Taronga Zoo Sydney’s beautiful outdoor harbourside location provides you with the chance to reconnect with our animals and nature and enjoy time safely with family and friends. Please note, it takes approximately 3 hours to explore the entire zoo.
We’re committed to keeping you safe, but this does mean some changes to the usual experience which can be read in detail around our safety precautions, ticketing and guest experience.
Important update
Taronga Zoo Sydney and Taronga Western Plains Zoo Dubbo are open to all guests and are proudly COVID-safe sites.
The health and safety of Zoo guests, staff, animals and of course the broader community remains our top priority and we have taken steps to ensure Taronga is a safe place to visit.
Taronga strongly encourages guests to wear a mask when they can't physically distance or in indoor settings.
All guests, including Zoo Friends and complimentary ticket holders, are asked to pre-register their visit online and select their intended visit date.
If guests feel unwell, even if their symptoms are mild, they are asked to stay home and reschedule their visit.
Pre-booked tickets can be changed to an alternate date at no charge. If you need to change your visit date, please contact either Taronga Zoo Sydney or Taronga Western Plains Zoo:
Sydney: email tz@zoo.nsw.gov.au or call 02 9969 2777
Dubbo: email twpz@zoo.nsw.gov.au or call 02 6881 1400
COVID-19 safety measures
In accordance with the latest NSW Health advice, there are some important considerations across both Zoos to keep the community safe when planning a visit.
These include:
- Pre-booked visits: All guests, including Zoo Friends and complimentary ticket holders, are encouraged to nominate their visit date online prior to arrival
- Mask-wearing: All guests are strongly encouraging to wear a mask when they can't physically distance or in indoor settings
- Social distancing: Staff and guests (unless from the same household) and guests are encouraged to maintain 1.5m physical distancing at all times where possible
- Cash-free Zoos: Taronga’s Zoos are currently cashless, with only contactless payments permitted
- Monitor for symptoms: If guests feel unwell, even if their symptoms are mild, they are required to stay home and reschedule their visit. Pre-booked tickets can be changed to an alternate date at no charge
What changes are there to the Zoo experience?
In order to keep our guests and community safe and to remain in accordance with the latest health advice, there will be some modifications to the regular guest experience.
Arrival: Guests to Taronga Zoo Sydney can enter the Zoo through the iconic heritage gates at the Main Entrance at the top of the zoo, or the Lower Zoo Entrance which is a 3-minute walk from the Taronga Zoo ferry wharf. Buses also connect the ferry wharf and Lower Zoo Entrance with the top entrance.
Payment options: Cash will not be accepted on site with only contactless payments permitted
Retail stores: Our stores are open, with hand sanitiser dispensed upon entry. Guests are required to wear a mask while indoors and outdoors if they cannot appropriately physically distance
Retail and food and beverage stores: Our stores are open, with hand sanitiser dispensed upon entry. Guests are asked to wear a mask while indoors
Encounters and experiences: Additional COVID-safe measures may be in place for some animal encounters. Please refer to our encounters page for more information
Equipment hire: Strollers and wheelchairs will continue to be available but at reduced volumes ensuring appropriate sanitising can occur between hires
These adjustments will be continually modified in line with current restrictions.
Do I have to be fully vaccinated to visit Taronga Zoo Sydney?
All guests regardless of vaccination status will be able to visit Taronga.
Are guests at risk of catching COVID-19 from Zoo animals?
On current evidence there is no risk to guests of catching COVID-19 from zoo animals. Biosecurity measures are in place and Taronga adheres to National Biosecurity Guidelines to make every attempt to prevent disease incursions and to protect the health of its animals, staff, volunteers, students and guests.
Ticketing and entry
All guests, including Zoo Friends and complimentary ticket holders, are asked to pre-purchase tickets or pre-register their visit online prior to arriving. Online tickets are discounted by 20%.
Do children need to purchase a ticket online?
Yes. Free tickets will be available online for children aged under four.
Do I have to prove my vaccination status to visit the Zoo?
No. Taronga is open to all guest regardless of vaccination status in line with the latest NSW Public Health advice and as such guests will no longer be required to present their COVID-19 digital certificate on arrival.
I previously purchased a ticket to Taronga Zoo, is it still valid?
All tickets purchased to Taronga Zoo Sydney and Taronga Western Plains Zoo Dubbo have had their validity extended until the 31 December 2021. To help manage the zoo’s capacity, guests will need to register their intent to use their ticket online before visiting.
I have a gold or community pass - do I need to register?
Yes. All visitors to either Taronga Zoo Sydney or Taronga Western Plains Zoo Dubbo, including any gold pass or community pass holders, are asked to register online. When booking your gold/community pass via your organisation, please ensure you obtain the registration link specifically set up for the registration of gold/community pass members.
NOTE: Gold passes are available exclusively to Taronga's corporate partners, and Community Passes are available exclusively to community groups via our foundation team.
Memberships
We ask that our Zoo Friends register their visit online prior to visiting the zoo via the Zoo Friends portal. All Zoo Friends memberships have been automatically extended for the duration of the closure period at both zoos. Registrations can be changed and moved to alternate days if your plans change at short notice.
Read more about Zoo Friends Annual Memberships and how to register your visit if you are a current member.
For all other enquiries about Zoo Friends annual pass memberships, please contact the Zoo Friends office by email zoofriends@zoo.nsw.gov.au or by calling (02) 9969 2777 (option 3).
I’m a Zoo Friend and have been unable to visit. Will my membership be extended?
Zoo Friends are an extremely important part of our community and all memberships have already been automatically extended for the duration of the closure period for both Zoos.
Accommodation
All Taronga’s overnight accommodation offerings are now open, including the Wildlife Retreat at Taronga and Roar & Snore at Taronga Zoo Sydney and Zoofari Lodge, Savannah Cabins and Billabong Camp at Taronga Western Plains Zoo.
Bookings are now open for all accommodation products across both Sydney and Dubbo. Read more and book now.
Accessibility
Taronga Zoo Sydney aims to be as accessible as possible to guests' needs, however, safety changes will impact the usual guest experience to ensure we stay in line with recommended safety procedures.
Can I hire strollers and/or wheelchairs?
Equipment hire, including strollers and wheelchairs, will continue to be available but at reduced volumes ensuring appropriate sanitising can occur between hires.
NOTE: Taronga Zoo Sydney is on a site of 28 hectares and the topography is quite steep in some areas. All paths are bitumen and many that traverse the Zoo are reasonably level, however some paths linking the various levels within the Zoo are steep. Visitors with limited mobility are still able to traverse the entire Zoo with a number of elevators and ramps located around the site.
Can I still access the car park?
Yes, the car park is open to all guests.