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Thursday, January 23, 2014

CNNGo.com

World's top urban glamping? Sydney’s Taronga Zoo is a contender

Posted: 22 Jan 2014 02:00 PM PST

A "Roar and Snore" night includes big views, luxury tents and behind-the-scenes zoo action

Now that's camping. As long as you don't get stuck next to a snorer.

Dozens of Sydney hotels offer incredible views of the country's most photographed harbor.

What visitor doesn't need a shot of the famed arched bridge and a certain white opera house?

But there's only one accommodation for those wanting to wake up to those stellar views while listening to the roar of lions and trumpeting of elephants.

Offering luxurious safari-style tents, buffet dinners and sundowners paired with the city's most expensive view, Taronga Zoo's Roar and Snore program stretches the definition of camping beyond its canvas-scented limits.

If the view doesn't slay you, the koala cuddles will. The experience begins at 6:15 p.m., kicking off with encounters with Australian animals like kangaroos, koalas and reptiles.

Then come drinks and a buffet dinner, followed by a two-hour night "safari."

Guests wake up at 6 a.m. for more animal visits and two behind-the-scenes tours that show the inner workings of the 98-year-old zoo. (It's not Australia's oldest. Melbourne Zoo has been around since 1862.)

"These tours aren't always the same, but can include a behind the scenes visit and feed with our giraffes, a behind the scenes tour of our chimpanzee sanctuary, and a private seal show," says Paul Fahy, senior media relations officer for the Taronga Zoo.

Visitors can spend the rest of the day at the zoo during regular opening hours.

More: Sydney hotels: 7 stays for 7 types of travelers

If it's good enough for Brangelina ...

Though Roar and Snore has been around since 2010, it gained attention when Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt took in the experience with their kids in December 2013.

The zoo wouldn't confirm the visit, which received a huge number of mentions on celebrity gossip pages in the United States and Australia.

Roar and Snore tents have electricity and sleep a maximum of four. Roar and Snore costs A$288 ($255) per adult, A$184 per child on weekdays, A$320 and A$205 on weekends and public holidays.