Wellington Zoo
New Zealand's oldest zoo, opened in 1906. Its night house lets you see kiwi, and there are red pandas, lions, giraffes and an animal hospital you can watch through glass.
Set on a hillside in Newtown, the zoo focuses on conservation. The night house, Te Ao Mārama, lets you see kiwi and other native nocturnal animals. The African section has lions, giraffes and zebras, and the Asian section has red pandas and Sumatran tigers. At The Nest, the animal hospital, you can watch vets at work through glass. Adult admission is about NZ$30, and you can book close-encounter experiences in advance. From the city centre, take bus 1 or 23, a journey of about 20 minutes.
Opening hours
09:30–17:00 (closed on Christmas Day)
Nearby sights
- Lyall Bay
- Pukeahu National War Memorial Park
- Island Bay & Taputeranga Marine Reserve
- Mount Victoria Lookout
- Embassy Theatre
- Harbourside Market
- Cuba Street
- Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa