Updated for September 2026
The Best Zoos in New Zealand
How this list is ordered: by how complete our listing is — how much we hold on opening hours, ticket prices, accreditation, photographs, animals and facilities. It is a measure of our own coverage, not a judgement of the venue. We hold no visitor scores or conservation assessments, so “best” here means every zoo in New Zealand that qualifies for the list, fullest entry first.
Listed alphabetically
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Auckland Zoo
Zoo in Auckland
The zoo sits beside Te Waiōrea Western Springs Park, close to the central business district. It is governed through a charitable trust and Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, a council-controlled body.
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Parking
Hamilton Zoo
Zoo in Hamilton
Hamilton Zoo, opened in 1969, is a zoo in New Zealand. Animals on show include tigers, chimpanzees, parrots, Lemur and Rhino.
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Guided tour
Orana Wildlife Park
Zoo in Christchurch
It opened in 1976 and is owned and run by a registered charitable trust. Animals on show include giraffe, Southern White Rhino, kiwi and lions.
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Wellington Zoo
Zoo in Wellington
Opened in 1906, it is the country's oldest public zoo and has long operated under the city council. Travel + Leisure named it in July 2026 among 25 top zoos worldwide on ethics, education and research investment, and a 2025 Seven Corners global ranking placed it thirteenth for animal encounters.
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Animal encounterEducation programOn-site dining
Butterfly Creek
Zoo in Auckland
The site covers roughly eight acres and started as a walk-through butterfly garden, which remains the main draw. There is also a farm section, shortfin eels and tropical marine and freshwater tanks.
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PlaygroundOn-site diningParking
Brooklands Zoo
Zoo in New Plymouth
Brooklands Zoo is a zoo in New Plymouth, New Zealand. Animals on show include capuchin monkeys, meerkats, parrots, tortoises and Cotton-top tamarin.
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Keeper talk or show
National Kiwi Centre
Zoo & Aquarium in Hokitika
National Kiwi Centre is a mixed in Hokitika, New Zealand. Animals on show include New Zealand Kiwi Bird, Tuatara, Freshwater Eels, Koura / Freshwater Crayfish and Whitebait.
Zoos nearby
Our ranking methodology
This is not a ranking. The 7 venues above are listed alphabetically by name, the same order used throughout this site. We do not collect visitor reviews, star ratings, ticket-sales figures or a conservation-impact score, so none of those exist here to rank by — “best” in this page’s title means every venue that qualifies for this list, not first-to-last by quality. If we ever add a data source robust enough to support an honest ranking, this note and the order above will change together.