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If I ran the zoo (photo gallery)

Being a zookeeper is every kid’s dream job, but by the expression on my daughter’s face as she plunged her gloved hands deep into a bucket of stinky fish parts, I wasn’t convinced she was truly enjoying living the dream.
C01-Lizards-in-Wildl
At Wildlife World


Being a zookeeper is every kid’s dream job, but by the expression on my daughter’s face as she plunged her gloved hands deep into a bucket of stinky fish parts, I wasn’t convinced she was truly enjoying living the dream.

Moments later, her expression changed to one of delight when the dorsal fin of a black tip reef shark protruded from the water as the predator swam in search of the fish she had just thrown out of the boat and into the enormous Sydney Aquarium.

If you want to get up close to some of Australia’s most stunning creatures and learn about them in a safe environment, a visit to the Sydney Aquarium and Sydney Wildlife World in Sydney, Australia will probably fit the bill.

These attractions are two of the most family-friendly venues in the city, boasting plenty of interactive experiences to teach kids about wildlife conservation and make them feel like they are training to be zookeepers.

Since the Aquarium and Wildlife World are located beside each other on Darling Harbour, it is possible to visit both attractions in a single day if you plan well. We began our day early at Sydney Aquarium and explored the aquarium, the four different marine habitats and the mermaid lagoon before participating in the 45-minute shark feeding experience, which takes place at 11 am each morning.

Sydney Aquarium is said to be one of the largest and most spectacular aquariums in the world and there are numerous exhibits that present the unique aquatic life of Australia, the world’s largest island.

In addition to the excitement of feeding sharks, we particularly enjoyed the huge oceanarium with its two underwater glass viewing tunnels where you can see large shoals of fish, sea turtles, giant stingrays, and endangered Grey Nurse Sharks, some of which are more than 3.5 metres in length and weigh more than 300-km.

After enjoying lunch at the aquarium cafeteria, we headed to Wildlife World to learn more about Australia’s land-based animals for the afternoon.

By checking schedules and planning well, the kids were able to participate in a butterfly release, a koala encounter, an aviary tour and lorikeet feeding, and a kangaroo feeding.

As we knelt feeding kangaroos large chunks of sliced carrots in the habitat modelled after the iconic dry inlands of Australia near the end of our day, I couldn’t help but notice how comfortable the kids had become around the animals and how eager they were to learn more about them.

They may never actually become zookeepers, but they will always remember living the dream in Sydney, Australia.

More family fun in Sydney

If you’d like a bird’s eye view of Sydney Harbour with a bit of an adrenalin rush, the Skywalk at Sydney Tower is something you shouldn’t pass up.

At 305 metres, Sydney Tower is the city’s tallest freestanding structure and the second tallest building in all of Australia.

Skywalk is a glass platform attached to the outside of the tower. The platform sits at about 850 metres above the city and it can be a dizzying experience to walk out onto the platform and look down.

Fortunately, there is a 50-minute safety briefing, special suits, and safety harnesses that keep you from plummeting to the ground when you look over the edge of the railing and lose all sense of balance. The glass platform slowly rotates around the city and you can see Sydney Harbour, the bridge, the opera house and many other sites while you participate in the 40-minute outdoor tour.

If you go:

• If you want to feed the sharks at Sydney Aquarium, you’ll need to book an 11 am glass bottom boat tour for an additional $25 Au per person. A glass bottom boat tour at any other time will cost $5 Au per person. It’s a good idea to book in advance, since the shark feeding tour only occurs once per day.

• There are plenty of interactive experiences at Sydney Wildlife World that give you a chance to get close to the animals and help with their daily care. The good news is that these experiences are included in the cost of admission.

To participate in a kangaroo feeding, a bird feeding, a butterfly release, or to have a koala encounter, check the daily schedule and be at the location specified at the correct time.

• It will take at least three hours to experience each attraction, but you could spend even longer. The visits could be combined in one long day with older children, but it may be wise to split the visits over two separate days if you are travelling with younger children.

• A day pass to either Sydney Wildlife World or Sydney Aquarium will cost $31.95 per adult and $17.95 per child. You can save money by purchasing a Discovery Pass that allows admission to both venues for $49.95 per adult and $29.95 per child. A family Discovery pass saves you even more money at $93 for 1 adult and 2 kids or $130 for 2 adults and 2 kids for both attractions. For more information or to purchase tickets in advance, visit: sydneyaquarium.myfun.com.au or sidneywildlifeworld.myfun.com.au.

• If you’d like to visit all three attractions (Sydney Wildlife World, Sydney Aquarium, and Sydney Tower), you can save money by purchasing a Discover 3 Pass for $69.95 per adult or $39.95 per child. Family rates are also available. An upgrade to include the Skywalk feature will cost $58.50 per adult and $40.50 per child.

• A good, clean, reasonably priced accommodation that can accommodate larger families comfortably is the Hyde Park Inn. The hotel has standard rooms as well as family rooms that sleep up to six people comfortably as well as two bedroom apartment suites with kitchens. It is located across the street from Hyde Park within walking distance of many attractions and right beside the train terminal for easy access from the airport. Rates start at $149 per night depending on the room category and the dates of travel. For more information or for reservations, visit: www.hydeparkinn.com.au/

Debbie Olsen is a Lacombe-based freelance writer. If you have a travel story you would like to share or know someone with an interesting travel story that we might interview, please email: DOGO@telusplanet.net or write to: Debbie Olsen, c/o Red Deer Advocate, 2950 Bremner Ave., Red Deer, Alta., T4R 1M9.