A big thank you to the Taronga Zoo Sydney for hosting our stay so we could write this detailed review of our experience.
I’ve been fortunate to travel to Sydney eight times. My first visit was in 1995 when I stayed for a month with my college girlfriend’s family who lived in Double Bay. The last time I was there was in 2014 to watch the Los Angeles Dodgers play the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first Major League Baseball game Down Under.
Just like those past trips, this most recent trip was a dream but even better than I could have imagined because it was the first time I was with my wife and kids (ages five and eight). If you’ve been following along on our adventure, you know that we visited Fiji for a week first. Here are those stories:
Part One: Flight review: Our 11-hour flight on Fiji Airways from Los Angeles to Nadi
Part Two: Getting from Nadi International Airport to Castaway Island in Fiji
Part Three: Hotel review: Castaway Island Resort Fiji
Part Four: Hotel review: Nanuku Resort Fiji
Part Five: Flight review: Fiji Airways from Nadi, Fiji to Sydney, Australia
In Fiji, we were so close to Australia that it just made sense to continue on. Plus, Fiji Airways offers fantastic deals between the U.S. and Australia/New Zealand and usually offers free stopovers in Fiji. I wrote about how little it cost in a detailed trip report about the 11-hour flight from Los Angeles to Nadi.
Since this was a watershed trip for our family, I asked some of my Australian friends in PR for help with what to do and where to stay. To my surprise, they suggested we stay at the world famous Taronga Zoo Sydney.
I didn’t know you could sleep at the zoo, let alone in two dramatically different lodging options. If you’ve been to the Taronga Zoo before, then you know that it has arguably the best views of Sydney. But what you might not have known is that you can overnight there and experience what the animals do but in far better accommodations.
The first of the two accommodations is a Roar and Snore experience (stay tuned for my report on the second), which is luxurious camping or glamping. If you’re traveling in from abroad like we were and have a lot of baggage or little kids who are jet-lagged, you’ll want to plan your stay accordingly. There’s not a lot of room in the tents for a lot of luggage and the experience doesn’t begin until 5:15pm, just after the zoo closes to the public, which may be too late for little ones.
My wife and I have been to almost 70 countries together as a couple and before we had kids, we traveled with carry-on only. But now that we have two little ones, we sometimes feel like a traveling circus. For this long international trip, we had two large suitcases, all four of us had a backpack and my wife and I also had our computer bags.
Our five-year-old wasn’t able to stay up until the Roar and Snore experience started at 5:15pm (she was waking every morning at 4am and crashing between 5:30pm and 6pm) so I booked a last-minute hotel in the city at the Shangri-La using OneKeyCash for her and my wife (and to store all our luggage). FYI: Our room had an excellent shower and a great view of the city.
Once my wife and daughter were settled, my eight-year-old son and I jumped in an Uber and darted across the Sydney Harbour Bridge for the 20-minute ride to the zoo. We could have taken a ferry (here’s the ferry schedule), which is the best way to go to/from the city. It’s just 12 minutes from Circular Quay but we were running late and it was raining … not a good combo. If you’re local or are renting a car, the zoo offers complimentary parking for all Roar and Snore guests.
Check-in at Taronga Zoo’s Roar and Snore experience begins at 5:15 PM near the zoo’s main entrance (located on Bradleys Head Road, Mosman, NSW 2088). A member of the zoo staff took our bag (because we’d dropped off our luggage, we only had one backpack), tagged it and delivered it to our tent. They offer a welcome drink and then the whole group goes on a twilight walk to dinner that departs at 5:45pm.
The first stop was at the nearby bathrooms where they encourage everyone to go at the beginning (always smart, especially for kids!) because there aren’t a lot of loos on the tour.
On the tour, we learned a lot about the zoo’s conservation efforts. Taronga Zoo Sydney is deeply committed to wildlife conservation, focusing on protecting endangered species and their habitats through innovative breeding programs, research and global partnerships. The zoo’s efforts extend to critical projects like fighting wildlife trafficking, restoring ecosystems and educating visitors to inspire collective action for a sustainable future.
We saw and learned about an array of wildlife, including a tree kangaroo, a Bolivian squirrel monkey, koalas, lions, meerkats and we even met a peacock named George who was getting chased by a wild bush turkey, a scene the kids on the tour really got a kick out of.
After hearing fascinating stories from the dedicated keepers, we made our way to the zoo’s Saltwater Bistro, where dinner was served.
There were options from an outdoor BBQ like corn on the cob, sausages and chicken kebabs. And inside, there was bread, salad, vegetables, curry, pasta, rice and more.
The restaurant, like much of the zoo, has spectacular views of Sydney Harbour and skyline.
After dinner, around 8pm, guests walk to the beautiful campsite.
The tents are very nice and big and best of all, they overlook the city.
Unfortunately, we had terribly wet, cloudy and rainy weather during our three days in Sydney but the rain stopped and the skies cleared for about an hour, just in time for sunset, which was one of the most breathtaking sunsets I’ve ever seen. This view of Sydney is absolutely incredible and to enjoy it from the zoo is an experience my son and I will never forget.
Interestingly, the Taronga Zoo was built in 1916 in the suburb of Mosman, the least expensive land in the city. However today, Mosman is arguably the most expensive place to live in all of Sydney and with that view, it’s not hard to understand why.
Next to the individual tents was a main tent, which felt more like the living room of a cozy boutique hotel or cottage. Here, they serve drinks and dessert; last drinks are served at 9:45pm.
You can eat and drink inside or outside, at a firepit overlooking the city. That view really does take your breath away.
Next to the main tent is a building with a dozen or so private bathrooms and showers.
The bathrooms and showers are quite luxurious. They’re not what you might expect from a camping experience so that was a pleasant surprise.
At 9pm, the guides lead an exclusive night safari to see some of Taronga’s favorite animals. They use a red light (pictured above) so they don’t disturb them. At 10pm, guests return to the campsite to sleep.
Before we’d even entered our tent, I realized why they call it a ‘Roar and Snore.’ The lions really do roar and it’s very cool to hear.
Check out this video I took and you’ll hear the sound of lions roaring in the background. As you can see, the tents have screens and are bug-free.
In the end, my son was really missing his mama and wanted to be with her. Plus, she had arranged a Flytographer sunrise photo shoot for the following morning in the city so we ended up not sleeping in the tent, which, looking back on, we all regret. However, we got a good feel for it and we ended up staying in the zoo’s other accommodations the following night. Stay tuned for more about our amazing stay at the Wildlife Retreat at Taronga.
But for those who stay, after a good night’s sleep, you’ll wake up at 6:30am (it was light out) and get ready for two incredible behind-the-scenes experiences. They serve coffee and tea before the first tour departs at 7:15am and then there’s breakfast at 8am. At 9:30am, your Roar and Snore experience comes to an end but what’s certain is that the memories will last a lifetime.
In summary, here’s why it’s so incredible:
Exclusive after-hours access: Guests can enjoy unique after-dark and early-morning tours of the zoo, where they can observe the animals in a quieter, more natural environment and learn about their nocturnal behaviors.
Breathtaking views: The campsite offers truly stunning views of Sydney Harbour.
Up-close animal encounters: Participants get the chance to interact with some of the zoo’s animals, guided by knowledgeable keepers who share fascinating insights and stories.
Luxury camping experience: Stay in cozy safari-style tents equipped with comfortable amenities, blending the excitement of camping with modern comforts.
Support for conservation: By joining Roar and Snore, you contribute to Taronga Zoo’s vital conservation efforts, helping to protect wildlife and their habitats worldwide.
All in all, the Roar and Snore experience was an amazing adventure that my eight-year-old son and I will always remember. Book your Roar and Snore experience at the Taronga Zoo Sydney here.
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