Wellington Zoo
Wellington Zoo
4.4
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Wellington Zoo is New Zealand’s first Zoo, and Wellington’s oldest conservation organisation, caring for animals since 1906. The Zoo is a not for profit charitable trust and we're proud to be the world’s first carboNZero certified zoo. We are guided by our kaupapa Me Tiaki, Kia Ora! We must look after our environment, so all things will flourish. It is up to us collectively to make a difference for animals and the wild places they call home. See our website for entry prices and to plan your visit. If you have accessibility needs, you can find more visitor information on our website.
Duration: 2-3 hours
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingTours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Top ways to experience Wellington Zoo and nearby attractions
Are you currently on your trip?
Help us find experiences available for you.
The area
Address
Reach out directly
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Restaurants
803 within 5 kms
Attractions
175 within 10 kms
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
4.4
1,535 reviews
Excellent
883
Very good
453
Average
148
Poor
29
Terrible
22
Van & my two ladies
Wellington, New Zealand72 contributions
Jan 2025 • Family
The zoo staff make this place exceptional. We have visited many times, plus a close encounter with the giraffes and the kids zoo holiday programme and we have always had a great experience. Today was no different. We bought in an injured kākā (our second time doing so) and the love and care from the nest hospital is outstanding.
I’ve seen other reviews complaining about the weather and lack of animals. It’s Wellington, it’s not known for a Sunshine Coast climate. The zoo can’t do anything about the wind and rain. And yes sometimes you don’t see much on such a typical day and you might even find yourselves the only visitors. But even on days like that, if you are open to it and show an interest the zoo staff will share great stories with you. One particular dismal day, a keeper introduced us to Fern and Puku the keas. Showing us how clever they were with their tricks.
I’ve seen other reviews complaining about the weather and lack of animals. It’s Wellington, it’s not known for a Sunshine Coast climate. The zoo can’t do anything about the wind and rain. And yes sometimes you don’t see much on such a typical day and you might even find yourselves the only visitors. But even on days like that, if you are open to it and show an interest the zoo staff will share great stories with you. One particular dismal day, a keeper introduced us to Fern and Puku the keas. Showing us how clever they were with their tricks.
Written 20 January 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bambles
13 contributions
Jan 2025 • Family
Very good price for annual membership for what the zoo has to offer. A good selection of animals, reptiles and bugs to see. The zoo keepers we encountered were very friendly and approachable. Good children’s activities throughout the zoo. The animals all have a very good space which mimics their natural environment. We have been twice, both in the afternoon and have seen 90% of the animals on both visits. It took around 3hrs at the most to go around the park with an ice cream stop halfway. Would highly recommend
Written 20 January 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
onitada
Wellington, New Zealand306 contributions
Apr 2024 • Solo
Gone are the days of dropping half a tab of acid and jumping the Zebra enclosure at 2am in the morning, for a visit, you would be better buying a ticket and having a laugh with the front counter staff, and they give you a map. The Otters snuggled together in the afternoon summed up my experience, as did the Chimpanzees and the Sun Bear, who was too lazy to swat a fly of its back. Everything was laid back. Well, it was not a public holiday, or school holiday for that matter. The staff were friendly, and the other customers were chatty. There were of course the grumpy grannies looking for faults in the Zoo, that were lurking around, that were easily brushed aside. I enjoyed the Black and White Ruffed Lemar's, who feasted on fruits and nuts. The Snow Leopard was invisible, and the Lion just had an operation, so was recovering. I thought the little blue penguins were a myth, to slow down drivers, but they are real! I was surprised to find myself watching a group of Kangaroos relaxing in front of me, without a fence, or barrier. The Giraffe was hungry and was pacing around. There is so much to do. I would like to return and book an up close and personal experience with a Capybara.
Written 13 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lenny H
Auckland, New Zealand1,031 contributions
Apr 2024 • Solo
A smallish zoo, with some animals not seen in other New Zealand zoos (such as the sun bear). Several empty enclosures - this might be for maintenance purposes during the low season, but that should be reflected in the entry price. Steep in places, so some level of fitness required. As the zoo is on a hill, it is quite wind exposed, so warm clothing recommended.
Written 22 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
OnAir54188006953
1 contribution
Dec 2024 • Family
The zoo team were amazing! Despite being a wet day, the team were engaging, welcoming, friendly and knowledgeable. They went over and above for my boy who is tasmanian devil mad. He got shy and didn't ask all of his questions but loved hearing the ranger chat away to me all things devil. He loved seeing the keeper doing some training and the Keeper was amazing at explaining what he wa
s doing and why. The ranger talks with all of the animals was amazing. We learnt something at each talk about these beautiful animals who were clearly all very much loved and well cared for in lovely enclosures developed and tailored to their needs. A beautiful zoo and despite the wet weather, a fantastic day! Fir those from out of town, you can catch the bus to right outside!!
s doing and why. The ranger talks with all of the animals was amazing. We learnt something at each talk about these beautiful animals who were clearly all very much loved and well cared for in lovely enclosures developed and tailored to their needs. A beautiful zoo and despite the wet weather, a fantastic day! Fir those from out of town, you can catch the bus to right outside!!
Written 8 January 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Happiness02024602995
Rotorua District, New Zealand7 contributions
Oct 2024 • Solo
Fantastic afternoon. Beautiful little zoo with really nice enclosures for the animals. logical pathways and reasonably priced. easy to reach by number 23 bus. Nice way to spend a 3 hours and a good variety of animals most of which were easily visable .
Written 5 October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dunedin traveller
Dunedin, New Zealand6 contributions
Jan 2025 • Friends
Better than expected. Great talks at various times about most animals. We went in the morning and managed to see most animals out and about. It is really well laid out with clean well kept large enclosures and plenty to experience. The giraffes in particular were very up close.
Had a really nice day there
Had a really nice day there
Written 26 January 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ian D
Innisfail, Australia18 contributions
Dec 2024 • Family
We picked this zoo instead of Auckland zoo and that was a big mistake. There was so much less to see, multiple displays were closed, most importantly the kiwi exhibit, which as aussies we went particularly to see was shut.
Extremely second rate compared to Auckland, which we have seen before, and comparable Aussie zoos.
Took one hour to see it, we spent a day at Sydney or Australia Zoo in comparison.
Only two exhibits grabbed us,lions and giraffes.
Very disappointed.
Extremely second rate compared to Auckland, which we have seen before, and comparable Aussie zoos.
Took one hour to see it, we spent a day at Sydney or Australia Zoo in comparison.
Only two exhibits grabbed us,lions and giraffes.
Very disappointed.
Written 14 December 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Caroline L
Melbourne, Australia125 contributions
Nov 2023 • Couples
We went here to see a kea up close. There are 4 kea in the enclosure and I was very excited when one walked right near my shoe. The other 3 were very sleepy. Sadly I saw some groups of visitors walk right through the enclosure without even looking around for them. We also visited the kiwi exhibit where we saw a couple of kiwi towards the back of their habitat. We just went for these two birds but there are plenty of other animals here for zoo lovers.
Written 4 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rebecca d
3 contributions
Oct 2024 • Family
apart from the horrid weather (which is no ones fault) our zoo experience was pretty poor. At least 70% of animals could not be seen or were not in their enclosures. The one thing we were most excited about seeing, Kiwis had been removed. the only saving grace was the Giraffes which were amazing
Written 16 October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
What’s it like on a wet day? Thinking of going today.. first time with 5 & 6 year olds on a wet day?
Written 21 April 2019
There isn’t much shade or shelter, so you will end up getting wet and due to the poor weather most of the animals will be hiding
Written 22 April 2019
Good afternoon,
For a famous Dutch YouTube channels were looking for activities to do and companies that want to help us. Smoare is a Dutch YouTube channel with over more than five hundred thousand subscribers and daily 117 thousand views on a video. They’re going to make a new travel video. And this year it’s going to be Indonesia and New Zealand. For this video we need things to do. We have found your amazing activity to do! Is there a way we can compromise? We will show your company and it’s name in the video. This video is going to be a worldwide video in English. So we reach a lot of people and a lot of people will see your company.
I hope you want to help us and that we will hear of you soon.
With great regards,
Nandie de Visser
OA Productions.
Written 17 December 2018
A Tripadvisor member
Do you have hedgehogs/can I organise an encounter with them?
Written 29 September 2016
No, Wellington Zoo doesn't have hedgehogs on display. Hedgehogs can be seen from time to time around our house in Dunedin.
Written 29 September 2016
do you have a mobility scooter that my husband a stroke survivor can get around on
Written 27 October 2015
The answer is no they don't, and it would be quite a challenge for someone to have to push a wheelchair
Mobility is clearly a fault with his Zoo, and something needs to be done about it.
The zoo is on quite steep terrain and I found it quite taxing in some places.
It definitely needs some mechanized facility like most other city zoos have.
It's just not good enough for them to say "hire one".
Written 29 September 2016
Do you have a mobility scooter for a stroke survivor to get around the zoo
Written 27 October 2015
Hi Chrissy. We don’t have a mobility scooter on site, but you can hire one for free from the nearby Newtown New World - give them a call on 04 389 7015 to make a booking. Alternatively we have wheelchairs at the Zoo for complimentary use. Give us a ring if you need further information!
Written 29 October 2015
Showing results 1-5 of 5
As Featured In
By Tripadvisor
New Zealand in autumn and winter: epic experiences and otherworldly wonders
With swathes of treasured national parks, jewel-bright lakes and snow-speckled mountains, New Zealand has a fine repository of all things natural. Beyond the visual majesties, there’s plenty to do to unleash your inner adventurer.
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing