Imagine sleeping amidst lush bushland and waking up to the call of a lyrebird or the rustling sound of a bandicoot, while you are sleeping in a beautiful luxurious room. Sounds fascinating right? Australia is all set to provide an enthralling experience at their Wildlife Retreat at Cammeraigal Country, which is nestled within the Taronga Zoo. A luxurious eco-retreat that gives a breathtaking view of the Sydney Harbour will open its doors in October.
A young kangaroo at the Wildlife Retreat Taronga
Touted as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have a luxury sleepover, it’s a way to support the conservation projects to save the Aussie wildlife. “It is one-of-a-kind in New South Wales, Australia. Currently there isn’t a luxury eco-retreat of this nature that is located just 15 minutes from an urban city, with views of Sydney Harbour,” says Alex Emson, Director of Operations. With five environmentally sensitive and sustainably designed lodges, the retreat is built in the native bushland setting of Taronga Zoo. Designed by the architects from Cox Architecture, this eco-haven has 62 rooms and suites, which overlooks the zoo’s wildlife and the Sydney Harbour as the backdrop.
Animal View Room, Wildlife Retreat Taronga
There are four types of rooms – Bushland room, Animal View room, Harbour View room and Treetop suites. Apart from enjoying the stylishly designed rooms, the guests can also step out right into the lush sanctuary, where koalas and echidnas roam and platypus swim. For passionate environment lovers, there’s an option to join guided tours, where trained wildlife experts will introduce people to the flora and fauna in their natural habitat.
Wildlife Retreat Taronga
In order to provide a complete Australian experience to the guests, the retreat has designed a menu keeping Aussie cuisines in mind with the use of indigenous ingredients. Some of the native delectables include Fraser Island Spanner Crab (poached spanner timbale, pea veloute, fried native saltbush, truffled beurre noisette); the Sydney Artisan Sourdough bread, served with house churned lemon myrtle butter; and MSC Certified Scallops, served with edamame beans, stem ginger, fennel, green shallot, lemon myrtle and buttered risoni.
Gal Restaurant, Wildlife Retreat Taronga
“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,” says Cameron Kerr, CEO, Taronga Zoo. Owned and operated by Taronga Conservation Society Australia, the retreat will contribute essential funding towards the care of Taronga’s animals and broader conservation and education programs.
