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Zoo Friends

Member hub

Zoo Friends

Member hub

Keep up with all the latest from the Zoo.

Stay up to date with all the latest news from Taronga and important information for our Zoo Friends members.

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Ahead of the opening to the general public on Monday 18 October 2021, Taronga will be open for a few select preview days as we allow time for the animals to readjust to having guests back on site.

We’re delighted to share that our Zoo Friends members will be given the chance to visit during that period! Availability for these days is strictly limited. Check your emails for more information on this, and details of how to book.

Prior to visiting, all Zoo Friends will need to register their visit date and book online prior to attending.

If you have been asked to self-isolate, please do not visit either of Taronga’s Zoos. If you have cold or flu symptoms, we ask that you please stay home and do not visit either of Taronga's two Zoos. Pre-booked visits can be changed to an alternate date at no charge. This advice also applies to staff, students and volunteers.

Taronga's two Zoos are COVID-Safe sites. 
Next time you visit you may notice a few changes that ensure our sites remain COVID-Safe for all our guests, staff and animals.
Read more about the changes keeping you safe.

Your Zoo Friends Membership

We know this extended lockdown has been challenging for the whole NSW community, and are grateful the ongoing support of our Zoo Friends community at this difficult time. 

We don’t want any of our members to miss out on exploring the Zoo, and want to assure our Zoo Friends that memberships will be extended based on the period they have been impacted by closure.

As the situation is fluid and continues to evolve, these plans will be finalised once the closure periods for the Zoos are known. We will confirm full details of membership extensions prior to the Zoos reopening. Please keep an eye on your registered email address, where full details will be confirmed.

If you are not currently receiving email updates from Zoo Friends, please contact us via email (zoofriends@zoo.nsw.gov.au), or by calling (02) 9969 2777 (opt 3) to confirm your details are up to date.

Explore Taronga from home

Virtual keeper talks
Virtual keeper talks

Did you know meerkat family is called a mob, or that a Capybara teeth never stop growing? Get to know the amazing animals at Taronga from the passionate keepers that care for them, with our virtual Keeper Talks.

Watch
Kids activity sheets
Kids activity sheets

From the Australian outback to the Great Southern Oceans, explore Taronga from home with our range of downloadable kids activity sheets, featuring colouring in, arts and crafts, fun facts and more!

Download
Curious Creatures, Wild Minds
Curious Creatures, Wild Minds

In 2020, Taronga Education teamed up with the Children’s Book Council of Australia NSW Branch to celebrate Book Week. Join talented authors and illustrators on their wild journey around the zoo.

Watch

Member benefits

To get the most out of your membership, be sure to familiarise yourself with our full list of member benefits! Check out some of our favourite perks and top tips:

  • Travelling interstate? Zoo Friends receive reciprocal entry to interstate Zoos including Melbourne Zoo, Werribee Open Range Zoo, Healesville Sanctuary, Adelaide Zoo, Montaro Zoo and Perth Zoos! Please note that free child annual pass holder will be charged an entry fee at Perth Zoo, Adelaide Zoo and Monarto Zoo (See the Terms and Conditions for full details)
  • Half price parking: validate your ticket at the Zoo Friends Office or in shop in the Top Plaza and park for just $9 a day
  • Priority seating: look for the marked yellow Zoo Friends seating in the front rows at our bird and seal shows
  • Discounts on food, shops and more! Show your card when making purchases at cafes, eateries and shops across both Zoos, as well as at Wild Ropes to receive discounts of 10-20%
  • Event pre-sales: keep your email address up to date to get discount codes and exclusive pre-sale access to some of our best events, including Twilight and New Years Eve!

Renew your membership

Is it time to renew your membership? With so many things to see, and new arrivals at both our Zoos, it’s the perfect time to renew your membership! Explore Taronga Zoo Sydney’s African Savannah, and meet Amalie, the adorable Australian Sea Lion pup, or cool off at the new Waterhole Precinct at Taronga Western Plains Zoo Dubbo. 

Renew online for just $99 for an adult, and two kids aged 4-15 are FREE! That’s 365 days of family fun for just $99!

Visit us at the Zoo, or renew online today.
 

RENEW

Regent Honeyeater
Regent Honeyeater

Contributing to conservation

Did you know, that as Taronga is a not for profit, all proceeds from your Zoo Friends membership go back into a range of important conservation projects! From treating and rehabilitating animals in the Taronga Wildlife Hospitals to contributing to global outcomes through our range of conservation partnerships, your Zoo Friends membership is contributing to our mission of securing a shared future for people and wildlife.

To learn more about support your membership provides and how you’re being a champion For The Wild, check out the current conservation projects Taronga is contributing to, and stay up to date with the latest conservation news, including rehab stories from our Wildlife Hospitals!

Regent Honeyeater

Membership terms

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  1. A Zoo Friends membership commences on the date of purchase and is only valid during the period up to and including the date of expiry. 
  2. Zoo Friends memberships cannot be paid on a pro-rata basis for part-of a year.
  3. Any changes to memberships must be made within 30 days of purchase. Membership cancellations are at the discretion of the Zoo Friends Manager and all visits to Taronga and Taronga Western Plains Zoos will be deducted from any refund.
  4. Zoo Friends membership, including Transferable Guest Passes, are not available for corporate or commercial use, nor for clubs or groups and cannot be on sold separately in any circumstances (this includes the charging of any fee for the use of these passes).  Any Zoo Friend members found to be in breach of these terms and conditions will have their membership cancelled.
  5. Any past, current or future Zoo Friends discounts, offers or promotions cannot be used in conjunction with any other Zoo Friends discounts, offers or promotions. This includes upgrading a day ticket against a discounted online membership.
  6. Child Passes
    • i. A Zoo Friend child member must reside in NSW or ACT to be eligible for FREE membership.
    • ii. A Zoo Friends child member must be attached to an active Zoo Friends adult membership.
    • iii. No more than two FREE child members per active adult or concession Zoo Friends membership.
    • iv. A child member is any member aged 4 -15 years.
    • v. Child (free or paid) memberships cannot be attached to a Transferable Guest Pass.
    • vi. If more than 2 children are to be added to a primary adult member or concession, the additional child member(s) must buy a child annual pass.
  7. A valid Zoo Friends membership (including a valid Transferable Guest Pass) grants the listed members unlimited entry during normal opening hours to Taronga Zoo & Taronga Western Plains Zoo.
  8. Other Zoos.
    • i. A valid adult or concession Zoo Friends membership enables you to visit Melbourne Zoo, Werribee Zoo, Healesville Sanctuary, Perth Zoo, and Adelaide Zoo and Monarto Zoo.
    • ii. A valid child (free or paid) Zoo Friends member may be charged an entry fee at Perth Zoo, and Adelaide Zoo and Monarto Zoo.
    • iii. A valid child (free or paid) Zoo Friends membership enables you to visit Melbourne Zoo, Werribee Zoo & Healesville Sanctuary.
  9. (Please note Zoos Vic, Zoos SA and Perth Zoo are separate entities and reserve the right to change terms and conditions)
  10. A Zoo Friends named membership card is non-transferable.  All memberships, excluding Transferable Guest Passes, must include current member details, including first and last name, date of birth and a photograph of the member. Only the named person listed on Zoo Friends membership card may use it. 
  11. Transferable Guest Passes:
    • i. No more than two Transferable Guest Passes can be purchased per Zoo Friends membership.
    • ii. Transferable Guest Passes may only be used by one person per visit per day to either Taronga or Taronga Western Plains zoos and are not valid at interstate zoos.
  12. To gain entry to Taronga and Taronga Western Plains zoos the member must present a valid and signed Zoo Friends membership card to Admissions staff. 
  13. Renewal of a Zoo Friends membership which has exceeded its expiry date by a period of more than 6 months are subject to a joining fee in addition to the membership subscription. 
  14. Zoo Friends with a current active membership are able to renew no more than 60 days in advance of the expiry of their membership.
  15. Child Pass ages:
    • i. A free Zoo Friends child annual pass covers a single child aged 4-15yrs inclusive.
    • ii. A paid Zoo Friends child annual pass covers a single child aged 4 – 15 years inclusive.
  16. Additional members may be added to a Zoo Friends membership, and are subject to the full applicable membership fee and will expire on the same date as the primary member. 
  17. The primary member is responsible for ensuring the details of their Zoo Friends membership are correct at all times.
  18. Visitors to Taronga Zoo or Taronga Western Plains Zoo choosing to upgrade to a membership from a day ticket are bound by the following terms:
    • i. A valid Taronga entry receipt or Taronga day ticket must be presented at the time of purchase.
    • ii. Only one admission amount can be discounted from each membership purchased, and at the price paid for the admission ticket.
    • iii. Admissions must be of an equivalent or comparatively lesser value than the membership they are to be discounted from. For example, the maximum discount available for an adult membership is an adult admission fee.
    • iv. If the total of admission ticket value exceeds the total membership value, Taronga will not refund the difference.
    • v. Upgrades must be made within 14 days of date of ticket redemption.
    • vi. Day tickets cannot be upgraded online and/or upgraded against the discounted online membership prices.
    • vii. Third Party and discount entry tickets cannot be upgraded to a membership.
  19. Concession rate is available for members who meet certain criteria, to see a list of what is accepted click here.
  20. To be eligible for Taronga Teacher’s Association (TTA) Membership members need to provide evidence of their profession, such as payslips or other documentation.
  21. A Zoo Friends membership is solely for the recreational enjoyment at the Zoos and cannot be used for entry for any commercial activity including product placement or news media reporting.
  22. Taronga Conservation Society reserves the right to change and determine member benefits, including discounts to Taronga retail shops and Taronga Zoo car park during a Zoo Friends membership including by giving you notice by email and by posting a notification on the Taronga Zoo website.
  23. A  Zoo Friends member must abide at all times by the conditions of entry of Taronga Zoo and Taronga Western Plains Zoo .
  24. The Zoo Friends team reserves the right to cancel a paid Zoo Friends membership without a refund upon breach of the Terms and Conditions above.
  25. If a membership card is lost there will be a $10 charge per card to a maximum of $20 for issuing a duplicate.
  26. To receive your exclusive parking discount at Taronga Zoo you will be required to validate your parking ticket either at the top Zoo Shop located in the main entry plaza or at the Zoo Friends office. Once your ticket has been validated you can pay at one of the automated pay machines in the car park or at the car park station. (Please note that you must validate your ticket before the Zoo closes, if your ticket has not been validated by that time you will be required to pay the full rate.)
  27. Membership privileges, terms and conditions may be amended or revoked at Zoo Friends' discretion by giving notice by email and by posting a notification on the Zoo Friends’ website.

We proudly Acknowledge the Cammeraigal (Taronga Zoo, Sydney) and Wiradjuri (Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo) people, their Country, spirit and traditions as customary owners of the lands upon which our Zoos stand.