What to bring to Taronga Zoo

Can you bring food into Taronga Zoo?

Yes. Taronga invites you to bring your own picnic, and the zoo map marks picnic spots with harbour views.

The visitor information lists picnic areas among the facilities, and the planning page says the picnic spots with harbour views are marked on the map. Bring a blanket for the lawns.

If you would rather buy lunch, Taronga lists three main places to eat (food and drink):

• Forage & Graze near the Main Entrance, 9am to 5pm.
• Taronga Food Market in the middle of the zoo, 10am to 4pm.
• Saltwater Bistro with harbour views, walk-ins only.

Feeding the animals is banned, and that includes the brave ducks and gulls by the picnic tables.

What items are banned at Taronga Zoo?

Alcohol, pets, balls, balloons, bikes, scooters, skateboards and roller blades, loud speakers or instruments, and disruptive costumes. Smoking and vaping are banned everywhere.

From the zoo's conditions of entry:

Staff can refuse entry or take items away for safety reasons. Shoes must be worn at all times. Personal photos are fine; commercial filming needs approval first.

Can you bring a water bottle into Taronga Zoo?

Yes, and Taronga asks you to. Bring a reusable bottle and a keep cup and refill at the stations around the zoo.

The zoo's planning page says it directly: bring a reusable bottle and refill it. On a hot summer day on the hillside, carry at least one full bottle per person. Children run dry first.

Can you bring a backpack or luggage to Taronga Zoo?

A day backpack is fine: we found no bag rule in the conditions of entry. Suitcases are a problem, because the zoo has no lockers.

Taronga's getting here page says there is no locker service and suggests leaving luggage in your car or hotel. If you are heading to the airport after your visit, use a luggage storage service at Circular Quay or Central station before you board the ferry. Dragging a case up the zoo's hills is a bad afternoon.

Pack light: water, food, sunscreen, a light jacket in winter, and a power bank for the app and photos.

Can you bring a pram or stroller to Taronga Zoo?

Yes. Prams are welcome. The hills are the issue, so start at the Main Entrance and push downhill.

Taronga allows prams and asks that they be folded where possible on the school holiday shuttle (Taronga). The GetYourGuide entry listing states that strollers can be hired at the Visitor Information Desk for a small fee. The zoo's own pages do not mention pram hire, so bring your own if you can.

With a pram, the route matters more than the pram. Ferry to the wharf, bus 238 to the Main Entrance, then downhill all day and out at the Lower Entrance by the ferry. Parent rooms are on site.

Ferry and gate in one booking, so you are not juggling tickets and a pram at the wharf.

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Is Taronga Zoo wheelchair accessible?

Largely, yes. The zoo offers wheelchair and mobility scooter hire, an accessibility map and step-free routes, though some paths are steep.

Taronga's accessibility page lists wheelchair hire, an accessibility map, a visual story for autistic visitors made with Autism Spectrum Australia, and assistance animal registration (required before you arrive). The visitor information adds mobility scooter hire and Auslan interpreters on selected dates.

The GetYourGuide entry listing states that about 90% of the zoo is wheelchair accessible by paths, ramps, lifts and escalators, and that free manual wheelchairs are available in limited numbers, with ID, to be pushed by a carer. Book ahead. The school holiday shuttle carries up to four wheelchairs. The new Sky Safari, due late 2027, is designed to be more accessible than the old one.

What should you wear to Taronga Zoo?

Comfortable shoes with grip, a hat and sun protection. Taronga itself recommends comfortable footwear for its steep areas.

Taronga's visitor information encourages comfortable footwear because some areas are steep. Sydney's sun is strong from spring to autumn and much of the zoo is open to the sky, so pack a hat and sunscreen. In winter, bring a layer: the harbour wind picks up in the afternoon.

If you booked the Wild Australia keeper experience, the listing states that closed-toe shoes are required.

What should you have on your phone for Taronga Zoo?

The Taronga Zoo app, a card or phone wallet for payments, and the ferry timetable. Free WiFi is available inside.

• The Taronga Zoo app has the map, talk times and route planning, and books the Koala and Giraffe encounters (Taronga).
• A card or phone wallet. The zoo is cashless. A vending machine sells pre-paid Visa cards if you only have cash.
• Opal or contactless for the public F2 ferry and the 238 bus.
• Your e-ticket, and your ID if you booked the birthday offer.

More on what each ticket covers in our tickets guide.

Frequently asked questions