While I was there they were working on a new enclosure for the elephants, and it looks like it's going to be wonderful. Should be done soon, too.

Great views of the city from some of the exhibits, particularly the giraffes and mountain goats. The free flight bird show featured mostly native birds.

Lots of Australian animals on exhibit. This is the place to go if you want your picture taken WITH a koala. You won't actually be holding one, but it will be in the frame with you ... and it's the best price you are going to find for that sort of thing.

Allow 3-4 hours for this, and take your time.

You zip up to the top of the zoo and begin walking gradually down. Accessible for people using wheel chairs. Heavily shaded by tall trees, you might feel the heat of summer, but you won't get sunburned. At this time, the zoo is making a major expansion. It will be world class when completed. Not that I missed anything although my first glimpse of a kangaroo was difficult as it was sleeping in tall grass. Great bird collection including penguins. Many native birds have also made their homes in the zoo. Walk-ins shall we say? Zoo food was pretty good. Plenty of serious walking!

You have got to see the giraffes. They have a million dollar view of the Opera House! I tried to get the famous photo of the giraffe lined up perfectly with the view, but they weren't having it my way. Koalas yes, but the condors were a surprise, a wonderful surprise. For adults, plan about four hours for the ferry, look around, and lunch. If you have children along, add one more hour as there are special places for them to tour including 'Backyard to Bush'. Look for a 2004 completion of the improvements.

As you get out a ways the skyline fills the sky and looks even more magnificent. Anywhere you look you'll get great views across the harbor.

Now the zoo itself is no slouch. It's located on a hilltop and offers excellent views back across the harbor to the city. The surrounding vegetation adds a lot to the idyllic setting as well. And then there's the animals, from all around the world. This is an excellent zoo. It doesn't have the space that say a San Diego Zoo, Toronto Metro, or Brookefield (Chicago), so don't expect it to be in that ballpark. But it's a very good zoo with a wide variety of animals both Australian and from other continents.

Nonetheless it was the Australian exhibits that I found most impressive. There's an excellent platypus exhibit, and we were lucky enough to see these animals active. You can actually walk around in the same enclosure as the kangaroos. And for an extra $2 you can get right next to a koala and get your picture taking with it.

There are in fact several presentations and photo oportunities. You should get a schedule of these when you enter. There are also several special tours of the zoo you can take. Some you need to sign up for in advance. For that kind of info check out the website right here.

The Treetops restaurant near the elephant exhibit proved to be a delightful place to have lunch. Very good quality food, perhaps better than you'd expect in a place like this. It's licensed as well.

A good way to explore the zoo is to take the skyrail up from where the ferry drops you. It will take you up to the top of the hill. From there you can wind your way down to the lower gate and you're only a short walk from the ferry.

All in all this will be a visit to the zoo that you won't forget, and I'd say almost a must do. It definitely is if you like zoos.