Taronga Zoo

A zoo on a steep harbour-front hillside at Mosman, opened in 1916, with a view back across the water to the city that is better than the one from most of the ticketed lookouts. The name is said to mean water view.

The hill is the whole design: you arrive at the bottom by ferry, ride to the top, and walk down through the collection.

What it costs

Ticketed, and it is one of the more expensive admissions in the city. Book online rather than at the gate; a combined ticket including the ferry exists and ⚠️ is only worth it if you were going to make both trips anyway.

When to go

⭐ First thing. Animals are active in the morning and asleep by the middle of a hot afternoon, and the ferry back at five is the good one.

Getting there

⭐ Ferry from Circular Quay wharf 2, about twelve minutes, then the cable car from the wharf up to the top gate. Going by road misses the entire point.

⭐ The ferry is public transport, not a cruise. It runs on the same Opal fare as a bus, it counts towards the same daily cap, and it crosses the same water the harbour cruises charge many times as much to show you. ⚠️ Some fast ferries to Manly are privately operated and are not on Opal — check the operator on the wharf before you tap.

If you only have an hour

An hour is not really enough, but if it is what you have: cable car to the top, then walk straight down the harbour-side path so the view is in front of you the whole way.

What people get wrong

⚠️ People walk up from the wharf. It is a steep climb and the cable car or the shuttle is included in your admission — ride up and walk down.