bhavan_1010

i've been reading about kid-related activities in and around Sydney, i've come across quite a few zoos and aquariums - sydney wildlife world, taronga park zoo, koala park; sydney aquarium, ocean world manly.

can someone please demystify these? How do the differ from each other? If i had to pick one zoo and one aquarium which should that be, and reasons why.

the places should be of interest to an almost 4 year old boy.

thanks for the info.

Susan7

My vote would be for Taronga Zoo, it is the oldest, it's in a beautiful location, they have been progressively updating the enclosures to make them less cage-like and more habitat-like.

Also it isn't just a commercial enterprise, it supports science and research.

sunsurfsand

Seconded.
Taronga Zoo has panoramic views over Sydney Harbour, the Harbour Bridge and Opera House as it is situated on the harbour foreshores.
It is an excellent excursion - catch the ferry over to the zoo from Circular Quay then the vernicular up to the top and just work your way down, ending up at the jetty.
I am sure you will love it.
There is also Featherdale Wildlife Park near Blacktown which is about 30k (I think) from the city and well worth a visit.
Ocean World Manly is well worth it too as you get to go across Sydney Harbour by ferry to a beach side suburb which has a harbour beach and pool and a surfing beach on the Pacific Ocean.
Sydney Aquarium is situated at Darling Harbour so once again plenty of water to keep your boy from falling in. Also at Darling Harbour is the Chinese Peace Garden, Sydney Maritime Museum (free) and for a small cost you can clamber over an old sailing ship, a WW2 war ship, a submarine and other historic vessels. There are many bars, restaurants and parks around there and the casino is also there for Mum and Dad.
Your little one might like a ride on the monorail which goes around part of the city with a station at Darling Harbour.
Fort Denison in the harbour is just a ferry ride away which is and old sandstone fort with a tower and canon and is a pleasant way to spend a few hours for all the family.
Hope this helps.

Carrabella

Taronga is a zoo with lions, tigers, elephants etc. as well as Australian animals, and is a really good zoo - we'd heard San Diego zoo was one of the best in the world, but decided on seeing it, although it was great, it was only the best ADVERTISED zoo! Taronga is its equal. I think.
The harbour trip to get there is great fun, too (combined tickets, maybe?) and as described, not too tiring for a four year old if you catch the ride to the top and work your way down, as it's hilly. The views are magic.
There used to be an aquarium there as well.
This is a full day's outing, as there is so much to see.
The Darling Harbour attractions could be seen in a few hours.

Peteralan

Taronga Zoo definitely and probably the Aquarium at Darling Harbour.

bhavan_1010

thanks for the responses so far. Taronga zoo seems to be the whole package - ferry ride, cable car, and the zoo.

what about koala park or sanctuary, does anyone have any comments on that?

peterl43

Taronga Zoo is very good....the Koala Park in Pennant Hills, though is more "hands on" and not crowded...and a place we preferred...The animals almost have free run of the place....the koalas can be seen sleeping in the trees in the park, there is a very friendly Koala exhibit where you'd be able to touch the koalas at certain times...they bring them to a railing and let them walk on the railing..you can touch, take pictures, etc. There is a kangaroo enclosure which allows you to walk free among the Kangaroos and Emus and feed them. There are plenty of birds, a few dingos (not roaming free!), wombats, Echidnas, too....It does not have nearly the breadth of animals that the Taronga Zoo has though....but, for 4 years we lived about 15 mins from the Koala Park and when visitors came, we always took them there...I don't think we ever took a visitor to Taronga....your 4 year old might find the interaction fun..plus, it's a much smaller place than Taronga and a relatively quick visit

schnauzer

The biggest problem with Koala Park is that there is nothing else nearby to see, it is in the suburbs. (I live about 15 mins away) I know there are tours that visit but with limited time I would also go for Taronga Zoo and the Aquarium. As mentioned with Taronga you get the whole package, ferry ride, cable car ride and the zoo and fabulous views. The Aquarium is vast and very interesting also it is in Darling Harbour, whilst not my favourite place there are certainly other things to do there for little ones. He would enjoy the monorail ride, which drops you off at the Aquarium. Make sure you ride the whole circuit to get value for your $$ ticket.

Good luck,
Schnauzer

PRLCH

Thanks for the information on the Koala Park. It is "Exchnage student" time for us - one staying with us for 8 weeks from France, and one staying for 5 weeks from Argentina. As it is mostly school term time, which of course includes weekend sporting fixtures, we are looking for fun things to do over the weekends which are not too far away. The zoo was a definate on our list, and I will add Koala Park as well. Any other suggestions?

Susan7

If the overseas students are teens, a bushwalk might be good: Blue Mountains, Royal National Park or Kuring-gai.

We often take guests from overseas to see the Aboriginal rock carvings at the beginning of the Basin Walk at Kuring-gai National Park. At the end of the walk there are lots of wallabies at the camping ground. Along the way are fabulous angophora gums. It's a steep uphill on the way back (2-3 hours return).

farrermog

Not a cheap day out, but Taronga Park Zoo would be my pick - assuming you'll be staying in the CBD, get there by bus or ferry - preferably the latter -

see the Sydney Ferries Zoo Pass at
http://tinyurl.com/46f7l3 -

start at the top of the hill (up via the cable car if arriving by ferry) and work your way down to the ferry - by which time the 4 yo should be out to the world. Check performance times and don't try to do too much.

lanejohann

i like featherdale
its smaller intimate
good value
and you get to see how the west was almost won in sydney

lol

PRLCH

In the last 2 months we have visited Taronga Zoo, The Koala Park and Featherdale Wildlife Park (and also Dubbo Zoo). Everything said about Sydney Zoo is true - convenient to the city, great harbour and city views, cable car rides, ability to see the unusual Platypus, great birds of prey show etc. The Koala Park was very "hands on" - feed the kangaroos, get close up to a koala IF it is feeding time - our 15 year old French exchange student loved it, although we thought it seemed a bit run down, and the animals looked a bit scruffy. We went after a lot of rain and it was very muddy. Yesterday we visited Featherdale Wildlife Park with our 14 year old Argentinian exchange student on the way back from the Blue Mountains. Once again quite hands on. Feed kangaroos and emus, pat the koalas (at all times), echidnas and wombats were both up and about and very active at 4pm (we have hardly ever seen a wombat do anything but sleep). Exchange student loved it, and we thought it was the best exhibit of Australian wildlife out of all of them. The animals were in excellent condition, their "homes" and the park in general was really clean, and the variety of birds and animals was superb (no platypus however). I think there must have been close to 50 koalas scattered around, a great variety of kangaroos and wallabies (including albinos), Australian birds and reptiles from far north that I have never seen before (in fact, the array of birds was amazing), there were several wombats, quolls, a crocodile, penguins, emus, cassowary etc etc. 2 adults and 2 children cost us $48. We would definately take tourists there again.

di2315

Hi bhavan

I don't know where you are from, but something I love about Taronga Zoo is the fact that animals (bar nocturnals) are generally housed in outdoor exhibit spaces.

I know from some experience in USA, Canada and Europe that many animals there are so far removed from their natural habitat that they have to be housed indoors for a great part of the year.

The mild climate here allows for having them out in the open and living more naturally . . . and is a lot less smelly!!!

Happy travels, Di

nanabee

Carabella:
We live in San Diego and whenever we travel we always skip zoos because we've always believed the SD Zoo is the world's best. Hmm...
so as a result we skipped the Sydney Zoo. And that was a big mistake....

Stay with me here I'm trying to validate your point.
While visiting my brother in Mermaid Beach (on the Gold Coast) we spent the day at the Steve Irwin Zoo because he suggested we do that.

That's when we began to question the notion we had the best zoo. We had a lovely day there and it was smaller but nicer than the SDZoo.

So, I guess my point is that you are right the SD Zoo is better advertised. Of course, it came into prominance because it was probably one of the first zoos that was of good size with a great collection of animals.
So I recommend to everyone who feels they have something at home better - you may or may not. Don't cheat yourself. Check out what the locals have to suggest.
Thanks!

Bokhara2

As a matter of interest, nanabee - what did you think of the Australia Zoo (Steve Irwin's)?