Sydney's Taronga Zoo

Trip Start Dec 11, 2008
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Trip End Mar 06, 2009


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Flag of Australia  , New South Wales,
Tuesday, December 23, 2008

We decided we needed to knock a few more tourist-type things off the list during our last week in Australia.  A couple people suggested that the zoo would be a fun thing to do.  Sydney, being a world-class city in a country known for its unique wildlife, naturally has a world-class zoo.  This sounded fun to us and since neither of had been to a zoo as adults, we decided to go for it.  We planned on taking the bus into the city, which we have become pretty familiar with, but Mel wouldn't let us- we had to take her car.  Sydney's Taronga Zoo is across the harbor from downtown Sydney, but for our purposes, it may as well have been right downtown.  The city driving was a little tricky, what with everything being backwards and all, but we managed and actually even lucked out with free street parking three blocks away.  One of the most striking features of the zoo is its location.  It is in prime real estate territory, surrounded by very ritzy neighborhoods and once we got into the zoo, we discovered how amazing the views of the city it has from its harbor cliffside property. 

The main entrance is the highest point of the hill, which winds and descends down towards the harbor.  They start you off in Wild Australia, immediately immersing you in kangaroos, wallabies, and all other animals Australia.  Another distinguishing feature is how little separation between you and some of the animals there is.  It was basically a petting zoo with (obviously sedated) kangaroos, wallabies, and emu/ostrich birds just freely strolling alongside you.  The only hopping kangaroos were the joeys, I guess because they can't jump the reported adult distance of 25 feet, and their boxing skills aren't fully developed yet.  Plus, you shouldn't give children drugs.
So for the sake of sparing everyone's time, we'll suffice it to say that the rest of the zoo was fairly standard of what you might find at a world-class zoo. 

Next up:  Sydney Harbor Bridge climb! 
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