Auckland Zoo

Auckland Zoo and its collection

Auckland Zoo, opened in 1922, is a zoo in Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.

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.

History

In February 1911 the businessman J.J. Boyd bought six acres at Symonds Street, Onehunga, for the city's first zoological venture, having already run a zoo from 1910 at Upper Aramoho near Wanganui. His Onehunga zoo repeatedly irritated the local council. The present zoo opened in 1922, and by 1930 it had a substantial collection and a zoological society.

Conservation and approach

A conservation medicine centre opened on 10 August 2007 under an earlier national name; the 980 square metre building cost NZD 4.6 million and was the first national centre of its kind in the world. Its operating theatre is open to view, with overhead cameras relaying surgery to screens in the gallery.

What the venue says

• scheduled animal encounters/backstage experiences
• elevated aerial and swamp boardwalk trails
• **Te Puna:** Central family café facing the central lake and South East Asia Jungle Track (hot chips, pizzas, salads, sandwiches, baked treats, Mojo coffee).
• Off-street parking lots available on Motions Road (by the main entrance and across by TAPAC) and near the MOTAT Aviation Hall.
• Free wheelchair hire (self-propelled or push) and mobility scooters for hire ($15 max 3 hours) from the Information Centre (photo ID/car keys bond required).
• Dedicated accessible parking in the Motions Road car park close to the main entrance (free for mobility permit holders in designated bays; +1 hr free if in general paid bays).
• 24/7 accessible changing room and bathroom facility outside near administration (via intercom).