Things to do in New Zealand, New Zealand: The Best Zoos & Aquariums

Pukekura Park covers 52ha (128 acres) right in the heart of New Plymouth, Taranaki and is one of New Zealand's premier botanical gardens. The park has an international Green Flag award and is a Garden of National Significance. With a diverse range of landscapes, the park features bush walks, formal gardens, lakes, children's play areas, a sports area and a Tea House. The park includes the Fernery and Display Houses as well as the adjacent garden estate area of Brooklands, home to the acclaimed TSB Bowl of Brooklands and Brooklands Zoo. As a popular destination for locals and visitors alike, Pukekura Park lights up over the summer as the backdrop for the annual TSB Bank Festival of Lights. The park is free to enter and can be accessed from various streets including Liardet Street, Brooklands Road, Fillis Street, Rogan Street, Kaimata Street and List Street.

Looking for something to do in Queenstown for the family? Hold on to your seats, we’re taking you back to the beginning on a journey through time and legend! Head down under the Main Town Pier and travel back to a time when dinosaurs roamed the earth, learn about how Lake Wakatipu was carved out by a giant glacier and experience the adventure activities you can do in Queenstown, all from the comfort of your seat. Time Tripper is a state-of-the-art animated show that takes you on a journey through time and legend, where you experience 90 million years in under 30 minutes. The show is approximately 12 minutes long, with 10-15 minutes of underwater viewing available after the show, where you can see the diving ducks, slinky eels and rainbow & brown trout.

Alpaca Farm Experience - Bookings essential. Enjoy a short walk through beautiful, lush, green typical New Zealand bush to come out into a paddock with friendly alpacas. Hand feed these amazing animals and hear all about their breeding cycle and their beautiful soft fleeces. See and touch some of last year's fleeces exactly as they were shorn from the animal. See how a fleece looks and feels after it has been washed and carded. Finally, see a scarf that has been made by felting this luxurious fibre onto pure silk fabric. There will be plenty of opportunity to ask questions about these gentle animals with their huge eyes and long eyelashes. For those of you interested in vintage cars, you can see a 1922 Stanley Steamer. Details are on our website. We also offer self-contained accommodation at one end of our eco friendly home so you can spend as much time as you like with these unique animals.

Cantharis Alpacas is one of the larger alpaca farms in the lower North Island being located on the majestic Kapiti Coast, just 40 kms North of Wellington. We are open for pre-arranged farm visits and walks, please check our website for more information and opening times.

Auckland Zoo is home to the largest collection of native and exotic animals in New Zealand, set in 17 hectares of lush parkland and just minutes from central Auckland. Auckland Zoo is open every day (except Christmas Day) from 9.30am.

Set in 80 hectares within 15 minutes’ drive of Christchurch Airport, Orana Wildlife Park is New Zealand’s only open range zoo. We get you up close and personal with the animals. Imagine hand feeding a majestic giraffe; seeing New Zealand's only gorillas; eye balling the magnificent white rhino; meeting New Zealand’s national icon, the kiwi, or travelling through the Lion Reserve! Over 400 animals representing more than 70 species are displayed at the Park. Regular animal feed presentations occur daily and are accompanied by a presentation from a wildlife guide. Visitors can enjoy the antics of tigers, cheetah, Tasmanian devils, monkeys, meerkats and more. Two large walk-through aviaries enable you to see some of New Zealand’s unique native birds and Orana is home to a wide range of native reptiles. Visitors can pet domestic animals in the Farmyard. Orana is internationally renowned for its involvement in zoo-based breeding programmes for endangered exotic and native species. When you visit, you are supporting our conservation work. It’s a full day of fun for everyone at Orana Wildlife Park!

See Kiwi in a natural environment - there is no glass! Get close to Kea, Tuatara and other native icons. Willowbank Wildlife Reserve is also home to introduced and exotic breeds. Make your own way around the park and animals will eat right out of your hand. Willowbank is open from 9.30Am daily - kiwis are able to be viewed from 10.30am until close.

Wellington Zoo is New Zealand’s first Zoo, and Wellington’s oldest conservation organisation, caring for animals since 1906. The Zoo is a not for profit charitable trust and we're proud to be the world’s first carboNZero certified zoo. We are guided by our kaupapa Me Tiaki, Kia Ora! We must look after our environment, so all things will flourish. It is up to us collectively to make a difference for animals and the wild places they call home. See our website for entry prices and to plan your visit. If you have accessibility needs, you can find more visitor information on our website.