About your stay

About your stay

Every stay at the Wildlife Retreat contributes essential funding towards the care of Taronga’s animals and broader conservation and education programs in Australia and around the world.

Taronga works tirelessly to achieve a shared future for wildlife and people, striving to be a centre for conservation excellence. 

Visiting the Zoo during your stay

Your stay at the Wildlife Retreat includes entry into the Zoo on the day you arrive, during your stay and the day you check out. You can enter the Zoo directly from the Wildlife Retreat and no extra tickets or passes are needed. Your room key will provide you entry into the Zoo and back into the Retreat throughout your time with us.

Visiting the Zoo before check in: If you would like to enter the Zoo prior to checking into your room make your way to Wildlife Retreat reception where the front desk team will be able to hold your luggage and direct you into the Zoo. There is direct entry into the Zoo from the Wildlife Retreat and our friendly front desk team will provide a Zoo map and point you in the right direction.

Visitor the Zoo after check out: After check-out our front desk team will be happy to hold your luggage if you wish to visit the Zoo after you have departed your room. We will be able to hold your luggage as long as needed and encourage guests to explore the Zoo at full at your leisure.

Booking your tours and dining

Sanctuary tour

Included in all stays at the Wildlife Retreat is an afternoon Sanctuary Tour, the Sanctuary Tour run between 3pm - 5pm and at check in you will be assigned a tour time. The afternoon Sanctuary Tour does not need to be prebooked and we have multiple tours running to accommodate guest schedules. If you have a preferred time please specify when you are booking.

Sanctuary tour.
Sanctuary tour.
Sanctuary tour. Potoroos
Sanctuary tour. Potoroos

Breakfast

Your breakfast time will be assigned at check in and will work to accommodate your preference. Breakfast does not need to be pre-booked.

Buffet Breakfast at Me Gal.
Buffet Breakfast at Me Gal.
Buffet Breakfast at Me Gal.
Buffet Breakfast at Me Gal.

Dinner

Me-Gal

If you have dinner at Me-Gal included in your stay you do not need to book in advance and the Wildlife Retreat team will confirm your dinner time at check-in.

If you do not have dinner at Me-Gal included in your package you are more than welcome to add dinner to your stay during check in (subject to restaurant availability) or contact us prior to your arrival and our team will be happy to add it to your booking over the phone.

View the Me-Gal menu.

Dinner at Me Gal - Pan Seared Sea Bass.
Dinner at Me Gal - Pan Seared Sea Bass.
Dessert at Me Gal - Chocolate Delice.
Dessert at Me Gal - Chocolate Delice.

N’Gurra Lounge

If you are not eating at Me-Gal food is available in N’Gurra lounge and does not need to be pre-booked and can be ordered as needed. Food is served in N’Gurra lounge from 1pm and is a wonderful place to have a quiet lunch at the Zoo overlooking the harbour.'

View the N'Gurra Lounge menu.

Getting to the Wildlife Retreat

Driving

If you’re driving to the Wildlife Retreat at Taronga, head down Bradley’s Head Road in Mosman in Sydney’s northern suburbs (on the north side of the Harbour Bridge). Drive past the main Zoo entrance and approximately 100 metres down the road, turn right at the big Wildlife Retreat sign. 

This is the main entrance to the Wildlife Retreat. You can drop your bags here at the Welcome Hub, then drive your car back up to the Taronga multi-story carpark for free undercover overnight parking. Please bring your parking ticket into the Wildlife Retreat to have it validated at the Reception desk.

Get driving directions from Google Maps.

From Sydney Airport

If you’re coming from Sydney Airport, the Wildlife Retreat is 18km away by taxi or Uber. 

If you're renting a car, get directions from Google Maps.

Alternatively, you can catch public transport – a train, ferry and bus – and enjoy a relaxing ferry ride across iconic Sydney Harbour.

From the Sydney Airport terminal station, catch the train to Circular Quay then hop on the Taronga Zoo ferry. The ferry ride takes 12 minutes. The connecting 238 bus will be waiting to take you up the hill to the Zoo. The Wildlife Retreat entrance is a 100 metre walk downhill from the Taronga Zoo bus stop. 

NOTE: Entry to the Zoo is free for Wildlife Retreat guests so there is no need to buy Zoo entry tickets at Circular Quay or when you arrive at the Taronga Zoo ferry terminal. Also, the Zoo’s Sky Safari cable car does not take you to the Wildlife Retreat entrance. You will need to catch the 238 bus.

Plan your trip here with Transport NSW’s Trip Planner.

Taronga Zoo ferry timetable.

Bus timetable 238 service.

You can pay for public transport using your contactless credit, debit or mobile device, or buy a NSW Transport Opal Card.

Travelling from the city

Ferry: Catch the Taronga Zoo ferry from Circular Quay then hop on the 238 bus up the hill to the Wildlife Retreat entrance – see details above under 'Arriving from Sydney Airport'. 

Bus: From Central, Town Hall or Wynyard trains stations in central Sydney, catch the red 430 Metro Bus all the way to Taronga Zoo. The bus leaves for Taronga every 10 - 15 minutes. Check the 430 timetable. The Wildlife Retreat entrance is a 100 metre walk down the hill from the Taronga Zoo bus stop.

Update

Changes to the 430 bus route.

From Sunday 20 December 2020, the 430 bus route will no longer be operational to Taronga Zoo Sydney (or run via Eddy Avenue, Park Street, Wynyard or Military Road).

New bus route 100 (Mosman to City) will operate between Mosman (Taronga Zoo Sydney) and the Queen Victoria Building in the city from early morning until around midnight, seven days a week. Buses will run every 10 minutes across the day and at least every 20 minutes in the early morning and late at night.

Services operating towards Taronga Zoo Sydney will pick up customers at Wynyard on Clarence Street.

The Wildlife Retreat at Taronga is nestled within the idyllic bushland of Taronga Zoo Sydney, overlooking Sydney Harbour and within 15 minutes from the heart of Sydney. 

Wildlife Retreat at Taronga

Bradleys Head Road

Mosman NSW 2088

P: +61 2 9978 4791 

E: accommodation@zoo.nsw.gov.au

Location

Aerial shot of the Wildlife Retreat at Taronga
Aerial shot of the Wildlife Retreat at Taronga
Panoramic photo of the view from the Wildlife Retreat at Taronga
Panoramic photo of the view from the Wildlife Retreat at Taronga
Find us on Google Maps
Find us on Google Maps