The Taronga Zoo is located on a hill across the harbor from downtown Sydney. You reach the top by bus or cable car and the paths past the exhibits zig zag down the hill, giving you wonderful views of Sydney in the background.

We especially enjoyed the koala exhibits, which are tightly regulated. The zoo does not permit holding or touching of the easily stressed koalas, just close pictures (for a fee). They are limited to certain hours, and people were even told not to take pictures of a certain koala because it was "his day off."

The zoo has terrific exhibits on Australian wildlife, including a kangaroo/wallaby habitat that you enter through a gate and walk the path amid the hopping and resting creatures.

In the afternoon we ate lunch and shopped in the Rocks, one of the first areas settled in Sydney. Later we strolled through the Royal Botanical Gardens and enjoyed more views of the city.

That evening we had tickets to attend a performance of Gilbert and Sullivan's "The Gondoliers." at the Sydney Opera House. We had great seats and the production was delightful and entertaining.