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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.

On this page

Taronga Zoo is a COVID Safe site. 
Next time you visit you may notice a few changes that ensure our sites remain COVID Safe for all our guests and staff. 
Read more about the changes keeping you safe.

Sumatran Tiger.
Sumatran Tiger.

Plan your visit

To help us ensure social distancing can effectively take place, Zoo Friends currently need to register their visit online using the link below prior to attending the Zoo. You’ll need your membership number to register, which you can find on your membership card, or in previous emails from us. You can register for all members of your membership group at once. 
 

REGISTER SYDNEY

 

REGISTER DUBBO


On site, you’ll also find some changes and protocols that will make your day at the Zoo just a little bit different to the normal experience.

Read more about what you can expect from your visit.

Sumatran Tiger.

What’s new at our Zoos

Have a close encounter
Have a close encounter

Encounters are back to get you closer than ever before! Choose from amazing experiences like feeding a giraffe, getting mobbed by meerkats, or getting up close to little penguins for their daily feed.

More
Seals for the Wild - New Time
Seals for the Wild - New Time

The Seals for the Wild presentation has a new schedule. Weekday shows will run daily at 1pm, while weekend shows can be seen at 11am or 2pm. Be sure to arrive early during busy periods so you don’t miss out!

More
Keeper Talks are BACK!
Keeper Talks are BACK!

Did you know that giraffes can see up to 2 kilometres into the distance? Or that chimpanzees share more than 98% of our genetic blueprint? Learn more about the amazing animals in our care in our FREE daily Keeper Talks.

More

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.

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

COVID Safe information

Last updated Monday 10 May 2021

Taronga’s two Zoos offer guests a unique opportunity to experience the outdoors and reconnect with wildlife. Next time you visit you may notice a few changes that ensure our sites remain COVID Safe for you, your family, our team and our animals.

Below are a few tips to make your next visit as safe, fun and enjoyable as possible!

If you have cold or flu symptoms, we ask that you please stay home and do not visit.

Most pre-booked tickets can be changed to an alternate date at no charge. Excludes promotional offers. Tickets purchased during a promotional period using a discount code are not transferable to a date outside the promotional date range stated in the Terms and Conditions of that promotion. Please ensure to check the specific full terms and conditions when buying tickets during a promotional period.

Safety measures

Following the most recent advice from NSW Health, Taronga has implemented the following additional measures to ensure our Zoos remain a low-risk environment for you and your family to enjoy. 

Wearing face masks: Whilst masks are no longer mandatory indoors following the latest NSW Health advice, we do recommend you bring a mask when you visit. Our staff will continue to wear masks to keep you safe.

Pre-book your visit: All tickets and member visits must be pre-booked online.

Bring your essentials upon arrival:

  • Your e-ticket
  • Facemask
  • Personal hygiene kit (including sanitiser)
  • Contactless payment method
  • Sunscreen
  • Water bottle

Check-in via the Service NSW App: Along with pre-booking your tickets, all visitors will also be asked to check in using the Service NSW app when you arrive on site. This includes all members of any family groups, including children.

Maintain social distancing: Staff and guests are required to maintain 1.5m physical distancing at all times where possible.

Guests are not permitted to visit Taronga’s Zoos in Sydney and Dubbo or stay overnight if it contravenes state or federal travel restrictions, border closures and public health orders relating to COVID-19. If you have been asked to self-isolate, please do not enter Taronga Zoo Sydney or Taronga Western Plains Zoo Dubbo.

If you have purchased General Admission Zoo entry tickets, excluding promotional offers, and need to change your visit date due to impacts from COVID-19, please contact either Taronga Zoo Sydney or Taronga Western Plains Zoo Dubbo:

Sydney: email tz@zoo.nsw.gov.au or call 02 9969 2777

Dubbo: email twpz@zoo.nsw.gov.au or call 02 6881 1400

Membership terms

Click to expand

  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.