Wild Life Sydney
Wild Life Sydney Zoo, formerly Sydney Wildlife World, is an indoor wildlife park located in the Darling Harbour precinct of Sydney, Australia. Opened in 2006, it is notable for its enclosed, air-conditioned public areas and a unique open-air upper level designed with a distinctive mesh roof structure. The zoo showcases a variety of Australian native animals across ten themed zones.
Key Facts
- ›Opened in September 2006 as Sydney Wildlife World.
- ›Located in Darling Harbour, Sydney, Australia.
- ›Features 7,000 square meters of enclosed exhibits connected by a 1 kilometer walkway.
- ›Includes an open-air upper level with a mesh roof designed to resemble a rainbow serpent.
- ›The largest exhibit is the 800 square meter semi-arid kangaroo walkabout.
- ›Awarded best family-focused tourism at the Australian's 2007 Travel and Tourism Awards.
Kangaroo Walkabout, Daintree Rainforest, Crocodile Billabong, Platypus Pool, Devil's Den, Outback Shack, Wallaby Cliffs, Tricky Tongues and Treehouse, Night Fall, Koala Rooftop
Kangaroo Island Kangaroos, Echidnas, Quokka, Koalas
About Wild Life Sydney
Wild Life Sydney Zoo
Wild Life Sydney Zoo, formerly known as Sydney Wildlife World, is a prominent wildlife park situated in the Darling Harbour precinct, on the western edge of Sydney's central business district in Australia. Opened in September 2006, the zoo is integrated into a leisure and retail area that also includes the Sea Life Sydney Aquarium and Madame Tussauds Sydney.
History and Development
The concept for a wildlife park adjacent to the Sydney Aquarium was announced in May 2006. Following the acquisition of other tourist attractions, the parent company rebranded as Sydney Attractions Group. In late 2007, Village Roadshow purchased Sydney Attractions Group, and then in March 2011, the UK-based Merlin Entertainments acquired Sydney Wildlife World as part of a larger asset purchase. The park was renamed Wild Life Sydney and reopened under this new identity on September 13, 2011. The attraction received recognition for its family focus, being named the best family-focused tourism at The Australian's 2007 Travel and Tourism Awards.
Design and Exhibits
The construction of Wild Life Sydney Zoo commenced in November 2004 and concluded in August 2006. A distinctive feature of the zoo is its almost entirely enclosed and air-conditioned public areas, a departure from typical zoo designs. The A$52 million development encompasses a 1-kilometer walkway winding through 7,000 square meters of enclosures.
Above the enclosed areas, the upper level exhibits are open-air, covered by a large stainless steel mesh roof structure. This roof is supported by curved beams designed to resemble the ribs of the rainbow serpent from Aboriginal mythology when viewed from above. This open-air design facilitates natural landscaping with live plants and full-sized trees.
The zoo is organized into ten distinct zones, each housing specific exhibits. Among these are the Kangaroo Walkabout, an 800-square-meter semi-arid habitat that includes 250 tonnes of red sand imported from central Australia and full-sized bottle trees, housing Kangaroo Island kangaroos, echidnas, a quokka, and koalas. Other notable zones include Devil's Den, Outback Shack, Wallaby Cliffs, Daintree Rainforest, Crocodile Billabong, Platypus Pool, and Night Fall.
Visitor Experiences
Wild Life Sydney Zoo offers specific visitor experiences, such as the Koala Photo experience, which allows guests to interact closely with koalas and capture photographs with them.
Source: Wikipedia ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Wild Life Sydney Zoo open?
Wild Life Sydney Zoo originally opened in September 2006 under the name Sydney Wildlife World. It later changed its name to Wild Life Sydney and re-opened on September 13, 2011.
What is unique about the design of Wild Life Sydney Zoo?
A unique aspect of Wild Life Sydney Zoo is that its public areas are almost entirely enclosed and air-conditioned, which is unusual for a zoo. The upper level exhibits are open-air, covered by a large stainless steel mesh roof designed to evoke Aboriginal myth.
What are some of the notable exhibits at Wild Life Sydney Zoo?
Wild Life Sydney Zoo is divided into ten zones, including exhibits like the Kangaroo Walkabout, Daintree Rainforest, Crocodile Billabong, and Platypus Pool. The Kangaroo Walkabout is the largest exhibit, featuring a semi-arid habitat with red sand and bottle trees.
What is the Koala Photo experience?
The Koala Photo experience at Wild Life Sydney Zoo allows guests to get up close to the koalas. This experience enables visitors to take a quality photograph with these iconic Australian marsupials.
What is the history of ownership for Wild Life Sydney Zoo?
Originally part of Sydney Attractions Group, the park was acquired by Village Roadshow in late 2007. Subsequently, UK attractions group Merlin Entertainments bought it in March 2011 as part of a larger acquisition.
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