Taronga Zoo wharf lies on the northern side of the harbour between Sirius Cove Mosman and Bradleys Head and is Australia's most famous zoo. The Taronga Zoo entrance is located at the top of the hill via a public bus service. The easy and fun way to travel to Taronga Zoo is by the Taronga Zoo Express which includes return rocket ferry and zoo entry.
The express way to ferry to Taronga Zoo
Taronga Zoo Ferry
- One-way or return ferry from Circular Quay, Watsons Bay or Manly
- OpalPay accepted
From $8.50
Taronga Zoo Express
- Entry to Taronga Zoo via the Lower entrance
- Return rocket ferry from Circular Quay, Watsons Bay or Manly
Specials from $69.00
Timetables
- Regular services operate between Taronga Zoo, Circular Quay and Darling Harbour daily from 01Apr23
- Variations to this schedule are noted on the bottom section of each timetable.
- Special timetables may operate on selected dates. Explore our timetable section for the latest information.
Note: Note Taronga Zoo has announced it has ceased operation of the Sky Safari, with planning underway for a revitalised and fully accessible experience in the future. Guests arriving by Captain Cook Cruise's ferry can enter through the Lower Zoo Entrance just a short 3-minute walk from the ferry wharf. Alternatively a public bus (at own expense) is available from the ferry wharf to the Main Entrance at the top of the zoo.
Route
Indicative route. See timetable for order of stops for your service.
Fares
Prices to 31-Mar-2025
| Route | Adult | Child |
|---|---|---|
| Taronga Zoo Express | Special $69 (Normally $71) | $40 |
| To/From Circular Quay, Watsons Bay, Manly or Darling Harbour | $8.50 | $6 |
Prices from 01-Apr-2025
| Route | Adult | Child |
|---|---|---|
| Taronga Zoo Express | $79 | $44 |
View ferry only return and concession fares here. Visa/MasterCard/Amex & OpalPay accepted. All ferry services are cashless. Retail rates are valid to 31-Mar-2026. All prices are per person and subject to change.
There's more to Taronga Zoo than just the animals
Taronga is an aboriginal word meaning beautiful view. There are several popular walking trails from Taronga Zoo wharf that take in beautiful secluded beaches, picturesque bay, impressive handland lookouts and historical sights. The Taronga Zoo to Balmoral Beach trail is 6.8kms (one way) and starts at Athol Bay Road only moments from the wharf. The Taronga Zoo to Bradleys Head trail is 1.4km or you can carry on to beautiful Chowder Bay for a total of 4.4km (one way).
More Information
Before you visit
Taronga Zoo and cares for over 5,000 animals from over 350 species, including Australian native wildlife, as well as rare and endangered exotic animals. Admission tickets include daily keeper talks and seal and/or bird presentations.
- Taronga Zoo is generally open 365 days of the year, between 9:30am and 4:30pm*
- Taronga Zoo wharf is wheelchair accessible - contact the team at Taronga Zoo on (02) 9969 2777 to enquire about accessibility inside the zoo
- From time to time, some animal exhibits may close for maintenance works
- Plan your day before you visit and download the Taronga Zoo map
- Taronga Zoo entry can also be combined with a 1 or 2-day Hop On Hop Off Harbour Explorer pass
*Visit Taronga Zoo for the latest show times and opening hours
Note Note Taronga Zoo has announced it has ceased operation of the Sky Safari, with planning underway for a revitalised and fully accessible experience in the future. Guests arriving by Captain Cook Cruise's ferry can enter through the Lower Zoo Entrance just a short 3-minute walk from the ferry wharf. Alternatively a public bus (at own expense) is available from the ferry wharf to the Main Entrance at the top of the zoo.
OpalPay FAQ
Please note, the below information is correct at the time of publishing and subject to change. Visit OpalPay for the latest information and services.
| What is Opalpay? | OpalPay is a convenient way to pay for travel using your Opal card on participating privately operated transport services. |
| Where can I use OpalPay? | You can now tap to pay with your Opal card on selected private ferry services. Look for 'OpalPay accepted here' signs. |
| Why use OpalPay? | With OpalPay, you can use your Opal card on a wider range of transport services, allowing you to travel to more places more easily. There is no need to buy individual trip tickets, you can just tap to pay with your Opal card for a more convenient way of paying your fare. |
| How much is an OpalPay fare? |
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| How do I use OpalPay? |
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| Which Opal cards are compatible with OpalPay? |
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| Will tapping on with OpalPay contribute to my Opal travel benefits? | No. Unlike trips made with Opal cards on other public transport services, OpalPay trips do not contribute to Opal travel benefits or discounts. |
| Can two people travel together using the same Opal card? | No, each customer over the age of four must have their own reloadable Opal card with sufficient balance to travel. |
| What if my Opal card is lost or stolen? | If your card is registered and it's lost or stolen you can report on opal.com.au. Your existing balance can be protected and you can get it transferred to a new Opal card and sent to you. |
| Can a tap be reversed? |
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| Is there a maximum fare with OpalPay? |
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Still looking? You might find it here
- Wheelchair access - Sydney 2000, Captain Cook 3, and both single deck and twin deck rocket catamarans are wheelchair accessible. Please check the Accessibility page for further details and wharf access.
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