Chill with the big cats, spend some quality time with the red pandas and hang with the gibbons at New Zealand's original zoo.
Home to more than 500 animals from 100 species and spanning continents from Africa to Asia and, obviously, New Zealand, Wellington Zoo is a small park with a big personality. Opened in 1906, it was the country's first zoo and houses animals as varied as the endangered Sumatran tiger and the Campbell Island teal.As you wander the park's winding pathways, you'll see a wealth of indigenous animal life, from the iconic kiwi to the ancient-looking tuatara reptile. Direct your steps toward The Roost where you can watch keepers care for the park's birdlife, and learn about how the feathered inhabitants are handled from incubation to breeding. Finish it off with a visit to the aviary to see the birds in action on their home turf.Another of the zoo's most interesting sections is known as The Nest. This is home to the animal hospital, and contains surgical rooms and enclosures. You can observe from the viewing gallery as the park's vets perform surgeries and check-ups and listen to their live running commentaries.Asia Precinct is another must-see, with enclosures that have been purpose-built for the zoo's Sumatran tigers and Malayan sun bears.Every day, Wellington Zoo hosts talks in which keepers discuss and answer questions on the zoo's various inhabitants. Around 10 talks take place each day in a variety of locations around the park. Check the website for more detailed information.The zoo also hosts sessions known as Close Encounters. These give you the opportunity to touch, feed and generally get close to some of the park's most fascinating occupants. You could get a chance to feed lions or cheetahs, or to chat with a meerkat.Wellington Zoo sits just outside the city centre. It takes about 10 minutes to get here by car, and there is a certain amount of free parking on site. The zoo is also located along two of the city's bus routes and is open every day apart from Christmas Day.
