Who doesn’t love animals? Whether you have visiting guests or you’re planning a family day out, these zoos, sanctuaries and farms offer wonderful opportunities to get up close with wildlife and farm animals across Sydney and surrounding regions.
SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium
1-5 Wheat Rd, Sydney
Located in the heart of Darling Harbour, SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium is one of the world’s largest aquariums, home to 700+ species and more than 13,000 animals.
Explore the Great Barrier Reef experience, walk through the jellyfish garden, see sharks, rays and penguins, and meet their marine turtles in immersive underwater tunnels.
While you’re there, why not visit Wild Life Sydney Zoo.
More info on SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium here.
Wild Life Sydney Zoo
1-5 Wheat Rd, Darling Harbour
This compact harbourside zoo is perfect for visiting guests or a shorter animal experience. See the ‘Big Five’ – kangaroos, crocodiles, koalas, wombats and platypuses – along with many other native species.
Located next to SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium, it’s easy to combine both attractions in one day.
More info on Wild Life Sydney Zoo here.
Australian Reptile Park
Lot 69 Pacific Hwy, Somersby (1-hour drive from Ryde)
Located on the Central Coast, the Australian Reptile Park is home to a huge collection of exotic reptiles and a wide variety of Australian native animals.
Enjoy live shows, themed exhibits and behind-the-scenes experiences. Learn about the park’s important conservation work, including the Tasmanian Devil breeding program at Devil Ark and their lifesaving snake and spider venom collection program.
More info on the Australian Reptile Park here.
Australia Walk About Wildlife Park
1 Darkinjung Rd, Calga NSW (1-hour drive from Ryde)
Home to over 180 species of mammals, birds, reptiles and frogs, Australia Walk About Wildlife Park provides a sanctuary for native animals, many of which are unable to be released back into the wild.
The park also protects significant Aboriginal heritage, with several ancient rock art and engraving sites located within the grounds.
More info about Australia Walkabout Wildlife Park.
Calmsley Hill City Farm
31 Darling St, Abbotsbury
Get up close with both native and farmyard animals at this popular working city farm. Children can feed nursery animals and watch engaging farm shows and demonstrations throughout the day.
Bring your own picnic lunch, use the free electric BBQs or purchase takeaway food from the Farmhouse Kiosk. The farm has excellent parking and is fully wheelchair and pram accessible.
More info on Calmsley Hill here.
Featherdale Wildlife Park
217 Kildare Rd, Doonside
Meet over 2,000 Australian native animals from more than 260 different species at the multi-award-winning Featherdale Sydney Wildlife Park.
Visitors can meet a koala, hand-feed kangaroos, wallabies and pademelons, and see echidnas, Tasmanian devils, dingoes, little penguins, cassowaries, snakes and a giant saltwater crocodile. The park is also home to rare and endangered species, including bilbies, ghost bats and the world’s deadliest snake, the inland taipan.
More info on Featherdale Wildlife Park here.
Koala Park Sanctuary
84 Castle Hill Rd, West Pennant Hills
This pram-friendly 10-acre sanctuary cares for over 170 animals and offers visitors the chance to pat, feed and learn about Australian mammals, reptiles and birds.
Daily keeper talks are included in the admission price, and the Sanctuary is also recognised as the world’s first koala hospital and a passionate advocate for wildlife conservation.
More info on the Koala Park Sanctuary here.
Sydney Zoo
700 Great Western Highway, Bungarribee
Opened in 2019, Sydney Zoo is the first new major zoo built in Sydney in over 100 years. Located about 35 minutes from the Ryde area, it features the largest reptile and nocturnal house in Australia, along with African animals, primates, Asian species and iconic Australian wildlife.
With state-of-the-art enclosures and modern design, Sydney Zoo makes for a fantastic full-day outing.
More info on Sydney Zoo here.
Symbio Wildlife Park
Lawrence Hargrave Dr, Helensburgh NSW (1-hour drive from Ryde)
Set among 16 acres of beautiful gardens, Symbio is known for its close-up animal encounters with Australian and international species.
Facilities include undercover picnic areas, a large shaded playground and a Splash Park for warmer months. As a smaller zoo, it’s an easy, relaxed visit for families with younger children.
More info on Symbio here.
Taronga Zoo
Bradleys Head Rd, Mosman
With stunning harbour views, world-class exhibits and over a century of conservation history, Taronga Zoo is one of Sydney’s most iconic attractions.
Home to more than 4,000 animals across 52 acres, visitors can enjoy animal encounters, the Sky Safari cable car, daily bird shows and an enormous range of wildlife from around the world.
More info on Taronga Zoo here.
