Taronga Zoo sits on the harbour’s north shore, 12 minutes by ferry from Circular Quay, with views of the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge from among the animals. Most visitors need just two decisions: which ticket (entry only, entry with a return ferry, or a guided tour), and how to tackle a steep hillside site. This guide covers both, plus koala encounters, shows and the things that have changed recently.
Taronga Zoo Sydney: tickets, ferry and tips
Which ticket should you book?
All four options below include entry for the whole day and are sold by Taronga Zoo or, for the ferry combo, by Captain Cook Cruises. Prices checked on 9 October 2026; live prices are shown on each card.
Where available, you can reserve now and pay later. Payment dates and eligibility depend on the experience and the options shown at checkout.
Finding experiences…
General entry
A$57Includes the free Seals for the Wild (11am and 2pm) and Free Flight Bird (12pm and 3pm) presentations and keeper talks. Transport to the zoo is not included.
Entry with return ferry
From A$80A return harbour cruise with Captain Cook Cruises from Circular Quay, Darling Harbour, Manly or Watsons Bay, with up to 10 departures a day; combo holders can use the Lower Entrance by the wharf. Check return times when you arrive.
Wild Australia Experience
From A$182A behind-the-scenes tour with a professional keeper that includes animal encounters, with morning or afternoon departures. As everywhere in NSW, you cannot touch or hold the koalas.
Aussie Backyard Adventure Tour
From A$107A small-group guided walk through the Australian section, with zoo entry for the day. It does not include animal encounters or feeding.
Is Taronga Zoo worth it?
Who will love it
Taronga is one of the few zoos where the backdrop is as good as the animals: the giraffes look out across the harbour to the Opera House and the city. If you want to see Australian wildlife in one go, the Nura Diya Australia precinct has koalas, kangaroos, dingoes and Tasmanian devils, and its nocturnal house shows platypus. The free seal and free-flight bird presentations are popular highlights.
It is less suited to anyone who struggles with hills. The 28-hectare site climbs steeply from the harbour to the top entrance, and the Sky Safari cable car that used to carry visitors up is closed until late 2027. Plan your route (see the tips below) and allow at least four hours.
Ferry combo or do it yourself?
The public F2 ferry leaves Circular Quay Wharf 4 about every 30 minutes and takes 12 minutes; pay with an Opal card or a contactless bank card. Fares are capped at A$9.65 a day on Fridays, weekends and public holidays, so at the weekend a general entry ticket plus the public ferry is usually the cheapest way to go.
The combo ticket is simpler: one booking, a harbour cruise rather than a commuter ferry, and departures from Darling Harbour, Manly and Watsons Bay as well as Circular Quay. Check the return schedule before you set off to explore.
Koalas, giraffes and other encounters
- Koala encounter: A$60 per session for up to four people, daily between 11am and 12:55pm, about five minutes. You stand next to a koala but cannot touch or hold it.
- Giraffe feed: A$39.95 for up to four people at 10:40am.
- Meerkat and capybara encounters: A$79 per person, ages 8+, mid-morning.
- All encounters need a zoo ticket and are booked from 9am on the day at the Top Plaza shop or in the Taronga app, so arrive early if you want one.
- Wild Ropes, the treetop ropes course, starts from A$48 for adults (entry not included); Roar and Snore is an overnight stay in safari tents with dinner, breakfast and night tours, for ages 5+.
Where it is and how to get there
Taronga is on the north shore of Sydney Harbour in Mosman, directly across the water from the city. The ferry wharf is at the bottom of the zoo and the main entrance at the top. Walking and travel times below are approximate.
By ferry
Take the F2 ferry from Circular Quay Wharf 4 (about every 30 minutes, 12 minutes). Opal and contactless cards work; the daily fare cap is A$19.30 Monday to Thursday and A$9.65 Friday to Sunday and on public holidays.
From Taronga Zoo wharf, the Lower Zoo Entrance is about three minutes’ walk uphill. During NSW school holidays a free shuttle bus also runs from the wharf to the main entrance at the top.
By bus
Route 100 runs from the Queen Victoria Building in the city to the zoo’s main entrance, about every 10–20 minutes and about 30 minutes’ ride. Route 238 links Balmoral Beach, the main entrance and the ferry wharf, which is a handy way up the hill from the ferry.
By car
The car park is on Bradleys Head Road, with a 2.1 m height limit. It costs A$24 for the day, and is free if you leave within 90 minutes before 4pm. Accessible parking is available.
Nearby: what to do before or after
1Taronga Zoo ferry wharf
about 3 minFerries back to Circular Quay leave about every 30 minutes; the crossing has some of the best free views of the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge.
2Bradleys Head
about 20–25 minA headland in Sydney Harbour National Park next to the zoo, with harbour views back towards the city.
3Balmoral Beach
bus 238A harbour beach in Mosman, linked to the zoo by the 238 bus.
4Circular Quay
12 min ferryBack across the harbour, the hub for ferries, trains and harbour cruises, a short walk from both the Opera House and The Rocks.
5Sydney Opera House
ferry + 6–10 min walkCombine the zoo with an Opera House tour: our guide compares the official tours, from the one-hour tour to the 7am Backstage Tour.
Read our guide6Sydney Harbour Bridge
ferry + 10 min walkWalk across for free, visit the new BridgeMuseum or climb to the top: our guide compares every way to experience the bridge.
Read our guide
Timing tips
- Arrive close to opening at 9:30am: encounters are booked from 9am on the day, and an early start leaves time for the presentations without rushing.
- Plan around the free presentations: Seals for the Wild at 11am and 2pm, and the Free Flight Birds at 12pm and 3pm. Arrive about 15 minutes early for a good seat.
- If you come by ferry at the weekend, the A$9.65 daily Opal cap makes the public ferry very cheap.
- The zoo closes at 4:30pm from May to August, half an hour earlier than in the warmer months.
Getting around the hill
- Start at the top and walk down. From the ferry wharf, take the 238 bus up to the main entrance (or the free shuttle in school holidays), then work your way downhill to finish near the wharf.
- The Wildlife Express, an electric trackless train, runs between the top entrance and the reptile centre from 10:30am to 3:30pm for A$5 one way (free for members): ride it downhill at the start or uphill at the end.
- Wheelchairs and prams can be hired at the top entrance retail store.
Food and drink
You can bring your own picnic. On site, Forage & Graze near the main entrance is open 9am–5pm, the Taronga Food Market 10am–4pm, and the harbourfront Saltwater Bistro opens Friday to Monday from 11am to 3pm (daily in school holidays). The zoo is cashless.
Mistakes to avoid
- Counting on the Sky Safari cable car. It closed in 2023 and its replacement is not due until late 2027, although many guides still describe it.
- Starting at the bottom and walking uphill all day. Go up first and explore downhill.
- Bringing luggage. There are no lockers at the zoo; use the lockers at Circular Quay instead.
- Expecting to cuddle a koala. Touching or holding koalas is not allowed; the koala encounter lets you stand beside one.
- Leaving encounter bookings until the afternoon. They are sold on the day from 9am and the popular ones run in the morning.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a Taronga Zoo ticket?
At the gate, adult entry is A$57, children aged 4–15 pay A$33, concession A$43, and children under 4 are free. A family ticket for two adults and two children is A$162 at the gate.
What are Taronga Zoo’s opening hours?
The zoo is open every day of the year, from 9:30am to 5pm between September and April and from 9:30am to 4:30pm between May and August.
How do I get to Taronga Zoo from the city?
Take the F2 ferry from Circular Quay Wharf 4. It runs about every 30 minutes and takes 12 minutes, and you can pay with an Opal card or a contactless bank card. Bus 100 from the Queen Victoria Building also goes to the main entrance.
Is the Sky Safari cable car running?
No. The Sky Safari closed in 2023 and a new cable car is planned for late 2027. Use the 238 bus or, in school holidays, the free shuttle to get from the wharf to the top of the zoo.
Can you hold a koala at Taronga Zoo?
No. Touching or holding koalas is not allowed. The koala encounter costs A$60 per session for up to four people and lets you stand next to a koala for about five minutes.
How long do you need at Taronga Zoo?
Allow at least four hours to see the main areas and a presentation or two; a full day lets you see everything at a relaxed pace.
Can you bring food into Taronga Zoo?
Yes, picnics are welcome. There are also cafés and a food market on site, all cashless.
How much is parking at Taronga Zoo?
The car park on Bradleys Head Road costs A$24 for the day and is free if you leave within 90 minutes before 4pm. The height limit is 2.1 m.
Is the zoo and ferry combo ticket worth it?
It is the simplest option and its harbour cruises also leave from Darling Harbour, Manly and Watsons Bay. If you are starting from Circular Quay at the weekend, general entry plus the public ferry, capped at A$9.65 a day on Opal, is usually cheaper.
Was this guide helpful?
Spotted something out of date? Tell usSources
We checked the facts on this page against these sources on October 9, 2026. Prices and times can change, so confirm them when you book.
- Taronga Zoo ticket prices (taronga.org.au)
- Taronga Zoo visitor information (taronga.org.au)
- Taronga Zoo: getting here (taronga.org.au)
- Taronga: building a zoo for the future (Sky Safari) (taronga.org.au)
- Taronga Zoo: Wildlife Express (taronga.org.au)
- Taronga Zoo: what’s on (taronga.org.au)
- Taronga Zoo: animal encounters (taronga.org.au)
- Taronga Zoo: koala encounter (taronga.org.au)
- Taronga Zoo: giraffe encounter (taronga.org.au)
- Taronga Zoo: meerkat encounter (taronga.org.au)
- Taronga Zoo: Wild Ropes (taronga.org.au)
- Taronga Zoo: Roar and Snore (taronga.org.au)
- Taronga Zoo: food and drink (taronga.org.au)
- Taronga Zoo: get the most out of your visit (taronga.org.au)
- Taronga Zoo: sensory and access support (taronga.org.au)
- F2 Taronga Zoo ferry (Transport for NSW) (transportnsw.info)
- Adult Opal fares (Transport for NSW) (transportnsw.info)
- Taronga Zoo Express (Captain Cook Cruises) (captaincook.com.au)
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From prices are indicative. Choose your date and confirm availability, cancellation terms and the final total on the booking page. * Ratings and reviews are collected by Viator and Tripadvisor.
* “What travellers say” summaries are written with AI from recent reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor, covering every star rating (October 2026).