If you’ve ever dreamed of living out your own Night at the Museum fantasy, listen up. Taronga Zoo’s Roar and Snore experience delivers the ultimate overnight adventure, letting you sleep just 30 metres from the lion enclosure.
Taronga Zoo is one of the city’s most iconic attractions, drawing around 1.5 million visitors each year to explore its diverse collection of wildlife. With sweeping views over Sydney Harbour, dedicated zookeepers and more than 350 species on display, its appeal is undeniable. But the zoo’s most unforgettable experience doesn’t occur during opening hours; it happens after dark.
Roar and Snore isn’t just a sleepover at the zoo. It’s a rare chance to wander the grounds after dark, see the animals come to life at night, and enjoy up-close encounters led by Taronga’s expert zookeeper team.
Everyone I know who’s experienced Roar and Snore raves about it, so when Sydney Travel Guide was invited to the iconic Taronga Zoo for the wild sleepover, I couldn’t wait to see if it truly lived up to the glowing reviews.
Table of Contents
Day one
Check-in
The Roar and Snore experience begins with check-in from 5:15 to 5:45pm at the gates of Taronga Zoo’s main entrance. All Roar and Snore guests receive complimentary parking at the zoo, making it easy to come and go with your overnight bags.
Here, you’ll meet your fellow Snorers (groups typically range from about 20-30 people a night), as well as the Taronga team in charge of your stay. There’s not much time for small talk, though, as you’ll quickly begin your twilight walk through the zoo, which is now completely closed to the public.
Twilight walk
The first animal we meet is a blue-tongued lizard, which we’re told is one of Australia’s most trafficked native reptiles. The zookeeper tells us that this specific lizard was rescued from Sydney Airport after a smuggling attempt was uncovered. We’re able to gently pet the lizard’s scaly skin as we learn about the endangered animal and its remarkable defence mechanism: that flickering blue tongue.
Our Twilight Walk continues, and we pass through the koala enclosure to see the sleepy koala clinging to a branch with one paw, and chewing on an eucalyptus leaf with the other. We’re told an interesting fact: koalas are not bears! They’re marsupials. Any mention of a “koala bear” is completely factually wrong.
Next, we wander past the iconic Taronga Zoo giraffes, whose long necks look particularly striking against the beautiful backdrop of Sydney Harbour. We also see the titular lions, and are greeted with roars by the feisty male (who we would also hear later throughout the night).
Squeals of delight from the younger guests erupt as we pass the capybaras, and I can’t help but feel excited too. Despite visiting Taronga Zoo many times, I’d never seen these animals up close. The beauty of Roar and Snore is that it gives you extra time to explore the zoo, and without the daytime crowds, more animals come out to play.
Dinner at Saltwater Bistro
After our first exciting walk around the zoo, we’re taken to dinner at Saltwater Bistro, which hosted a buffet-style spread consisting of miso butter grilled corn, lamb and rosemary sausages, thyme and lemon chicken skewers, vegetarian tikka masala, saffron rice, roasted veggies, as well as a potato salad and a garden salad. There was also a kids’ option of tomato pasta for any fussy eaters.
It’s safe to say we were hungry after roaming around the zoo, so it was great to enjoy the buffet and take in the views of the Saltwater Bistro as the sun set. Drinks are served during the buffet too, so you can have a glass of bubbles, wine or a beer before you continue to the next part of the evening.
The exterior and interior of our tents. (Image: Isabelle James).
The campsite
After dinner, the sun had completely set, so the zookeepers took out their red light torches (which do not disturb the animals) and guided us towards our campsite.
It’s easy to see why the experience is called ‘Roar and Snore’: the overnight accommodation sits just 30 metres from the lion enclosure. Their roars ring loud and clear, accompanied by a symphony of sounds from other animals across the zoo.
The campsite looks across undisturbed views of the Sydney Harbour, and consists of multiple green tents with a double bed and a single bed inside. A third camping bed can also be set up, if you’re a family of four. In the middle of the campsite is a big open communal space where drinks and snacks are served, the perfect place to relax outside of the camps.
At the edge of the camp, you’ll find shared bathroom facilities featuring multiple separate bathrooms and showers, all stocked with toiletries and impeccably clean. For anyone used to camping in the wild, this feels like a true luxury!
Now it’s time to indulge in desserts, sip a few more drinks, and wander around the campsite. A fire pit sits right at the edge, perfect for cozying up while taking in the best views of the harbour. The guides are there in case you want to ask any questions, but this is also a great time to just unwind and enjoy the bright lights of Sydney’s skyline.
The night safari
After you’ve relaxed in camp for roughly 40 minutes, you’re invited to join the night walk. Although this is an optional activity, everyone in our group opted to join, and I’d encourage you to do the same.
Our night walk began at the sun bear enclosure, home to the world’s smallest bear species. This was another animal I’d never seen at Taronga Zoo, and it only appeared when our guide called out “Molly!” and tossed a handful of peanuts into the enclosure. Using the red light torch, the guide illuminated the bear while sharing fascinating facts, as we watched Molly eagerly munch her treats.
We also went through Taronga Zoo’s Tiger Trek, and saw their beautiful Sumatran tigers having a snooze, unfazed by our gawping faces behind the glass. We also saw a binturong climb through the trees, a mammal that you actually smell before you see, as it famously reeks of buttered popcorn. This is because it possesses scent glands that emit a chemical compound (2-acetyl-1-pyrroline), which is the same compound produced when popcorn is popped.
We also saw two adorable seals, a mother and her pup, swimming around their tank, following the glow of the red light. The young pup is bellowing at the mother (the guide tells us she is likely wanting a snack), and we watch as they twirl around the water. Taronga Zoo is famous for its seal shows, which often feature rescues, so it was interesting to see the stars of the show behind the scenes.
The night walk lasts about an hour before returning to camp. Each tent comes equipped with its own electricity and lighting, so even though activities wrap up at 10 pm, you can choose when to turn in. That said, the day starts bright and early at 6:30 am, so it’s definitely worth getting some quality shuteye.
We slept soundly through the night, though don’t be surprised if a few unusual noises wake you (it’s all part of the adventure).
Day two
Rise and shine
Our second day kicked off with hot tea, coffee and juice in the communal campsite. We also had a light breakfast (banana bread) before heading off for our behind-the-scenes experience at 7:15am.
Behind-the-scenes experience
The behind-the-scenes experience was definitely a highlight of Roar and Snore. We were taken right into the giraffe and zebra enclosure, where we hand-fed the huge giraffes. It was surreal to see Jimiyu and Zarafa up close, especially when they leant down to nibble on the leaves. While feeding the giraffes, the zookeeper shared fascinating insights about Taronga’s most photographed residents, including the fact that each giraffe’s spot pattern is unique, much like human fingerprints.
Breakfast
After this experience, it’s time for breakfast, and we returned to the Saltwater Bistro for another delicious buffet, featuring fresh fruit, scrambled eggs, sausages, toast, pancakes, baked beans and all the brekky sauces and spreads you could dream of, from Nutella to Vegemite.
The final wander
After breakfast, the guides led us on another tour of the zoo. With walkie-talkies in hand, they could coordinate which animals were awake and roaming, giving us rare up-close glimpses of the animals, from gorillas and otters to pygmy hippos, and even Taronga’s newest star, Hari the greater one-horned rhino.
We continue to wander around the zoo with the guides until it hits 9:30am, marking the zoo’s official opening time and the end of Roar and Snore. However, the experience does include one-day zoo admission, so if there are any animals you didn’t get to see, or if you want to go to one of their famous animal shows, you can stay on at Taronga until closing time.
For those who need to make a speedy exit, the team makes sure to drive your bags up to the zoo entrance, so that you don’t have to carry them around in the morning. You can then collect them from the car park before bidding farewell to the zoo and heading off.
Our verdict
Roar and Snore is one of those special Sydney experiences that you never forget. A normal trip to Taronga is awesome in itself, but Roar and Snore allows you to go behind the scenes, guided by extremely passionate zookeepers who are ready to share all their knowledge about each animal. One of our guides tells us, “There’s no better time to see the zoo than early in the morning, before opening time”, and I completely agree.
Roar and Snore starts at $799 per night for a twin share, or $1,199 per night for a family of four (children aged 5–17). While it may seem steep, the price covers a full day’s zoo admission, all exclusive tours and animal encounters, dinner and breakfast (plus morning snacks and coffee), and even complimentary parking, making it a truly all-inclusive experience.
You might be thinking: this sounds incredible, but do I really want to spend the night surrounded by overexcited kids? I’ll be honest – I had the same thought. The good news is that Taronga also hosts adults-only Roar and Snore experiences, making it the perfect session to book with friends and enjoy the campsite with a glass of wine, minus the little ones. So whether you’re coming with your youngsters or opt for the quieter adults-only retreat, Taronga has catered the experience for everyone.
If you’re looking for a truly unique place to stay in Sydney (or a standout gift for someone who loves a little adventure), Roar and Snore is an experience well worth the price tag.
For more information on Roar and Snore or to book your experience, click here.
