An adventurous sleepover experience at Taronga Zoo.

It's not every night you set up camp next to wombats, emus and kangaroos. But that is exactly what we found ourselves doing, with five very excited six year olds, on a balmy summer evening at Sydney's Taronga Zoo, ready for an adventurous experience with the zoo's Roar and Snore sleepover program.

We were welcomed to our overnight adventure by our hosts for the evening, the fun and knowledgeable Doug and Liana, two of Taronga Zoo's experienced Roar and Snore team. They ensured we settled into our evening's accommodation of three-person tents and offered us nibblies and refreshments before introducing us to some of the zoo's more friendly residents.

The next hour was spent up close and personal with lizards, tortoises, a baby koala (complete with personal teddy bear) and Dubbo, the very friendly wombat, after which we enjoyed a dinner of delicious salads, chicken, crusty bread and drinks.

Our small group was then led into the darkness on a torchlight zoo safari, enjoying a nocturnal peak at the animals without crowds or noisy distractions, except the yelps of the kids (and several just as excited grown-ups).

During our hike we spotted a variety of animals, including the Komodo dragon, Tasmanian devils and an enormous and very friendly red kangaroo. After enjoying the gentle, nocturnal activities of a lovely red panda and some dozing tigers, we were shocked back into alertness when three very awake lions came within inches of us, with just glass separating their enormous claws and us becoming tasty midnight snacks.

Full of the night's adventure, we headed back to camp for nightcaps and a lively chat before a blissful sleep under the stars.

Our morning alarm was the collective squeaks, cheeps, screeches and growls of our neighbours greeting the day.

Coffee and a bite to eat and then more animal introductions, a particularly beautiful corn snake was a highlight. Next we were off for a behind the scenes tour of the zoo, including a visit inside the giraffe enclosure where we hand fed these gentle giants. Our Roar and Snore experience concluded watching the frenzied fun of the chimpanzees' breakfast.

The rest of the day was ours to explore the zoo, so we spent the morning walking through the magnificent new Wild Asia exhibit. Here we were charmed by some of Taronga's newest inhabitants, the very cute Hanoi and Saigon, male and female francois langurs, as well as Reggie and Halimun the adorable silvery gibbon pair, one of only seven breeding pairs in the world's zoo population.

The two species are among the world's most endangered primates and are in crisis in the wild, with less than 2000 silvery gibbons and 800 francois langurs left in their natural habitat. Taronga is committed to maintaining wild populations through their silvery gibbon breeding and reintroduction program in Sumatra, as well as working with Vietnam's oldest national park on animal conservation to protect the langurs.

The langurs and gibbons share the spectacular Wild Asia exhibit with more than 200 Asian animals and an enormous variety of colourful rainforest birds.

The Roar and Snore sleepover program is a great adventure and educational experience for families and to quote a thrilled six year old girl, "Dad, this was the best night ever!"

For those less nocturnal souls, a day visit to Taronga to see Wild Asia, as well as revisiting all the old favourites, is a must this summer.

Taronga Zoo is open every day of the year including Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day from 9am to 5pm. Roar and Snore runs every Friday, Saturday and Sunday night, all year round.

For more information on the zoo, Roar and Snore or the new Wild Asia exhibit, visit www.zoo.nsw.gov.au.

Tickets for Roar and Snore can be purchased on visit www.ticketek.com.au.

Zoo visitors can also get behind the Zoo's efforts for the gibbons and langurs and other rainforest creatures by becoming Zooparent sponsors.

A Zooparent sponsorship also makes a unique gift for the animal lover in your life. For more information, phone the Zooparent hotline on 1300 369 116.

Discover Central New South Wales on a family drive holiday and enjoy free child entry at Taronga Western Plains Zoo with each full paying adult. Conditions apply. Visit www.visitnsw.com/countryzoo for more information.