Sunday, January 24, 2016

Sunday's Seven Snapshots vol.57: Taronga Zoo

On Monday, I went to Taronga Zoo with a friend of mine and her mother.  This isn't my first visit.  I think it's my fourth (?) since living here, maybe fifth time to go.  I love zoos.  I've never been to a zoo by myself, and after this visit, I decided I must change that...soon...because I want to spend whatever amount of time at whatever animal exhibit I want without worrying about the enjoyment of others.  I'm not being selfish.  I just want to sit and watch the animals without feeling rushed. 
 
If I was a good blogger (or a travel blogger), I'd give all sorts of tips, prices, and a whole lot more information.  I'm not.  I'm keeping with my theme of "Sunday's Seven Snapshots"...I thought I'd share some happy snaps from my zoo adventure.  (Plus, these are really about the only good ones I got because my iphone 5 sucks and the battery life has been terrible.  Rant over.)
 
From Circular Quay, I caught a ferry to Taronga Zoo.  This picture was taken from the ferry dock.

How fun are seal shows?  Fun.  How smart and lovable are these animals?  Very.  "Seal Theatre" sits on up above Sydney Harbour.  So, the blue you see in the background is the harbour with a red boat cruising by in the upper right corner.

Taronga Zoo right now has a lot of baby animals.  They are a zoo that prides itself on its breeding programs, and they've done well.  Here's a baby giraffe in all its gangly glory.

The elephants' exhibits overlook Sydney Harbour as well.  The male is kept separate from the females and the youngster. 

There are a couple of entrances to the zoo.  At the lower entrance, this guy greeted me as I bought a ticket.

I can't tell you in adequate words how amazing the gorillas and chimpanzees are at this zoo.  When we approached the gorilla exhibit, one big daddy (you can see his buttcrack in the upper right hand corner) was laying on his side.  While standing there, he rolled over to see a mama gorilla and this baby gorilla laying with him.  The baby got up and started to play.  Of course, I could get no good pictures because I was ooohhhing and aaahhhing too much.  I think this photo says "come play with me."

Taronga has a "Sky Safari" ... like, a cable car that hangs from the sky ... and, you know, I had to take a selfie while I was in it. 

These pictures don't do this zoo justice.  You can have "animal encounters" (feed giraffes, take a picture with a koala, have an owl sit on your arm).  There are chimpanzees and penguins, platypus and red pandas, komodo dragons and pygmy hippos....and so much more. 

Recently, Wild Ropes opened in the zoo.  Oh-eme-gee.  I want to do this!  AND, the have "Roar and Snore" where you can "(c)amp in safari style tents in the heart of Australia’s most famous zoo, and wake up to spectacular views of the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge."  Anybody want to tell my husband that I want to do this for my next birthday????

If you come to Australia, I promise I will be your personal tour guide (if you want me) to this zoo.  I love it.  Who's with me??

21 comments:

  1. Oh my gosh! That looks gorgeous and so fun! I love good zoos.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh my gosh! That looks gorgeous and so fun! I love good zoos.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I took so many pictures of the giraffes with the skyline in the background when I went with my sister. Such a great zoo!

    ReplyDelete
  4. If I ever find myself down under again, I will take you up on that offer! Looks like you had fun!

    ReplyDelete
  5. That sounds awesome. I bet Taronga Zoo beats our American zoos hands down.

    ReplyDelete
  6. This is the best zoo I have EVER been to. The view alone is worth a visit! And the cable car things are so cool. I want to come back and camp there!!! That is so awesome!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Wild Ropes are amazing! We have one here in Charleston and I really want to go there again.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I just love these photos Erin. :) They make me happy. I loooooove gorillas. And giraffe are cool too. Enjoy for me. :)
    I'm playing hooky today :))))

    ReplyDelete
  9. That little gorilla is the cutest :) I'm glad you have such a wonderful zoo to visit- I really love when the zoos have the animals' best interests at heart!

    ReplyDelete
  10. *raises hand over here!!* also how cute are your glasses. brb while i look for flights haha

    xoxo cheshire kat

    ReplyDelete
  11. If I ever make it down under, I totally need to visit this Zoo. It looks amazing! Love your new glasses.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I love zoos. They are always such fun & I too would like to go by myself & spend as much time as I want with certain exhibits. I would sit & watch the big cats FOREVER! Ha!

    Great pics! :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. love taronga! it's been years (obviously) since i've gone. last time we visited, we went to featherdale and i think next time we will go to taronga, you can't beat the city views. i love the seal shows and such. i agree about going by yourself, some animals really bore me (that sounds horrible) but KC is fascinated by them, and vice versa.

    ReplyDelete
  14. That's so awesome that everything at the zoo is so interactive! It sounds like such a fun experience to not only see the animals, but be able to interact with some of them too! The seal show looks like so much fun!

    ReplyDelete
  15. That zoo looks so awesome!!! And I am with you, I like to spend time at certain exhibits for quite awhile. I had a membership to the Atlanta aquarium when I lived there and I went a few times alone to do just that! Love all your pictures!

    ReplyDelete
  16. That first picture is gorgeous! I love going to zoos :) And Wild Ropes looks SO much fun! We have a giant ropes course right by us. If it were a bit cheaper I'd go all the time.

    ReplyDelete
  17. When I come to Australia, you will be my tour guide the entire time. Just so you know. And have time to prepare.

    ReplyDelete
  18. What a great zoo!! It looks so interactive! I'm dying to see a koala in real life. Also, what a beautiful day!!

    ReplyDelete
  19. That first photo is so so so so gorgeous. The vibrant colors of the flowers are so alluring. :]

    // ▲ itsCarmen.com ▲

    ReplyDelete
  20. I also love zoos, and these pictures are awesome!

    And also, if/when (I like to say "when" because I'm trying to be optimistic) I come to Australia, I'm totally taking you up on the personal tour guide thing!

    ReplyDelete
  21. I adore Taronga! And zoos in general. I could easily spend all day wandering round, and taking my time over each exhibit. I particularly love the bird show at Taronga, partly because I had no idea you could train birds so well and partly because the backdrop is to die for. I wish I could go back already!

    ReplyDelete

I love comments, and I enjoy our interactions. I respond via email, but if you're a "no reply blogger", I can't. Don't think I'm ignoring you!