A large lizard in its enclosure at the Auckland Zoo, New Zealand.

© Anna Bakker/Getty Images/iStockphoto


At this modern, spacious zoo, the big foreigners tend to steal the attention from the timid natives, but if you can wrestle the kids away from the tigers and orangutans, there's a well-presented NZ section. Called Te Wao Nui, it's divided into six ecological zones: Coast (seals, penguins), Islands (mainly lizards, including NZ's pint-sized dinosaur, the tuatara), Wetlands (ducks, herons, eels), Night (kiwi, naturally, along with frogs, native owls and weta), Forest (birds) and High Country (cheekier birds and lizards).

Check the website for the times of zookeepers' talks, Behind the Scenes experiences and ongoing progress of the zoo's new South East Asia display (scheduled to open in late 2020). Catch the number 18 bus (adult/child $5.50/3) from bus stop 1362 (corner Victoria and Albert Sts) in the city to bus stop 8124 on Great North Rd, from where it's a 700m walk to the zoo's entrance.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Auckland attractions

1. Western Springs

0.28 MILES

Parents bring their children to this picturesque park for the popular playground. It’s a pleasant picnic spot and a good place to get acquainted with…

2. MOTAT

0.51 MILES

This technology boffin's paradise is spread over two sites and 19 hectares. At the Great North Rd site look out for former Prime Minister Helen Clark’s…

3. Alberton

1.8 MILES

A classic colonial mansion (1863), Alberton featured as a backdrop for some scenes in The Piano. It's a 1km walk from Mt Albert train station.

4. Moses

2.32 MILES

This reproduction of Michelangelo's Moses was made from marble from the same quarry as the original.

5. Maungawhau Visitor Experience Centre

2.55 MILES

Opened in late 2019, this excellent visitor centre showcases the geological and Māori cultural history of Maungawhau/Mt Eden. Highlights include an…

7. Sky Tower

2.59 MILES

The impossible-to-miss Sky Tower looks like a giant hypodermic giving a fix to the heavens. Spectacular lighting renders it space age at night and the…

8. Civic Theatre

2.63 MILES

The 'mighty Civic' (1929) is one of only seven ‘atmospheric theatres’ remaining in the world and a fine survivor from cinema’s Golden Age. The auditorium…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "url": "new-zealand/auckland-1341384/attractions/auckland-zoo/a/poi-sig/1073543/1341384",
      "destination": "Auckland",
      "continent": "Australia-&-Pacific",
      "country": "New-Zealand",
      "city": "Auckland",
      "position": "superzone"
    }