You Can Have a Sleepover With Koalas at This Luxury, Eco-Friendly Retreat at the Sydney Zoo

Ever thought about spending a night at the zoo? It’s actually much comfier than you think.

The Taronga Zoo’s Wildlife Retreat, located in Sydney, Australia, allows guests to spend the night while cuddling up close to koalas, platypuses, birds, and many other animals native to Australia.

The retreat includes 62 eco-friendly designer rooms and suites, each nestled in an open-air animal sanctuary adjacent to the zoo. Guests can choose from Bushland, Animal View, and Harbour View rooms, as well as Treetop Suites.

Those who spend the night not only get to stay in a modern hotel with a perfect view of Sydney Harbour, but they also get a fully immersive experience at the zoo, including after-hours guided tours. Guests can even take advantage of daybreak walks, dine on buffet breakfasts, and enjoy free entry to the zoo during business hours.

Visitors can enjoy meals at the retreat’s on-site restaurant, Me-Gal, which focuses on local and seasonal Australian cuisine and has that same incredible view of the harbor and Sydney skyline that's offered in several rooms.

"For a zoo to remain relevant, it must constantly evolve," Cameron Kerr, CEO of Taronga Zoo, shared in a statement in 2019 about the retreat's opening. "Through the Wildlife Retreat, we will foster genuine connections between people and Australia's fascinating wildlife, and inspire them to care as passionately as we do about our most precious residents. Guests will leave not only rejuvenated, but also with the knowledge that their stay has made a meaningful difference to wildlife and its conservation."

A stay at the retreat is also one that guests can feel good about. As a nonprofit, every dollar spent goes back to helping the zoo protect animals at its wildlife hospitals, breeding programs, and educational efforts.

Room rates start at about $500 per night, which, again, includes a tour, breakfast, and entrance to the zoo. For more information or to make your booking, visit the Taronga Zoo Wildlife Retreat website.