Animal encounters

Meet Taronga's incredible animals

An unforgettable chance to come eye to eye with your favourite animal and meet our expert Taronga keepers. Every encounter supports vital conservation work, helping protect wildlife into the future.

Meet Taronga's incredible animals

An unforgettable chance to come eye to eye with your favourite animal and meet our expert Taronga keepers. Every encounter supports vital conservation work, helping protect wildlife into the future.

Giraffe encounter
Be dwarfed by Taronga’s tallest friends. Don’t miss out on this “once in a life time” experience to meet these African giants.
Koala encounter
Meet one of Australia’s most iconic species as you step into their habitat for a private talk with expert Keepers.
Capybara encounter
Learn about these incredibly curious species from our expert keepers and feed the herd some of their favourite snacks.
Meerkat encounter
Step inside the lively world of our meerkat mob, place enrichment and meet these curious characters up close.
Dingo encounter
Meet Dingoes Warada and Kep Kep and join Keepers to create enrichment and observe natural Dingo behaviours up close.
Penguin encounter
NSW school holidays only
Feed Taronga's charismatic Penguin colony and learn how our Keepers care for them.

Reptile & Amphibian Behind the Scenes

Go behind the scenes at Taronga's Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Centre, ARC. During this experience you will meet one of our passionate Reptile Keepers, tour behind the scenes, and see some curious creatures up close. Get a glimpse of a day in a life of our keepers and how they adapt to survive and thrive in our diverse Aussie climates.

Find out more

Bookings

Encounters are popular and subject to the welfare and availability of the animals on the day. Encounters are sold on a first-in basis from the Retail Shop at Top Plaza once the gates open at 9.00am.
Koala and Giraffe Encounters can also be booked on the Taronga Zoo app.

For Early arrivals awaiting outside the Zoo Entrance, a Retail Shop Assistant will determine the ‘priority’ for Animal Encounter bookings from 8.45am.