View from the Zoo

After breakfast we caught the ferry to Taronga Zoo. I was feeling more human today, the jet lag has meant poor sleeping for the past few nights but last night was much better. The zoo was quite small but very clean and the animals all looked healthy. I was hoping to cuddle a Koala but I was told I had to go to Queensland to do that, in NSW that is illegal. I loved seeing all the Australian animals, the kangaroos were so much smaller than I expected and the koalas were curled up asleep so we could not really see them.

There was the cutest baby chimpanzee and an equally cute baby gorilla - a sign of a healthy zoo with a good breeding program. We were fascinated with the elephants bath time - the zoo keeper explained that more than being just a wash and scrub, it was vital contact time and socialising with the keepers. The elephant turned and moved into position on command, even lifting her leg for a nail scrub, it was so entertaining to watch.

However the best bit was watching the bird show. It was so entertaining and very well done, with birds flying out of hidden bird boxes over the crowds, wowing us all with their clever antics.

The views from the zoo over Sydney were incredible, what a setting for a zoo. This was taken from the bird show arena, and you can see the Opera House on the left and The Rocks on the right. The spit of land in the foreground is Cremorne Point.

My additional shot is of a mother grey kangaroo and her baby. The joey was so cute, he kept climbing in and out of his mum's pouch and was all gangly legs and arms. It looked very uncomfortable for the mum but she did not seem to notice.

After the zoo we walked from the zoo along the coastal path to Chowder Bay, where we had some lunch, and then continued our walk to Balmoral Beach in Mosman. Friend of ours used to live in Mosman and I can see why they loved living there, it is a beautiful area with Balmoral Beach being a safe and sheltered beach for swimming. It was another long walk and my legs are now feeling rather tired. Another fantastic cup of coffee at a beach restaurant at Balmoral helped to perk me up again!