See the Aussie Big 5 at WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo

If you’re in Sydney CBD and feel like an animal fix, head to WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo at Darling Habour. In the heart of the city, you can see the Aussie Big 5 – koala, kangaroo, crocodile, wombat and platypus as well as many other iconic creatures.

For what’s inside WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo, we reckon it’s pretty underrated. It’s a great spot to get up close to animals especially if you have young kids.

The smaller space of WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo makes it easier to navigate and most of it is indoors, so it’s perfect for rainy days or really hot days.

For a small space, there is surprisingly lots to see.

Our visit starts with spotting a tree kangaroo. This is Kofi, a fluffy, blue-eyed adorable Goodfellow’s Tree Kangaroo who loves climbing trees and boiled eggs. That’s what we learn from the Keeper Talk.

Next, we searched unsuccessfully for a Tasmanian Devil. It’s a rainy day and it’s clear that it’s gone to find somewhere warm and dry.

It’s then onto the wallabies which are observing us as we observe them. 

We head outdoors to the Kangaroo Walkabout area and are lucky enough to hear some of the Keeper Talk about kangaroos. Even though we’re up close, the Keeper explains that these kangaroos were hand-reared and are used to people.

In the distance, we can see a cassowary. It’s massive and we find out later, he’s called Princess due to his high-maintenance behaviour.

As it starts to rain, we head back inside and venture to Kakadu Gorge to see the saltwater crocodile. This is Rocky named after Rockhampton where he’s originally from. He’s huge, approximately 4.22 metres long and loves to eat barramundi.

You can look at him from above, but it’s more fun to head down to the lower level to see the crocodile up close. He’s pretty massive up close.

 23 JULY UPDATE:  Unfortunately, WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo announced Rocky passed away due to cancer.

Do not leave WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo without heading up to the rooftop.

The best-kept secret is the roof top cafe and the koalas up there.

The koalas were especially active and it was fun to eat our lunch and watch their antics.

Also, on level 1 is spiders and mini-beasts. This is a perfect spot for kids who love critters.

We definitely recommend a visit to WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo especially if you’re visiting SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium next door.

Tips for visiting WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo

1. You can purchase your admission ticket ahead of time and select a date and time that you wish to enter WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo . If you are visiting with an Annual Pass or have a ticket with no date attached to it then can book a time slot before visiting. 
2. Note it can be busy on weekends and during school holidays. If you want a quieter experience, visit on a weekday and during school terms.
3. If you’re planning to come to WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo by car, WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo  offers all guests cheap parking rates at several car parks in central Sydney. 
4. If you are planning to use public transit to get to WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo , it’s a short walk from Town Hall or Wynyard stations. You can also catch a ferry. Public ferry services to Darling Harbour depart from Circular Quay Wharf 5 about every half an hour. If you are coming by light rail, exit the light rail from either the Convention Centre or Pyrmont Bay stations.
5. Get your photo taken when you first enter. Your admission price includes a Digi Photo Pass.
6. Toilets are located near Kakadu Gorge, Discovery Treehouse on Level 1 and at the exit). Here is the attraction map which shows where everything is.
7. Depending on the age of your kids, plan for a visit of between 90 minutes to 2 hours.  You can easily stay longer as there are lots of animals to observe.
8. Time your visit with the Keeper talk schedule which happen every weekend and sometimes during school holidays. If you miss out on a Keeper talk, you can watch pre-recorded talks to discover more about the creatures before or after your visit to WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo .
9. If you get hungry, there is a rooftop cafe on Level 1 where you’ll have koalas as your dining companions.
10. If you plan to see more Merlin Attractions like Madame Tussauds Sydney, SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium and Sydney Tower Eye, buy a Combo pass or opt for a Merlin Annual Pass. A Merlin Annual Pass gives you unlimited access to 10 attractions in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and Auckland. You can use your Parents NSW Voucher to purchase an day pass or Annual Pass.

Disclosure: Newy with Kids received complimentary admission for review purposes. However, all opinions are our own.

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