Holiday Animal Antics
New Zealand’s school holidays are almost here so if a road trip is on the cards and you need family entertainment, animal parks, farms, zoos and aquariums are a perfect mid-trip stop or, better yet, a great day destination.
And it’s not only the kids who’ll have fun!
Animal and nature lovers will be in their element around the country with abundant places to get close to animals, ranging from the hands-on working farms to parks with endangered species and full zoo experiences – there’s something for everyone.
Many are in, or near, major centres, but equally there’s plenty off-the-beaten track.
Here are just a few we recommend, from big to small, from north to south.
Reptiles, sheep and a historic farm north of Auckland
Driving north from Auckland along State Highway 1 the first town you’ll come across is Warkworth, a captivating historic village in a picturesque spot on the banks of the Mahurangi River and gateway to the Matakana region.
Just 4 kms north is our first animal encounter, Sheepworld, which as its name suggests is all about sheep, sheepdogs, New Zealand farming and how products move from high country to high fashion.
This type of visit is a must for all tourists and Kiwis alike.
The sheep dog and shearing demonstrations are fascinating and fun, with dogs running around, different sheep breeds coming and going, and there’s even a chance to feed the lambs – get your cameras ready as they come rushing out in search of a bottle of milk!
There’s also an eco-discovery trail, picnic area, farmyard and animal petting for smaller kids, eel feeding (worth a visit just for this!) and a café.
A family pass is $69 and great value.
Twenty kilometres east of Warkworth is a typical quirky Kiwi animal encounter, Ti Point Reptile Park, the only zoo dedicated to reptiles in New Zealand.
This is a haven for everything scaly from skinks and geckos to tuataras, dragons and alligators.
The enclosures nestle in the bush, connected by paths winding up and down a hill – it’s almost jungle like at times, which just adds to the excitement especially for those who like reptilian, cold-blooded creatures!
A family pass is $50.
Further up north, about an hour along from Warkworth is the historic farm KiwiNorth, home to Whangarei’s City museum, Heritage Park and Kiwi house.
Here you will learn about the region’s natural history, see New Zealand’s famous Kiwi in its nocturnal surroundings, as long as you look closely and be patient, and the Tuatara (a prehistoric like lizard).
There’s also an amazing 2000 year old skeleton of a Moa, New Zealand’s great flightless bird, hunted out of existence centuries ago. The skeleton was found in a local limestone cave where the roof had collapsed.
KiwiNorth is about 4km west of Whangarei on State Highway 14 – a family pass costs $35.
Auckland animal encounters
From the smallest butterfly, to the tallest giraffe and fiercest looking shark, there is plenty to see in and around Auckland, on land and below the water.
The biggest and most impressive is Auckland Zoo, 4 kms west of downtown.
Here you will see the largest collection of native and exotic animals in New Zealand, so allow at least half a day to make the most of all there is to see.
One of the biggest attractions is the African Savannah display, just re-opened after a multi-million dollar redevelopment. There are also daily ‘animal encounters’ when keepers share their extensive knowledge and do some feeding to liven up the entertainment.
There are also two elephants now, Burma and Anjalee, and potentially another on its way.
If this is your only ‘animal stop’ on your trip, it’s a very good one. In a beautiful setting, wandering around, relaxing in a café or letting the kids play on the playgrounds is just a great way to spend some family time.
A family pass is $72.
On a completely different scale is Kiwi Valley Farm a perfect place for a family day out especially if you have small children – it’s described as being as Kiwi as a packet of pineapple lumps!
The fun includes petting and holding the nursery animals, a push chair friendly farm walk, horse rides, tractor rides, a maze and playground, as well as an excellent café.
Residents include rabbits, guinea pigs, ducks, horses, donkeys, goats, pigs, sheep, turkeys, mice, hens and even ostrich – it’s a classic little zoo.
The farm is in Henderson, a suburb in the West of Auckland about half an hour from the City and open 10am – 4pm, daily in school holidays, and otherwise Wednesday – Sunday.
A family pass is $65.
If you are on a budget Ambury Farm Park is the best, because it’s free!
On the shores of the Manukau Harbour, just 15 kms from downtown and close to Auckland Airport, this is a working farm run by Auckland Regional Council.
With a menagerie of farm animals, as well as feeding and milking shows it’s also an important education centre and birdwatchers paradise with 86 recorded species of birds.
Come for a wander around, a picnic or even to camp.
Butterfly Creek is another animal experience close to the airport so ideal if you want to kill some time before heading back overseas.
From bugs to butterflies, monkeys and reptiles, fish, very large crocodiles, farmyard animals and some dinosaurs (that move!) Butterfly Creek has something for everyone.
A lot of it is undercover, a big plus on rainy days.
A family pass is $39-$79 depending on what you want to see.
And finally in Auckland, for the best underwater experience head to Kelly Tarlton’s Underwater World on Tamaki Drive, a short drive east from downtown.
A long term top tourist attraction, it’s the brainchild of famous New Zealander and marine archeologist, Kelly Tarlton, who created the aquarium in disused storage tanks.
Along with the viewing tunnels through tanks, where you see a fantastic array of sharks, fish and rays, it also has the world’s largest Antarctic penguin colony exhibit, shark diving or cage viewing, and a Scott Base Antarctic exhibit.
Due to its popularity it pays to pre-book and avoid peak times if possible. A family pass is $110 and book and pay online for a discount.
Cockatoos and other quirkiness in the Coromandel
If you are travelling to the northern part of the Coromandel peninsula stop off at Mill Creek Bird and Animal Park near Whitianga, where 400 birds, dance, sing, talk and provide great entertainment!
Set in tranquil grounds there’s a Fort to play in, a real 7/14” gauge train, a Station Café, friendly farm animals and you can even hold a Macaw.
Adults are $10, children 3-14 $3, under 3 free.
Close to the Karangahake Gorge, near Paeroa, is Bullswool Farm and Nature Park, voted one of the AA’s 101 Things to Do in New Zealand and a place to see the normal and the not so normal: miniature horses and cattle, emus, goats, alpacas, llamas, deer, paint horses, kune-kune pigs, rabbits, rare breed chickens, ducks, pheasants, coloured sheep and donkeys.
Set amongst a beautiful landscape of mature native forest and rugged farmland, there are plenty of walking tracks and the Karangahake Gorge is steeped in gold mining history and paraphernalia.
Adults are $15 and children 2-14 years $10.
Central North Island and Hawkes Bay Animal Adventures
Head 3.5 hours south east of Auckland along State Highways 1 and 5 and you will reach the tourist town of Rotorua, famous for bubbling mud pools, rocketing geysers and lots of adventure, but also a pretty good place to go for animal encounters.
The first one you will come across just before reaching the City is the Agrodome, one of the first farm experiences in New Zealand and set on a 350 acre working farm.
Complete with sheep dog and shearing show and a farm tour this is a great way to learn about rural life and have a go too.
A family pass is $87.50.
Just west of Rotorua is Paradise Valley Springs Wildlife Park that has an unusual mix of New Zealand wildlife, trout and eels, birds and, wait for it, a pride of lions!
There is even a treetop walk that winds through native bush six metres above the ground.
The Ngongotaha Stream, the region’s most prolific trout spawning stream, runs through the park.
In Napier, Hawkes Bay, there is the National Aquarium of New Zealand, a 1.5 million litre oceanarium, home to over 1,500 sharks, octopus, stingray, turtles, exotic reef and deep sea fish, blue penguins, alligators, piranhas and more.
You won’t find a more diverse range of marine life anywhere else in New Zealand, both native species and from around the world.
For an additional fee you can experience close encounters from the very cute to awesome – hand-feeding Blue Penguins to diving with sharks.
A family pass is $54.
Wellington – the Capital of zoos
New Zealand’s first, Wellington Zoo was opened in 1906 and is also the world’s first carboNZero certified zoo.
With an animal population of over 500, it offers close encounters with the animals and daily feeding activities.
It also runs a school holiday programme, so if you’re needing a wee break from the younger family members (or they from you!) here’s your chance!
A family pass is $61.
Another Wellington attraction is Zealandia, an eco-conservation and restoration centre that is helping many endangered species flourish.
Here you can see some of New Zealand’s rarest birds, reptiles and insects including hihi (stitchbird), tiaki (saddleback), Kiwi, Kaka and Tuatara in their own environment.
Sign up for a night tour and there’s a good chance of seeing the little spotted Kiwi.
Zealandia is only 10 minutes from central Wellington and has strong community support with over 450 volunteers helping the cause.
There are free ‘Walk and Talk’ tours as well as free roaming guides. There’s also an interesting exhibition documenting New Zealand’s natural history and conservation movement.
A family pass is $46.00.
Our final recommendation around Wellington is Staglands Wildlife Researve, an idyllic home of unusual, iconic and endangered species, 40 kms north of Wellington.
It was set up by nature-lover John Simister, with the aim of allowing people to connect with nature in a more natural, relaxed environment.
Native birds, trout, eel pools, deer, emu, and farm animals all reside here and roam quite freely. There’s also a café, tractor rides and secret garden for the young and young at heart.
Family pass $60.
South Island animal treats
If you are heading across the Cook Strait here are a couple of ideas.
In the Nelson area, Animal Farm is full of hands-on family fun with loads of activities for children including friendly cows, sheep, goats, alpaca, emu, pigs, deer, horses, rabbits, ducks and chickens, many of which can be petted, brushed, fed, walked and ridden.
Just 30kms west of Nelson a family pass is a very affordable $30.
Further south in Christchurch there is New Zealand’s only open range zoo, Orana Wildlife Park, about 15 minutes from Christchurch Airport.
Unlike a regular zoo, visitors can get extraordinarily close to some of its magnificent creatures. Here you can hand-feed a giraffe, ride through the lion enclosure at feeding time (in a truck mounted cage of course!) and meet New Zealand’s only Gorilla group named Fatuki, Fuzu and Mahali.
A family pass is $78.50, including 3 children.
Zoos, animal parks and aquariums for all tastes
Whether the family loves the variety and scale of a zoo, or prefer to enjoy the animals in more tranquil surrounds, you’re spoilt for choice in New Zealand.
Zoos, animal parks and aquariums also a great opportunity to get out whatever the weather – as autumn and winter approach there are even less people around!
Enjoy and have fun!
Note: Prices and hours subject to change. Family pass is for 2 adults and 2 children unless otherwise specified.