The Jingle Hop has begun at Taronga Zoo

Santa, New Years Eve and the summer school holidays are nearly here and Taronga Zoo Sydney has all the activities to have the whole family quokka-n around the Christmas tree. Cool off in the splash zone at Seals for the Wild, see birds soaring over Sydney Harbour at Free Flight Birds, or hear keeper stories at the new Reptiles Alive show. Beat the heat and discover Taronga’s state-of-the-art Nocturnal habitat, where day becomes night and the night-loving animals come alive. If a day at the Zoo isn’t enough, get a ticket to some of Taronga’s hottest events on Sydney Harbour – from a Christmas Concert, New Years Eve celebrations and the iconic Twilight at Taronga Concert Series.

Start your Sydney summers day with a ferry ride across glorious Sydney Harbour to meet the 350 animal species that call Taronga home. Swing in to watch Chimpanzee babies Cekiri and Lemba learn to walk and keep their mums and wider Chimpanzee community on their toes. With more than 13 daily keeper talks, animal encounters and daily presentations, including the new Reptiles Alive Show, the kids will have lots of opportunities to learn about diverse animals and ask Taronga’s keepers their favourite facts.

Kicking off the fur-st of December with a bang is Taronga’s Festive Weekend. Capture a selfie with Santa between 11am-3pm daily over the weekend and enjoy an extra twilight Seals for the Wild Presentation and extended zoo hours until 6pm. Plus, get all your Christmas gifts sorted whilst helping wildlife, scoring a 10% discount off all retail purchases and huge savings on Taronga’s accommodation experiences in Sydney and Dubbo. Festive Weekend runs from Friday 1 – Sunday 3 December and is included in your general admission ticket.

For emu-sing family singalongs, head to Taronga’s annual Christmas Concert on Saturday 16 December. Set in the idyllic grounds of Taronga Zoo with magical views across Sydney Harbour, this family-friendly event is the perfect way to celebrate Christmas and enjoy a spectacular summer night of entertainment featuring a special guest all the way from the North Pole! Bring along a picnic or choose from a variety of food and drink available on-site while you sit back relax and soak in the festive spirit. Tickets are just $29 for adults and $24 for children aged 4-15, with children under four free! Gates will open at 6pm with the concert running from 7pm-8.30pm.

The only way to beat the ultimate day out at Taronga Zoo Sydney is a sleepover at Roar and Snore or the Wildlife Retreat at Taronga. With exclusive sunset tours, behind-the-scenes animal encounters and panoramic harbour views, these unique experiences create long-lasting memories. Where else can you wake up to a Lion roaring and enjoy spectacular Sydney Harbour views?! If you’re still looking for that perfect gift, head to the Taronga Gift Guide. From cuddly bedtime friends, to unforgettable overnight stays, Taronga has a gift for everyone and every budget. Taronga is not-for-profit, so every visit, gift, stay or donation saves wildlife.

Taronga Zoo Sydney is open daily, including Christmas Day, from 9:30am-5pm over the school holidays, except on New Year’s Eve when the zoo closes at 4:00pm. Admission tickets can be upgraded to 365 days of adventures with a Zoo Friends membership. For more information about planning a visit to Taronga Zoo Sydney or to purchase your tickets online for up to 20% off, visit www.taronga.org.au

Taronga Conservation Society wishes everyone a Merry Christmas and happy New Year, filled with koal-ty time with loved ones.
* Grace Black at gblack@zoo.nsw.gov.au