Hunter Valley Horses are located in the Hunter Valley Resort on Hermitage Road, Pokolbin in the Hunter Valley, the same place as the Segway Tours, which makes them easy to find. After filling out a small amount of paperwork and getting a helmet, you meet your horse. The guides teach riding basics and then it is time to venture out.
No one in our group was an experienced rider, which meant we could all go at the same pace. Our horses were all sedate and the riding pace slow. There were two experience guides, who were fantastic and took lots of pictures for us. A more exciting pace can be organised if you contact the guide beforehand.
Hunter Valley Horses
The ride wound through the local vineyards with magnificent views of the Brokenback Ranges and bush land. The track was generally flat with only two places where we crossed small gullies. The guides explain how to go through these areas, which made for an easy no stress ride.
Riding Through the Bush
Fantastic morning, meeting new people,sight-seeing, riding the horses and enjoying what the Hunter Valley has to offer.
To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.
There was nothing to do last Sunday afternoon, so we decided on a two and a half hour drive down to Sydney to visit Taronga Zoo. The only tricky bit with driving was making sure you were in the right hand of three lanes when exiting the Warringah Freeway, so as to be able to get onto Military Road towards the zoo. If you are using Google Maps, it takes you to the staff entrance for the car park. Just turn left, and you will see the undercover multistory public car park. Take your ticket with you as you will need it to pay for parking before returning to your car. There is not an option to use a credit card at the gate.
If you are in Sydney, the best way to get there is by ferry. There is one that goes direct from Circular Quay to the zoo and return with no other stops, so you will not get lost.
Zoo Entry
Entry From the Car Park
Entry is through the beautiful old building in the photo below. You can go through the ground level entrance to the right of the steps.
Taronga Zoo Main Entrance
Inside the entrance to the right is a ticketing office, toilets and information booth. You can wander around a large area here without buying a ticket, including the cafe and gift shop.
The staff at the ticket office took our money ($46.00 each) and handed us a receipt. Keep this handy as it is your entry ticket and you will need it later. The information booth can provide you with a map of the zoo’s layout. Quite good maps, with the suggested trail to follow marked on. Even better, the trail is marked on the walking paths as big green circles.
Just down from the entrance is a series of manned gateways which is the entry to the zoo proper. The friendly staff will ask for you ticket and stamp your hand. Then it’s off to explore.
Entry From the Ferry
The ferry wharf is near the lower entry gates, where you can either take the chair lift, or enter through the gift shop. If you choose the chair lift, it will take you to the upper section of the zoo and you can walk back down. There is an option to take the chair lift from the upper level to the start if you don’t want to walk back.
Lower Entrance
The Animals at Taronga Zoo
The zoo is built on quite a steep piece of land near Sydney Harbor. Some of the pathways can be a bit of a climb, but there are plenty of rest areas and things to look at, so no need to rush and tire yourself out.
The first animal we saw was this gorgeous tree kangaroo up in its tree. It was not very active and looked like it had either just woken up or was about to go to sleep.
Tree Kangaroo
Reptile House
Not far from the tree kangaroo was the reptile house. Basking outside was a Komodo Dragon. A very impressive representative of the world’s largest species of lizard. The rest of the reptile house has many cages and cases with numerous snakes, lizards and turtles.
Komodo Dragon
Iguana in the Reptile House
Giraffes
Not far from here were the giraffes. They were very active, eating and walking around their enclosure.
Giraffes
Giraffe
Squirrel Monkeys
The squirrel monkeys are in a large open cage, where small groups of visitors can walk through on a board walk. The monkeys wander around, climbing and eating and generally ignore the people. It was excellent to be able to get close to them without bars or perspex in the way. A guide accompanies you into the cage, answers any questions you might have and makes sure you all exit before the next group is admitted.
Squirrel Monkeys
On a detour from the main path of green circles, we went to see the Barbary Sheep, Bongo, Zebras and Himalayan Tahr.
Himalayan Tahr
Meerkats
Taronga Zoo has a nice little meerkat display. It was still early and they were all out scratching around the cage. The front of the enclosure is perspex, so you get a really good view of them. Many of them come right to the perspex.
Taronga Zoo Merekat
Walking towards the elephant display, we by-passed the Australian section, as we have seen many kangaroos and wallabies over the years. Next stop was for a snack at the View Restaurant.
After a coffee and cake we headed for the seal show. The presenter was overly enthusiastic, and we soon realized the show was tailored for kids. Nothing wrong with this and the kids there were certainly enjoying themselves. However, we decided to give it a miss and went to see the Condor, deer and seals (those not at the show). From the pathways, there are some spectacular views of Sydney Harbor.
View of Sydney Harbor
Gorilla
Gorilla
Elephants
From the seals we took the rain forest trail back up. This is a nice leafy area, and would be very nice on a hot day. This trail exits near the elephants. Two of them were having their morning baths and checkups with staff. This was an excellent opportunity to get quite close to them, and talk to staff. Even better, the young male trumpeted as he was leaving. This was one of the highlights of the day, as we had never heard an elephant before,
Taronga Zoo Elephant
Baby Elephant
Taronga Zoo Tigers
Part of the redevelopment of the zoo, the tiger enclosure is well laid out and spacious. To ensure that visitor numbers are controlled, a line outside, only permits a limited number of people in at once. This is great and the viewing areas were not crowded and everyone there as able to see. Large perspex windows allow you to get up close to the tigers as they wander around.
Tiger
Looking Through the Perspex Window at a Tiger
Tiger
Chimpanzees
Home to a large group of chimpanzees, this enclosure is a fun pace to stand and watch as the chimps play and wander around the area.
Chimpanzee
Leaving the Zoo and Heading Home
After four hours, we decided it was time to leave for the car trip home. Car parking fees were $18.00. Getting home was straight forward. The only tricky part being (if you are heading north) is to make sure you are in one of the two right hand lanes when leaving Military Road for Falcon Street, as they turn right onto the freeway. If you get stuck in the left two lanes, keep going until you reach the Pacific Highway and turn right.
What Did We Think?
What did we think? Not too bad. Entry price was what you expect to pay. Parking is expensive as is the food. We loved the new tiger enclosure and International tourists will be going to see the Australian section, which looks extensive. Locals will want Australian and international animals. Overall a fun day out.
To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.
