo’s lower levels—a wide plaza with ordering windows, picnic benches, and bathrooms. A sudden gust of wind sent my hat flying across the seating area, one of several taking flight. I ran after it, hair in my face, eyes squinting against the dust. I managed to stop it with my foot and shouted, “Yes!” The woman next to me clapped. A few others laughed. For a moment, we were all just watching hats.
From there, we took an escalator up one level, crossed a landing, and then rode an elevator down a few floors—a surprisingly specific but smooth sequence that leads you out of the zoo. After that, it was just a short, sloped walk downhill to the ferry dock.
We had just missed the previous ferry, so we waited about 30 minutes for the next one. There was a small café near the dock, and we grabbed a hot flat white to warm up while we waited. The wind was still sharp, but the coffee helped. We tapped our Opal cards and joined the growing crowd—maybe 100 people—all waiting quietly to head back into the city.
A Wellness Note
Spending time among animals—even in a space as carefully designed as Taronga—slows your pace. It brings attention to movement, to stillness, to coexistence. You watch a red panda sleep, a chimpanzee try the same jump over and over again, a wallaby disappear into the shade. You stop checking your phone. You wait. You look longer.
It’s also a place where care and conservation meet the everyday. Many of the animals here are part of long-term protection efforts. Behind the scenes, there’s science, policy, funding, and habitat work. But on the surface, there’s a quiet kind of connection. And that stays with you long after the ferry leaves the dock.
Planning Notes
Where: Bradleys Head Rd, Mosman NSW
Getting there: Ferry from Circular Quay → Taronga Zoo Wharf → shuttle to top entrance
Zoo hours: 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM (seasonal changes may apply)
Tickets: Book online; if your email vanishes, check spam
Transit tip: Tap on and off with your Opal card—including the bus
Highlights: Australian Walkabout, the emu, giraffe skyline moment, chimpanzees, red panda, aviary
Lunch: Blue Salt Grill (indoor, calm, with views); kiosks also available
Exit tip: Use the lower gate for a scenic, escalator-assisted return to the ferry
Getting There
You can buy a general admission ticket to Taronga Zoo or a ferry + zoo combo ticket that includes round-trip ferry transport from Circular Quay.
(Ferry, Bus, Train, or Driving options + school holiday shuttle buses)
If you plan to use public transport around Sydney, we strongly recommend the $50 Opal Pass, which gives you unlimited rides on ferries, trains, and buses for seven days. We used it for both the ferry and the shuttle. You can buy it online at transportnsw.info or at airport stations, ferry terminals, and major train hubs. Review this list of Opal retailers.
Be sure to tap on and off with your Opal card, and check that you're boarding the ferry labeled for Taronga Zoo Wharf—everything is clearly marked. Expect to spend at least three hours at the zoo. Same-day re-entry is allowed, so keep your ticket handy if you step out.
A Few Final Notes Before You Go
Birthday visitors get in for $1: Yes, really. Show valid ID and enjoy entry for just one dollar on your birthday
Roar and Snore overnight stay: Taronga offers a unique luxury camping experience inside the zoo, complete with after-hours tours and harbor views — advance booking essential
Download the free Taronga Zoo Sydney app for maps, showtimes, and real-time updates
Animal Encounters available: Book in advance for behind-the-scenes or up-close experiences
Accessibility: Most paths are wheelchair- and stroller-friendly; accessible bathrooms and services are available throughout the zoo
Rental lockers: are no longer available at the zoo.
