First look: New ‘sky safari’ cable cars set to take visitors 35m above ground as Taronga Zoo upgrades system

Visitors to a famous Sydney zoo are set to again get a bird’s eye look at the animals, with the old cable cars to be replaced by a bigger fleet of more spacious gondolas. See the plans.

Visitors to Sydney’s Taronga Zoo are set to again get a bird’s eye look at the site’s animal occupants as part of multimillion-dollar plans to replace the old cable car system.

Concept images released on Wednesday show up to 25 new gondolas would be able to transport visitors between the base of the zoo at Taronga Zoo Wharf and the main entrance as part of a $77.3m “sky safari” upgrade project.

The sky safari will be built along the route of the former cable car attraction, which closed to visitors in 2023 after decades in operation.

The closure was prompted by the ageing state of the structure, which was deemed to be reaching the “end of its operational life”.

Plans show the new 1.5km-long cable car system will take passengers more than 35 metres above ground level.

A concept image of the new cable car station at the lower entrance of the zoo.

It is set to feature six pylons, as well as new purpose-built stations at the upper and lower entrances to the zoo grounds.

The new sky safari will also address capacity constraints that plagued the former cable car system, which was able to fit six guests per gondola and could not accommodate wheelchairs that were more than 61cm wide.

Plans show the new sky safari will have around 25 larger cable cars – four more than the previous system – and will be equipped to take up to 10 passengers per gondola.

The cable cars will also be accessible for prams and wheelchairs, while dedicated queuing areas have been designed to address crowd capacity at peak periods.

A concept image of the new purpose built stations.

The cable car line will run for 1.5km.

“The sky safari will provide unique, affordable, family-focused sightseeing tourism infrastructure that provides comfortable all-season experiences to support year-round growth in visitation to the zoo,” plans for the project state.

“This will assist in securing the financial future of the zoo to ensure that it can continue to undertake a range of conservation and education projects”.

Construction plans show the project will also feature new landscaping works, pathways, seating areas and public amenities.

A concept image of the project.

The Sky Safari will be built along the route of the former cable car system which closed in 2023.

The cable car joins a growing list of new and upgraded facilities planned at the zoo, where a new koala encounters area is due to open this year,

A new Taronga Wildlife Hospital Nutrition Centre and Taronga Wildlife Hospital are also proposed for the site.

Plans for the new cable car project opened for public feedback on Wednesday.

All submissions will be assessed by the Department of Planning as part of the determination process.

Prior to the closure, the former cable car system had transported more than 20 million passengers and even formed part of the Olympic Torch relay in 2000.