Wellington Zoo

Wellington Zoo is a popular attraction for both locals and tourists alike.

Situated on the far side of Newtown on the rolling hills of Windy Welly, a trip to Wellington Zoo is a must-visit on any trip to the Coolest Little Capital in the World, especially if you’re travelling with little ones.

Have a read of what Wellington Zoo has to offer and go and experience the weird and wonderful world of animals for yourself.

General information

Wellington Zoo is open during business hours only. With it’s usual daily hours being 9:30am-5pm year-round (excluding Christmas Day), it’s perfect for those on holiday who don’t want to get up early to beat the crowds.

However, if you’re craving a coffee before you spend the day hiking the hills in search of animals or a fluffy for your littles one, there is a Mojo Cafe right next to the zoo that is open from 8am-5pm. 

Make sure you bring plenty of water and sunscreen, as the zoo really is situated on a plethora of rolling hills (which can very quickly become an intense and somewhat unwilling workout with a buggy - trust us, we know).

If you’re driving, there is a car park right by the zoo - but good luck getting a park on a sunny day in Wellington in the middle of the day. There is street parking on the surrounding streets, but you may need to drive around for a bit before you find something.

Alternatively, you can catch the number 23Z bus that goes between the zoo and Wellington Railway Station on the hour, including weekends.

Tickets

Concession prices vary depending on what kind of admission you choose to get. A child under 3 years of age is free, while any child over the age of 3 is $12. A single adult is $27, a family pass of two children and one adult is $47, another family pass of three children and one adult is $55, and the pass consisting of two adults and two children is $79.

If you’re a local or you think you will be going to the zoo multiple times over the course of a year, it is well worth your money to buy a Zoo Crew Annual Membership. This gives you unlimited entry over the course of the year for a single price, and with a membership consisting of one child and any one adult being only $129, it’s a steal.

Close Encounters

This is one of Wellington Zoo’s best features, and is a fabulous birthday or Christmas present for an animal enthusiast of any age.

For a price of $99, choose between getting up close and personal with a red panda, lemur, giraffe, capybara, or meerkat.

For those who are animal-obsessed and want to know more about the ins and outs of how the zookeepers care for the animals, book a Behind The Scenes tour. With a choice of going behind the scenes with a sun bear, minibeasts, carnivores and minibeasts, and herbivores, birds, and primates, there are a range of options to choose from depending on which creatures float your boat.

Animal Talks

For those who don’t want to pay for a close encounter experience but are still keen to learn more about the wonderful world of animals, there are many talks throughout the day about the range of animals at Wellington Zoo. From monkeys, to otters, to giraffes, to little blue penguins and more, you could spend the entire day just listening to what these knowledgeable animal experts have to share.