Directly next door to SEA LIFE Sydney, WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo is situated along the popular Darling Harbour. The majority of the zoo is either indoors or netted over into giant aviaries allowing their free-flying birds access to large sections of the zoo. Geared towards the tourist market, WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo strongly advertise that they are home to the ‘Aussie Big Five’ - wombat, koala, platypus, crocodile and kangaroo (an interesting concept I haven’t heard of before). As with all three attractions I visited during my trip to Sydney, this was my first time visiting the zoo. After paying admission, bypassing the annoying photo (like the ones at the SEA LIFE aquariums) and walking up a winding ramp, the first enclosure seen was a tank for a Scrub Python. This was quite a spacious enclosure and was certainly larger than many scrub python tanks I have seen. Continuing on was the humid Butterfly Tropics which had a lush butterfly garden with a series of reptile tanks. I only saw two species of free-ranging butterflies; Common Eggfly and a tattered-looking Cruiser Butterfly. A large glass-fronted reptile enclosure with a body of water ran along the garden. This enclosure housed Northern Long-necked Turtle, Broad-shelled River Turtle, Merten’s Water Monitor and Eastern Water Dragon. A nice mix of water-loving reptiles. This area also had a set of four tanks; one for Boyd’s Forest Dragon and three for White-lipped Tree Frog (someone really likes white-lipped tree frogs). These were all nicely-furnished with mock rock backdrops. Reptile Enclosure by WhistlingKite24 posted 1 Jan 2020 at 6:17 PM Exiting the butterfly garden was a standard enclosure for a Tasmanian Devil. This enclosure also had a glass viewing window further inside. The devil was snoozing in its small den during my visit. The first of the free-flying birds were also seen here; a brave Emerald Dove walking directly in front of the devil and a male Satin Bowerbird in a tree. Up next were a pair of standard tanks for Eastern Brown Snake and Inland Taipan. These were located opposite the glass viewing window for the devil. The next two tanks were very generous in size for their inhabitants; one tank had Blotched Bluetongue (a nice change from all the Eastern Bluetongues I see on a regular basis at local zoos) and the other tank housed Cunningham’s Skink. Opposite these tanks was a glass-fronted enclosure with mature trees and mock rock cliffs for Koala, Laughing Kookaburra and Bush Stone Curlew. Other birds seen in this enclosure were Princess Parrot, Brown Cuckoo Dove and Gouldian Finch. It was quite odd seeing birds behind glass and took some getting used to. Koala/Kookaburra/Bush Stone Curlew Enclosure by WhistlingKite24 posted 1 Jan 2020 at 6:36 PM The next enclosure contained the species I most wanted to see at the zoo - Yellow-footed Rock Wallaby. Their generously-sized enclosure with large mock rock cliffs contained three individuals. I was thrilled to see such a striking species and this therefore brings my species of rock wallaby seen in captivity to four. The wallabies shared their enclosure with a Common Wombat who also had a dark side den area which could be viewed behind glass. I also saw some additional free-flying birds in this particular enclosure; Red-browed Finch and Zebra Finch. Yellow-footed Rock Wallaby (Petrogale xanthopus) by WhistlingKite24 posted 1 Jan 2020 at 6:39 PM Nearby was a nice enclosure for an active Spencer’s Monitor. Up next was the Daintree Rainforest exhibit which was lushly-planted and had several glass viewing areas around the perimeter of the enclosure. I saw a few bird species in this enclosure; King Parrot, Topknot Pigeon, Brown Cuckoo Dove, Wonga Pigeon, Red-browed Finch and Plumed Whistling Duck. I also saw a well-constructed bower for a Satin Bowerbird, and Emerald Dove was signed but not seen in this particular area. This enclosure also housed a small group of Red-legged Pademelon and a Southern Cassowary (a male called Princess, who was originally believed to be female). Again, seeing birds behind glass was very unusual and mixing the cassowary with other smaller species even more so. This area also had two tanks for Frill-necked Lizard and Boyd’s Forest Dragon. Rainforest Exhibit by WhistlingKite24 posted 1 Jan 2020 at 6:52 PM Right before reaching Kangaroo Walk-about were a series of frog tanks for Green and Golden Bell Frog and Magnificent Tree Frog (Green Tree Frog was also signed but not seen). These tanks were all very nice and had a small pool for the frogs. The Kangaroo Walk-about is the zoo’s main macropod exhibit and contained additional enclosures within the area. It was located in a red-sanded outdoor area which was netted over for the free-flying birds. The walk-through area also had a series of mature eucalypt trees and bottle trees. There were also glass viewing windows along the side, back in the indoor area. The first inhabitants I saw were the most exciting in my opinion- Spinifex Pigeons (they are like a bedazzled crested pigeon). They are a beautiful species and I would love to see them at more zoos and wildlife parks. I have seen them pop up at a few of the bird sales and auctions I have attended in recent years. Spinifex Pigeon (Geophaps plumifera) by WhistlingKite24 posted 1 Jan 2020 at 7:01 PM Other birds found in this walk-through included Princess Parrot, Bush Budgerigar, Cockatiel, Zebra Finch, Gouldian Finch, Red-browed Finch, Wonga Pigeon, White-headed Pigeon, Emerald Dove and White-browed Woodswallow. Chestnut-breasted Mannikin and King Parrot were signed but not seen in this area. I also saw a Galah in an off-display aviary from the walk-through area. The only macropods I saw were Kangaroo Island Kangaroos (Agile Wallaby and Eastern Grey Kangaroo were signed but not seen). The other two species I saw in Kangaroo Walk-about included juvenile Emus and a very active Short-beaked Echidna. The echidna was being followed by an entourage of tourists with their phone cameras. Within the walk-through there were three additional enclosures that housed a Koala, a Quokka and two Kangaroo Island Kangaroo joeys. I felt that the quokka enclosure was one of the few exhibits at the zoo that was a tad small for its occupant. Next to these enclosures was a large viewing area to see the Saltwater Crocodile from above. The vertical space of the crocodile was inhabited by a group of Red-collared Lorikeets. I wonder if there ever has been any close calls or fatalities with this lorikeet/crocodile mix. Entering back into the indoor area (and air-conditioning) continued the strong emphasis on reptiles with four tanks for Olive Python, Central Netted Dragon, Dwarf Bearded Dragon and a mix of Shingleback, Frill-necked Lizard and Central Bearded Dragon (not seen). These were all presently nicely. Saltwater Crocodile Enclosure by WhistlingKite24 posted 1 Jan 2020 at 7:21 PM Up next was the enclosure for their Platypus (two females, one of which is over twenty years old). I wasn’t a big fan of their enclosure due to how shallow their body of water was (it was essentially a smaller tank within a tank). Every other platypus enclosure I have seen over years has been much deeper. In saying this, the tank was wider than most enclosures I have seen for the species. Their enclosure was also very well-lighted (very unusual for a platypus exhibit). Platypus Enclosure by WhistlingKite24 posted 1 Jan 2020 at 7:28 PM The small nocturnal zone began with an unsigned enclosure with its occupants remaining hidden (presumably an arboreal species due to all the branches). The next smallish enclosure was for Feathertail Glider (signed as A. frontalis). They were lapping up their food during my visit. Adjacent to these enclosures, was a large enclosure for at least three Bilbies. This was one of the largest enclosures I have for the seen for the species to date. Up next were a series of darkly-lit reptile tanks for Black-headed Python, Woma Python and some of the smaller reptiles; Night Skink, Centralian Knob-tailed Gecko and Spotted Python. The second-last nocturnal exhibit was for a mix of Yellow-bellied Glider and Rufous Bettong. Both species remained hidden but I don’t blame them. There were two people continuously knocking on the glass saying “knock knock anyone home.” I politely (but firmly) told them how they would feel if someone did that to their home and instructed them to stop it. Luckily they stopped and moved away from the enclosure. Some full-grown adults really act like children at zoos sometimes! The final enclosure in the nocturnal zone housed a colony Ghost Bats. Yellow-bellied Glider/ Rufous Bettong Enclosure by WhistlingKite24 posted 1 Jan 2020 at 7:39 PM Continuing to the new Discovery Treehouse which mainly housed invertebrates, there was a cylindrical tank for Cyclone Larry Stick Insect (it’s not every day you find a species of insect named after a natural disaster) and a larger enclosure for Spinifex Hopping Mice. It was really interesting to see the very active mice in a daylight setting. There was also a nest for Bull Ants behind glass in this area. The next series of enclosures were six walled tanks for three species (two in each). They contained Superworm, Rainforest Snail and Giant Burrowing Cockroach. Whilst I loved the idea of these walled tanks for invertebrates, having the three species represented by two tanks each seemed unnecessary. The next tank held a Common Yabby. Like the superworms, I felt that they could have opted for more unusual invertebrates rather than species they use to feed their animals. Moving into the next room were two vertical tanks for Golden-tailed Gecko and Goliath Stick Insect. I love golden-tailed geckoes (I only found out they existed at Taronga Zoo the day before), they are a great little species. Along a wall there were five boxed enclosures for spiders. They were quite small but adequate, and contained Sydney Funnel Web, Redback Spider, Wolf Spider, Huntsman Spider (unspecified species) and Australian Tarantula. The final animal enclosures on this level were a series of standard open-topped enclosures for Koalas which overlooked the Kangaroo Walk-about. Golden-tailed Gecko Tank by WhistlingKite24 posted 1 Jan 2020 at 7:47 PM The final area was the underwater viewing for their Saltwater Crocodile. There was also a side enclosure for a large Pig-nosed Turtle (a species I am quite fond of). The large body of water in both the turtle and crocodile enclosure had a few species of fish; Crimson-spotted Rainbowfish, Banded Rainbowfish and Seven-spot Archerfish. To be absolutely honest, I was expecting more from WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo and their collection seems to have diminished over the years. In saying that, what was there was done very well. Despite being space-constrained, the majority of the enclosures were of an adequate size and some even generous (the reptile exhibits come to mind). The zoo is also a very popular attraction with tourists packing every corner of it. Something like WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo would have great potential near Brisbane’s main CBD (although it would be a direct competitor of Lone Pine). All in all, WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo made for a pleasant experience and I encourage others to visit. A species list will be posted below and more photos of WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo can be found here: Wild Life Sydney - ZooChat
These are the species that were seen and/or signed at WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo on the 28th December 2019. The * indicates that the species was signed but not seen. Mammals Short-beaked Echidna Platypus Tasmanian Devil Common Wombat Koala Bilby Feathertail Glider (signed as A. frontalis) Yellow-bellied Glider * Rufous Bettong* Agile Wallaby* Quokka Red-legged Pademelon Yellow-footed Rock Wallaby Kangaroo Island Kangaroo Eastern Grey Kangaroo * Spinifex Hopping Mouse Ghost Bat Birds: Southern Cassowary Emu Plumed Whistling Duck Emerald Dove Spinifex Pigeon Wonga Pigeon White-headed Pigeon Brown Cuckoo Dove Topknot Pigeon Bush Stone Curlew Laughing Kookaburra Galah (off-display) Cockatiel Red-collared Lorikeet Princess Parrot King Parrot Budgerigar Satin Bowerbird White-browed Woodswallow Red-browed Finch Zebra Finch Gouldian Finch Chestnut-breasted Mannikin * Reptiles Saltwater Crocodile Pig-nosed Turtle Broad-shelled River Turtle Northern Long-necked Turtle Central Bearded Dragon* Dwarf Bearded Dragon Eastern Water Dragon Central Netted Dragon Boyd’s Forest Dragon Frill-necked Lizard Blotched Bluetongue Shingleback Cunningham’s Skink Night Skink Centralian Knob-tailed Gecko Golden-tailed Gecko Spencer’s Monitor Merten’s Water Monitor Spotted Python Scrub Python Woma Python Black-headed Python Olive Python Eastern Brown Snake Inland Taipan Amphibians Magnificent Tree Frog White-lipped Tree Frog Green Tree Frog * Green and Golden Bell Frog Fish: Crimson-spotted Rainbowfish Banded Rainbowfish Seven-spot Archerfish Invertebrates: Rainforest Snail Common Yabby Sydney Funnel Web Redback Spider Wolf Spider Australia Tarantula Hunstman Spider (species not labelled) Giant Burrowing Cockroach Bull Ant * Superworm Cyclone Larry Stick Insect Goliath Stick Insect Common Egglfy Butterfly Cruiser Butterfly
Thank you for the review. What is a superworm? Googling it indicated that it is a trade name for meal worms, but I doubt that is what is exhibited? Do they still have the photo opportunity with the giant head of the prehistoric croc lunging out at you? That looked like it was very cheesy, but fun from the photos in the gallery.
Glad you liked the review. Yes believe it or not the superworms (Zophobas morio) were actually beetle larvae. They are very similar to mealworms and they make a pretty pointless exhibit. Superworm Tank by WhistlingKite24 posted 1 Jan 2020 at 7:44 PM I don't think they have that anymore (sounds like something I'd remember if they did).
Another great review! No Tiger Quoll and Dunnart anymore? Yellow-bellied Glider was kept in the first enclosure with the branches when I visited in early 2018. They were working on the Bilby enclosure at that time.
Thanks. Neither of these species were seen on my visit. To be honest, I think something like a Tiger Quoll is better off in an outdoor enclosure rather that some of the small nocturnal exhibits that I saw at WILD LIFE Sydney.
In 2017 I saw both Quoll and Dunnart. Also a very active pair of Yellow-bellied Glider and two Bilbies.
When I was there is 2010 the species in the nocturnal section were as follows: Short-beaked echidnas, ghost bats, fat-tailed dunnarts, feathertail gliders, bilbies, spinifex hopping mice, rufous bettongs, eastern quolls, plains rats, brush-tailed possums, long-nosed potoroos, common ringtails, sugar gliders, northern giant cave geckos, central knob-tailed geckos, and an albino carpet python. Sydney trip 23-25 November
