In fact, work has already started on two new attractions at the family-run zoo - cheetah and lemur exhibits which will open in the second half of 2015.

Symbio general manager Matt Radnidge said after two very busy weeks at the zoo near Helensburgh, he was just waiting for the school holiday activity to subside before stepping up construction.

The cheetah exhibit will be a big development.

"The groundwork will be done just after the school holidays," he said. "We are close to identifying the animals we will have. And we hope to have them well before the end of the year."

Mr Radnidge said it would not be as large as the tiger exhibit and the fence would not be as high because cheetahs were fast but smaller than tigers.

He said the main rock feature of the new exhibit had always been in place and enclosures, fencing and other features, in what would be a roomy home for the next new star attractions, would start to take shape in the coming weeks.

The cheetah exhibit will be east of the tiger exhibit, with the new lemur enclosure between it and the new expanded kangaroo refuge, which has been a big hit this summer.

Park visitors always spend more time in the refuge than anywhere else because people love the opportunity to interact with and feed the kangaroos and wallabies.

Mr Radnidge said he and his family were encouraged to keep expanding the park and introduce new exhibits because of the overwhelmingly positive response to other exhibits such as the reptile house that opened late in 2014.

A new koala sanctuary and eating area are also proving popular, along with the red pandas and all the traditional zoo favourites.