Taronga

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We've been looking forward to Sarah (my friend from University) and John's visit for some time, it's about the only date I've had scheduled in my calendar since March (not long after we moved to Sydney!) When they arrived on Thursday evening we went for a stroll in our local harbour-side park, then dinner at the pub. They had spent the last couple of days in Hunter Valley – a beautiful wine region just north of Sydney. From the number of stories they already had (including hot-air ballooning and climbing the harbour bridge) it sounded like they had already been on holiday for ages! Our local pub that we took them to is one of Aaron's favourite places to eat near here because they have a $10 deal for steak, salad and chips. However we didn't linger there too long after dinner because they started setting up for 'Tranny bingo'!


On Friday, while Aaron was at work, Sarah, John and I headed over to Taronga zoo to meet some koalas. I'd heard a lot about this zoo, but hadn't made it over there yet. After a beautiful ferry trip across the harbour we hopped on the sky-ride across the park. The zoo has some amazing views with city backdrops in them. Apparently taronga is an aboriginal word meaning beautiful/water view.

Amazing to see a giraffe in front of the Sydney skyline!

And mountain goats in front of harbour bridge!

For a moment it looked as though the mountain goats were stuck on the fake rock-shelves. We wondered how they could climb the steep slopes with those spindly legs and small pointed hooves. But we didn't have to wait long for a demonstration, soon one bully goat decided to move around the rock and pushed another goat out of the way. I held my breath and winced as the other goat came crashing and sliding down the slope, in what looked at first like a dangerously, precarious descent. However he landed on the ground without difficulty and looked completely unperturbed!





We got splashed in the seal show – amazing what those animals do! I'd never realised that when they balance a ball on their nose the whiskers don't provide any support, they're just used for sense.




This Tasmanian devil has escaped! … Actually the enclosure was set-up with a fake road to explain about how Tasmanian devils often eat road-kill.




The highlight of the visit ... was of course the koalas. Given that these animals spend most of the day asleep we were very fortunate that when we went into the koala enclosure we got to watch a mother and cub feeding – so adorable! Unfortunately though, as cuddly as koalas look, apparently they don't actually like being held.



4-Nov-2011

Comments

sly said…
What fun! Great pictures, too. You really have so much going around you!
27 November 2011 at 07:50
m and c said…
I loved seeing the animals with the Sydney skyline behind. Weather looked good too! love M and C
29 November 2011 at 02:49
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