Taronga’s Sun Bears were rescued from the restaurant trade in Cambodia in 1997 by Australian businessman John Stevens.
Accessibility
Taronga Zoo’s unique site aims to facilitate visitor and community education, wildlife care and conservation, and scientific research.
Taronga Zoo aims to maximise the visitor experience by providing a unique and exciting educational tour of the Zoo with animals exhibited in an environment similar to their natural habitat.
Taronga Zoo is a 28 hectare site with quite steep access paths in areas, however it is rich with the sights, sounds and smells of nature set in a relaxing, enclosed environment and is a perfect outing for visitors with disabilities.
Please click on any of the links below to jump to that section:
- Accessible parking
- Public Transport
- Carers/companions free
- Wheelchair hire
- Access for Guide Dogs, Hearing Assistance Dogs and Other Assistance Animals
- Visitor Facilities
- First Aid
- Visitor Presentations
- Gradient and Movement around the Zoo
- Backyard to Bush – Children’s adventure area
- Hands-on activities
- Soundscapes and audio devices
- More Information
Accessible Parking
The Zoo offers 14 disabled parking bays within 100m of the entrance. Parking incurs fees in the car park which is free for 90 mins or $15 per day (look for the ticket machines/signs).
Public Transport
Sydney Ferries are wheelchair accessible. Some State Transit Buses are accessible by wheelchair. For further information call the Transport Information Line on 131 500 6am-lOpm daily, or 1800 637 500 for Typewriter Telephone for the hearing impaired.
Carers/Companions Free
Taronga offers free entry to carers or essential companions of those with disabilities. We accept the national Companion Card or a letter from a recognised care/social service organisation.
Wheelchair Hire
Taronga provides sturdy, all-terrain manual wheelchairs at no cost to those who require mobility assistance (ID required) and a disclaimer form must be completed. These wheelchairs must be pushed by a carer/companion and seat belts are required to be worn. Advanced booking is recommended (02 9969 2777)
Access for Guide Dogs, Hearing Assistance Dogs and Other Assistance Animals
Taronga Zoo needs to adhere to strict Quarantine regulations and unfortunately cannot permit Guide Dogs, Hearing Assistance Dogs and other Assistance animals’ entry into the Zoo.
Pre-arrangements can be made to have these animals held during a visit at Taronga Zoo Wildlife Hospital (Tel: 02 9978 4785).
If a request is received for a Guide Dog, Hearing Assistance Dog or an Assistance Animal to attend a function at the Taronga Function Centre, other than the designated quarantine areas (ie in the Zoo grounds), consideration will be at the discretion of the Senior Veterinarian.
Visitor Facilities
The majority of visitor facilities have toilets which are wheelchair accessible. All of Taronga’s food outlets and retail shops are accessible by wheelchair.
First Aid
Taronga Zoo has a well-equipped First Aid Centre and a large number of trained First Aid Officers. Contact the Information Centre, employee or food outlet staff member for assistance in case of an emergency. The First Aid office is located near the Main Administration Building.
Visitor Presentations
The Seal Show and the Bird Show both have areas allocated for wheelchairs. See a Guest services staff member for assistance.
Gradient and Movement around the Zoo
Taronga Zoo is on a site of 28 hectares and the topography is quite steep in areas. All paths are bitumen with many lateral paths are relatively level but some connecting paths linking the various levels are steep. All new developments since 2001 have been fitted with a lift eg. Great Southern Oceans, Wild Asia, Taronga Function Centre.
The majority of Taronga’s animal displays are wheelchair accessible. For advice on the best routes, please contact the visitor information centre or switchboard 02 9969 2777.
Transport options for visitors include the Zoo miniature train, as well as the sky safari cable car from the bottom of the Zoo to the top of the Zoo.
Sky Safari operates 9.30 am to 5pm daily. The sky safari cable car can accommodate wheelchairs up to a width of 610mm. A lift is available to transport visitors with disabilities from street level to the lower terminal.
Please note: in high wind conditions, the sky safari cable car needs to cease operations.
Backyard to Bush – Children’s adventure area
Backyard to Bush is an area that comprises of an urban home and backyard, a rural living area and the bush. The area is an exciting and stimulating area for children with and without special needs. There are interactive displays, graphic material and features in the House that make it like a real family home, a backyard which has petting animals and a garden with many fragrant plants and vegetables, an adventure playground with a water-play area and interactive musical stepping points.
Covered areas in this exhibit include the “Keen House” in the urban section, the farmyard barn and the underground wombat burrow in the “bush” section. Toilets (including disability accessible facilities) are adjacent.
Hands-on Activities
Large models of animals are found within Taronga Zoo including a life size gorilla, komodo dragon, rhinoceros, elephants to name a few. These can be fully explored by children with vision impairments.
Tactile experiences are also provided to visitors including ‘touch-tables’ and smaller interpretive sculptures including a variety of comparative skull and hand/paw installations.
Soundscapes and audio devices
A new audio-visual facility is available in the new Great Southern Oceans Exhibit which provides visual and audio animal/species information relating to animals of Antarctic and the zoo’s work there. There are also audio information features outside the tapir exhibit at Wild Asia and in the Wombat Burrow in Backyard to Bush.
Further information required
If you require further information regarding accessibility at Taronga Zoo, please contact 02 9969 2777.
