Sight guide · Wellington · New Zealand
Visiting Wellington Zoo
New Zealand's oldest zoo, founded in 1906 in the suburb of Newtown, keeps native kiwi and kea alongside red pandas, lions and chimpanzees, and has a veterinary hospital where visitors can watch treatments through a window.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
Wellington Zoo is a zoo in Newtown, Wellington. Allow 2–3 hours; it is mid-priced. Booking ahead is not usually needed.
Key facts
- Type
- Zoo
- Area
- Newtown
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Book ahead
- Not usually needed
- Good for
- kids, nature and outdoors
- Best months
- January–March
About Wellington Zoo
New Zealand's oldest zoo, founded in 1906 in the suburb of Newtown, keeps native kiwi and kea alongside red pandas, lions and chimpanzees, and has a veterinary hospital where visitors can watch treatments through a window.
Tip: Check the daily talk and feeding schedule at the entrance.
Plan your visit
- Time needed: 2–3 hours.
- Cost: Mid-priced.
- Book ahead: not usually needed; buy on arrival.
- Where: Newtown.
Best time to visit Wellington Zoo
Wellington Zoo is outdoors, so weather matters most. The driest, most comfortable months are:
- February: 21°C (70°F) highs, about 7 rainy days, busy crowds.
- January: 20°C (68°F) highs, about 7 rainy days, busy crowds.
- March: 19°C (66°F) highs, about 8 rainy days, busy crowds.
When to visit Wellington has the full month-by-month picture.
Fit it into your trip
Wellington Zoo is not on our short itineraries, so plan it as an extra once you have seen Te Papa Tongarewa and Wellington Cable Car.
- No. 13 of the 18 sights in our Wellington things-to-do list.
- One of the picks in outdoors in Wellington.
- A family favourite in Wellington with kids.
If you like Wellington Zoo
- Wellington Botanic Garden — Kelburn, 1.5 hours
- Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne — Karori, 2–3 hours
- Waterfront walk to Oriental Bay — Oriental Bay, 1–2 hours
- Red Rocks coastal walk — South coast, 2–3 hours return
Staying near Wellington Zoo
Where to stay in Wellington compares every area by price and who it suits.
Questions travellers ask
+How long do you need at Wellington Zoo?
Plan 2–3 hours.
+Is Wellington Zoo free?
No, it is mid-priced. Tickets are usually available on the day.
+When is the best time to visit Wellington Zoo?
January–March for the most comfortable weather. Check the daily talk and feeding schedule at the entrance.
+Do I need to book Wellington Zoo in advance?
Usually not: you can decide on the day.
+Is Wellington Zoo good for kids?
Yes, it is one of our family picks in Wellington. Wellington is easy with children: Te Papa is free and highly interactive, the cable car and Space Place are fun, and Zealandia, the zoo and the waterfront fill a few days.