Zooming In the Auckland Zoo

With school out and the start of a long holiday break coming up soon, families are making plans and one of them should surely include a trip to the Auckland Zoo, along Motions Road at the Western Springs Reserve.

A giraffe takes a look at the Auckland Zoo visitors

Aside from the most sought after lions and tigers, Auckland Zoo houses New Zealand’s only Asian elephant, Burma, and an underwater viewing window, where visitors enter a cave to see sealions. Only at the Auckland Zoo can the sole public viewing nocturnal house featuring kiwi and tuatara be found, too. Other interesting sites include the Aussie Walkabout, where emu, wallabys, and a kanagaroo are all together; the Hippo River; Primate Trail; Native Frog Research Centre; and a South American rainforest. Children will also take delight in the Kidzone, where they can watch eggs in incubators, chickens, goats, rabbits, guinea pigs, sheep, rats, mice, geckos, frogs, and pigs; as well as romp around the playground area where the most favored blue egg slide and dragon are located.

Auckland Zoo is open daily from 9.30am to 5.30pm, that is, except on Christmas Day. Last admissions to the Zoo is at 4.15pm, though. In winter  time (1 June to 31 August), the Zoo closes at 5.00pm. For parties and private functions, the Zoo rents out covered, outdoor, and animal shelter venues.

Admission for adults is $19, for children 4 to 15 years of age $9, while children under 4 are free. Two adults with two children get a family pass at $54, senior citizens and students at $14 (ID required).

More family and group rates, as well as detailed information at www.aucklandzoo.co.nz.

Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jobaker007/