Auckland Zoo

Auckland Zoo is a fantastic day out with truly amazing exhibits. The bird habitat is a standout. Beautifully designed and full of life. It feels like you’re stepping right into their world. The layout makes it easy to explore at your own pace, and it’s great that there are cafés in every section. Well worth a visit.

Fantastic experience from the 5 yr old to Grandma. The animals, lizards, fish, eels, birds etc were easily viewed. Lots of amazing information available about each section of the zoo, we were viewing. The grandchildren thought it was a fantastic experience (5-10 years). Highlights were the giraffes, the meerkat colony, the different monkeys, the feeding of the gorilla family their enrichment and the security involved. The eels, the kaka and other endangered birds, the tiger, cheetahs, the lions. A great way to spend 3 hrs plus where our family were totally engaged.

Auckland Zoo is an easy standout. The staff and volunteers are genuinely friendly and make the whole place feel welcoming. The animals look well cared for and the habitats are clean and well maintained. Plenty to keep the kids entertained with lots of space to explore and learn. Also, the coffee at the front cafe is surprisingly good which is always a win. A smooth, enjoyable visit from start to finish. Great place for families. Parking was closed due to renovations, so we had to park near MOTAT. Nice walk through the park though.

Auckland Zoo is incredibly well-maintained and organized—easily the best place for a holiday outing with kids. Even on a busy day, the crowd management was excellent, and you could tell the animals were well-cared for and happy. ​A major highlight for us was the very close encounters with birds in their natural habitats; we enjoyed this immensely and the enclosures felt truly immersive. We also appreciated the zoo's strong effort to conserve native species and educate visitors. ​A quick update: The elephants have now been permanently relocated to Australia for their well-being, so you won't see them on your visit. However, the zoo plans to redevelop that area into an expanded Africa Safari Track for other African species, which will be exciting to see in the future. ​Pro Tip: There are plenty of food spots on-site, but I highly recommend bringing your own personal cutlery for a smoother dining experience!

Visiting Auckland Zoo was a truly positive and memorable experience. The zoo is beautifully designed, spacious, and easy to explore, with lush green surroundings that create a peaceful and immersive environment. The staff are friendly and highly knowledgeable, generously sharing their passion for animals and conservation. The variety of animals and birds, especially New Zealand’s unique wildlife, made the visit truly special. With its strong focus on education, animal welfare, and conservation, Auckland Zoo offers an experience that is both enjoyable and deeply meaningful. It is undoubtedly one of the best attractions in Auckland.

Kiwi’s alone makes it worth it! Tiger was active, multiple bird environments, each one allowed us to view the animals up close and personal! We got some great pictures and more importantly great memories. Everyone was so friendly and accommodating, even when we were late getting out of the park!

This review may be coming a little late, as I visited Auckland Zoo in October of 2024, but the experience has stayed with me ever since—and for all the right reasons. Auckland Zoo is, without question, one of the best zoos I have ever visited and comfortably earns a place in my personal top five worldwide. From the moment I arrived, it was clear how thoughtfully designed and well maintained the zoo is. The layout feels spacious, intuitive, and immersive, allowing visitors to move naturally from one area to the next without feeling rushed or overwhelmed. Many other visitors mention how easy the zoo is to navigate, and I couldn’t agree more. The paths are well planned, signage is clear, and each exhibit flows seamlessly into the next. Despite the zoo’s size, it never felt crowded or chaotic. The grounds were exceptionally clean, green, and inviting, which speaks volumes about the care and attention given to both animals and guests. One of the most impressive aspects of Auckland Zoo is its staff. Every team member I interacted with was friendly, approachable, and genuinely knowledgeable. Whether I was asking about an animal’s behavior, habitat, or conservation status, the answers were thoughtful and informative. This level of engagement is something many other reviewers also praise, and it truly elevates the experience. The staff don’t simply provide information—they share enthusiasm and passion, making the visit feel educational without ever being overwhelming. Seeing my favorite animal, the rhinoceros, was a highlight, but what truly sets Auckland Zoo apart is its dedication to showcasing New Zealand’s unique and rare wildlife. My first-ever experience seeing a giant weta was unforgettable, as were the close encounters with rare bird species found only in New Zealand. These exhibits felt deeply meaningful, emphasizing conservation, preservation, and respect for native species rather than entertainment alone. Another unforgettable moment was seeing a Tasmanian devil in person for the very first time. It was astounding and genuinely exciting—an experience I never expected to have and one that left a lasting impression. Auckland Zoo excels at offering these rare encounters while maintaining a strong ethical focus and conservation-driven mission. I make it a point to visit the local zoo whenever I travel to a new city or country, and I have visited some outstanding institutions around the world, including those in Rome and Frankfurt. Auckland Zoo stands out even among these, surpassing them in terms of layout, atmosphere, staff engagement, and overall visitor experience. It strikes a perfect balance between education, conservation, and enjoyment. Auckland Zoo is not just a place to see animals—it is a place to learn, reflect, and connect with wildlife in a meaningful way. Thank you to everyone at Auckland Zoo for creating such an exceptional experience, one that I will remember fondly for years to come.

The Zoo was great - lots of animals to see, and easy to follow around. My only 'downer' was that the map I got from the QR code on the ticket window showed an old map with the elephant area still on it. I didn't know/had forgotten until I read the posters, that Burma had moved over a year ago. We had a very sad girl when we found out we couldn't find the elephant because it was no longer there. An updated link to the map would be good!

On a recent impromptu trip to Auckland I wasn't sure what I would see and do, but the Auckland Zoo ended up being a highlight of the entire trip. Located west of the CBD, it's a brief train or Uber ride from the main hotel area. It's also a short walk from the Kingsland/Mt Eden area if you're out exploring. The Auckland Zoo is free for Aucklanders or $28NZD for visitors. It was well worth the price as I ended up spending a few hours here. At the entrance is the ticket booth where you can get a map to help you explore. Directly inside the entrance is the Zoo store that I explored and bought some souvenirs at on the way out (a kiwi fridge magnet). Inside is an educational room that was closed. The Zoo is organized by region of the world the animals call home. You can plan a circular route take you through them all, or jump around as you please. There are also a number of cafes, coffee carts, and restaurants throughout, each offering a different menu and view. Restrooms are also convenient and kept very clean. I was here mostly to see the fauna of New Zealand, so I saved that for last. They have an excellent collection of Australian animals as well. Asia, South America, and Africa round out the main attractions. Each features walk-through aviaries and viewing windows for the larger animals. I loved seeing the kea especially, watching it jump around on rocks in its enclosure. It was a quiet and rainy day when I went, with lots of groups of children enjoying exploring. Another highlight was attending one of the live bird shows, where the trainers have them fly over and through the crowd to really see them up close. They had mostly parrots do this, intelligent creatures they are. All the staff throughout was friendly and engaging, especially with the kids. If you're visiting Auckland, this is well worth the visit.

Great diversity of animals and they all seemed to have roomy, well-maintained living space. So many cool areas from the rainforest dome to the kiwi enclosure to the huge orangutan area. Live bird show was really cool, too!

Due to the recent flooding a significant portion of the zoo was closed during this visit. Despite these closures, I spent more than two hours navigating the landscape enjoying the Lush semi-tropical plantings and the animals that were available to see period. The zoo discounted admission given that some of the exhibits were shut down. Many volunteers were working and all were extremely friendly. This is an excellent family-friendly zoo and I would suggest visiting it if time permits

Great place for families. Compact with lots of animals. $28 normally, but construction currently knocks the price down to $24 per adult, though purchase online to avoid long lines and get additional discounts. Slim pickings for parking, so recommend to arrive early or take the metro bus lines. Lots of picnic tables, so bring lunch ( and about the high priced concessions), though the food and cocktails at the Elephant House looked good. 2 playgrounds are great for running off excess energy for kids. Highly recommend for a 1/2 day excursion in the city.

Great zoo, big enclosures, almost felt like I was in a Zoo I've been to before. Lions were to hot and did not appreciate the 90% humidity one bit... sad to see them sleeping but it's ok! The kiwi exhibit is cool but done expect to see it... Food at the zoo... Darn good! Cheese burger fries & mango passion shake were a pleasant surprise. I recommend

I had a great time here for an entire day. Definitely on par with other zoos I have visited in the United States. I got to see all the animals , although it was very hot when I came. So some of the animals were sleeping like the Tigers and Lions. However the Emu's were very curious almost came up right to my face it was remarkable. I had such a great time exploring the zoo by myself. The food here was good, plenty of seating everywhere as well. Also plenty of water bottle refilling stations throughout which was key for the very hot day it had been. I especially liked the dark exhibit for the Kiwi's. I've never seen an exhibit like that. I spotted a few of the Kiwi's even in the almost pitch black, it was so cool. Definitely recommend to anyone who is in the area.

This is an excellent zoo. While it lacks the scope and breadth of the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park, it boasts a bevy of fine wild animals in settings that resemble their natural habitats and are devoid of bars. Moats may separate animals from their human admirers, but It is likely that the animals do not feel caged in. The most inventive enclosures include a river that plays host to two bobbing hippopotamuses, and a water-filled outdoor enclosure with a large glass opening near the bottom through which giant sea lions can be observed quickly swimming by. While there are not an overwhelming number of animals on the premises, the ones who are there are fine representatives of their species. While Diane and I were there, a White Rhinoceros bounded about near giraffes and a zebra; three lions peered down majestically from a hill; and an orangutan playfully dragged a swath of colorful fabric through sudsy water inside a small plastic pool. It was disappointing that a red panda never appeared out of hiding; we never found the kiwis; and when we reached the elephant section, a sign informed us that the elephant was out on a walk. But we did see two cheetahs being escorted on their walk on leashes held by zoo attendants. And the meerkats and wallabies were fun to watch cavorting about. A 4-1/2 star experience!

I love how close to the animals you can get. They are all very curious as well [my favorites were the little meerkats and the kiwi birds]. The animals had lots of room to roam around as well so that was great to see.

It's a lovely zoo, with lots of nice walks, but I'd suggest that it's not a place to visit in winter. The animals are mostly more sensible than we are, and stay indoors! The African enclosure, which reportedly had things like giraffes, boasted one disgruntled looking ostrich. We did see the back of one giraffe, hiding from the cold. I did love seeing the Kiwi, and some of the other native birdlife, and some spectacular reptiles. My favourite being some stunningly vivid bright green geckos. Tiny things, very pretty. Also, it's not often that you see an orangutan draped in a blanket looking like a grumpy, cold, old man. On the whole, I think we saw more Pokemon than animals though! I guess Pokemon don't feel the cold!

This is a great little zoo! I'm a big fan of zoos, and have been to quite a few all over the world, and I think the enclosures here are definitely very good. The animals seem happy, and everything is clean and spacious and well designed. They have most of the usual animal suspects, with an extensive bird collection (as you'd expect), including the lovable kiwi. There are plenty of encounters you can attend, to see animals being fed and to learn more about them - check the zoo website for times and days. The cafes all looked quite nice and were reasonably priced, for a zoo. One thing I would note is that the children's zoo area seemed a bit more sparse than what I've seen elsewhere - not much to interact with!

The Zoo! A classic attraction in any city! The Auckland Zoo is a fantastic way to spend the day, especially with littlies in tow. I recently took my young cousins who were over from Japan and they absolutely loved it. Actually, so did I! The sealion enclosure is probably my highlight, I love watching them swim and play underwater, and the little penguins are so cute stealing one has crossed my mind... The Zoo offers animal encounters at specified times each day, and are definitely worth attending. During the encounters zookeepers get up close and personal with the animals and also tell you more about each one, so it's both a thrilling and interesting experience. As well as housing countless endangered and revered animals, the Auckland Zoo also has a great cafe in its midst, a children's playground, and a band rotunda where local musicians perform during summer in special zoo concerts. Tip: Season passes to the Auckland Zoo are available, so grab the kids and make the most of New Zealand's biggest zoo.

Great zoo. Our family became 'Friends of the Zoo' late last year. It's great being able to take my preschoolers during the week when the zoo isn't so busy. Auckland zoo has most of the animals you'd expect: elephants, tigers, lions, giraffes, zebras and hippos just to name a few. It's got a great cafe and playground too. Good for a day out in the fresh air with the family.

I was a bit underwhelmed by my most recent trip to Auckland Zoo. I was taking my godson, who had never been before but adores animals so I was pretty sure it was going to get a big thumbs up from him. Whilst he did enjoy it, he didn't rave about it like I had expected. I think our main problem was timing. A lot of animals, including my godson's favourite - the lions - were taking an afternoon kip away from the beady eyes of the public. The enclosures also seemed smaller than I remember (perhaps, it is just that I am bigger) and I couldn't help but feel sorry for some of the animals - especially the ones who would normally live in a climate that is substantially different to Auckland. Despite our ho-hum experience, the zoo was absolutely humming when we were there. It's obviously a very popular with young families and I have to admit it is great from an educational perspective.

Not sure if it's because I'm an 'Aucklander' but I find it good just for a special occasion. It has definitely steeped in price over the years and every time we have been there, a lot of the enclosures were being cleaned so we missed out on seeing great animals. Love the aviary (I am a bird person though!) and quite an enjoyable day if you go when it's great weather. However, don't go during school holidays if you have to take prams! Very stressful and you end up leaving worse off -_- I think you if really want your money's worth, make the effort to make it an educational outing and take your time.

You know how when you're a child there are things that are so amazingly cool and then when you grow up they're lame? Like umm push pops maybe. Although push-pops are still cool. Or maybe mufti days...nah mufti days are still cool. Anyway, The Zoo never gets old. Never. I recently went here on a random Sunday when my friends and I had no plans, and it was awesome. There are the usual suspects, but my personal favourite was the Orangutan. This guy is awesome. We watched him pick up a blanket and climb to the top of his ropes thing, then he wrapped the blanket around himself and looked into the horizon. It was so great. The seal enclosure is also very cool. You can watch the seals from the top of the water, or go underground where they swim right up to the window. So this isn't so much a review as it is a show and tell story, but who needs a to be told that the zoo is cool? No one. So just go, animals rule.

I had a really great time, I would recommend this to everyone who visits Auckland as it is something to do. The staff are really nice even if they are not on duty they go to other shows/ feeding and were telling my partner and I about the kiwis. she was so passionate and lovely and totally went out of her way to tell everyone about the animals, when it was clear that she was just here for enjoyment in her own time and loved her job.

An otter bit my finger and I was nearly molested by a lion on the up side I now have a half lion half human baby

Wonderful little zoo that is very accessible. Make sure to check out when feeding times and zoo talks are scheduled. We were in a small group during the penguin presentation and were able to talk to the zoo keeper for an extended period of time. She seemed to really enjoy her job! The highlight was (of course) visiting the kiwis! While we were there, one kiwi was dancing and running all around giving us quite a show! One red panda was also very accommodating by letting us observe him while he dined! Easy to walk, lots of interesting and natural-looking enclosures, particularly for the birds.

Had I not gone here, I wouldn't have know the second longest named place in the world was: Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateapokaiwhenuakitanatahu. Now try to say THAT; once is enough, much less 3x in a row. Don't know what it means? Even the meaning is SUPER long. I can't help that to say that this zoo is BEAUTIFUL. Lush green surrounding, unique animals we've all seen on TV, but not necessarily in person. Many exhibits or shows to see kangaroos, deer, sea lions, or red pandas. I think we skipped over the lion's exhibit by accident, so definitely check the map. If I lived in New Zealand, I would make a zoo trip at least once if not twice a year since animals differ by the season. The funniest thing I thought was after going to the zoo, I hopped onto the Skyline Gondola to the restaurant at the top of the peak, and ate delicious venison meat. No, the deer aren't from the zoo, but the zoo is a must see! I don't care how old you are, if you go to Auckland as a tourist, you MUST see the zoo!

I do love the Zoo, its a family outing and lots of fun times to be spent with the kids. I had a Friends of the Zoo (FoTZ) pass while my son was crazy about animals, but now that he's moved onto Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles I don't have a corresponding place to take him. One thing I'd like to mention is that the Zoo Cafe does make some pretty good pizza .. but watch the heat level, as those heat lamps leave a lot to be desired. You can spend anywhere from 45 minutes to 4 hours at the Zoo easily and keep kids occupied, we tend to go around 3 times a year.

Always a lovely place to visit by day and now a great place to visit at night. The Finns at the Zoo featuring legends Neil and Tim Finn, their kids Liam, Arthur, Elliot and Neil's wife Sharon filled the rotunda and it's surrounds last night with punters and hits galore from their combined music anthology. While the evening birdsong provided choral accompaniment, the crowd swayed and applauded with greater appreciation than a satisfied sun bear. The atmosphere was family friendly and convivial. Catering included a selection of burgers, hot dogs, pizza, wine, beer, soft drinks and even coffee. If you get the chance to see a concert at the zoo, don't miss your chance. It's a memorable venue for any musical event.

Probably the best zoo I've ever been too and I'm 23. It's not just walking up to glass cages you can actually feel really close to the animals in their exhibits or with a small barricade separating you by a foot.

I have to admit I'm a bit of a Zoo geek. I love going to the zoo and oohing and ahhing over all of the animals! I think Auckland Zoo is definitely the best zoo in New Zealand, it's so worth going to! My favourite animals have got to be the Meercats, the Giraffes and the Elephants. But what probably makes this zoo different to may zoos is the New Zealand Centre for Conservation Medicine that they have onsite. At certain times each day, you can go to this centre and watch the vets operate on and treat animals. The vets talk you through what they're doing and you can learn a lot about our native animals by going to one of these sessions. It's a very cool experience and I'd definitely recommend it!

I hadn't gone to the Auckland Zoo since I was a young 'un until I went a couple of years ago; since then I've been back a few times and now always recommend it to visitors. There's the usual zoo displays: lions, tigers, giraffes, hippos and the like (and thankfully all in reasonably large enclosures). What makes the zoo a must-visit though are the new NZ landscape displays; these are mostly walk through aviaries and each one exhibits a different type of landscape, from the rainforest through to the coast through to the alps. It's pretty special to be able to walk through an alpine environment and have keas come right up to whilst you're in the middle of the city. I've heard a few people complain they can't see anything in the aviaries, but if you sit still and just wait you should be rewarded.

Has the usual line up of animals. Do check the timetables for shows and feeding time and plan around those. My trip to the zoo was not planned and happened to be after feeding time so a lot of the animals had retired to the shade by then and could not be seen or could only be glimpsed. Despite the timing, it was a lovely walk through on a gorgeous day and I did manage to catch the orangutan show.

I love Auckland Zoo. Sure it doesn't match up to zoo's overseas like Bronx Zoo and San Diego Zoo but it's perfect for NZ! A wide range of animals, it makes for a great day out. My favourite would have to be the otters, servals and red pandas! Love them!

Really nice zoo in the city. It is big and there are plenty of animals, native or not. We had a nice time there. We saw our first kiwi as after 3 months in New Zealand, we did not see any! There were a lot of people but it was nice anyway. There is food, toilets, a store... A place to visit on a nice day!

I teased my sister when she bought herself and her son season passes to the zoo. I said "can you really go that often!?" I couldn't believe that paying up front for infinite zoo trips could work out but for them it certainly did! Man they went to the zoo almost every week. I guess that's all a three-year-old really wants. I decided to join the other day. It had been a while since I had been to Auckland Zoo and was surprised to see that quite a bit had changed. Some enclosures had been expanded and it looked like there had been a bit of an upgrade. Of course the animals were entertaining. You can't get too old to laugh at the strange things monkeys do or to be amazed by the majestic beauty of tigers. For a fun day out and something a little different the zoo isn't too big a price to pay. Plus there is a significant discount for students so if you're studying don't forget your ID!

No matter how old you get the zoo is always a dependably fun day out. There's a really good range of animals to get up close and personal with and it stands up pretty favourably to other zoos overseas for the price you pay. Sadly a few of the well known animals have died in the last few years (one of the elderly elephants I remember was fondly farewelled a while back, and the old hippo), but the place has also expanded and redeveloped many of the enclosures so there's plenty of fresh stuff to see if you haven't been in a while too. For example the aquatic enclosure right in the middle I think is new, and the bird enclosure is much bigger than I remember it. All your old favourites are still there too - the monkeys, orangutans, gibbons and meerkats never fail to make the kids (and big kids) laugh, and the lions and tigers and giraffes are as impressive as ever. Well worth the spend!

Enjoyed our visit here. My favorite was Pridelands and watching the lions. Spent a good few hours wandering around.

The Auckland Zoo is a great place to spend the afternoon. It's surprisingly big; I've always been exhausted after spending the day there. It's a good place to go with a group of friends, with the kids, on a date, or to walk around by yourself looking at all the beautiful animals. The sea lions are awesome, I love the meercats, and the monkeys are always entertaining. But the giraffes are definitely my favourite, I could spend hours and hours just looking at them. If you go at the right time you may be able to feed them, and they have the biggest, most disgusting tongues in the universe. Love them. There are so many animals; a kiwi enclosure, a huge outdoor bird avery, chimps and urangatans, reptiles, a spider museum. Buy gifts from the souvenir shop, grab a bite to eat, have an ice cream, take heaps and heaps of photos. Always a good time, you can't not have a good time! Going to the Zoo!