The Auckland Zoo offers eight varied habitats where visitors can see everything from giraffes and hippos to lemurs and penguins. The zoo initially opened in 1922, showcasing a number of animals purchased from John James Boyd including a hyena, six lions and a number of monkeys. In the 1950s, Auckland’s Zoo took a page from London Zoo’s entertainment book and featured a troupe of chimpanzees having a tea party – today’s Auckland Zoo provides a more authentic and natural environment for the animals.
Today, the zoo offers a variety of educational opportunities, as well as the standard walk-through tours zoo patrons the world over have come to expect. Auckland Zoo is open daily from 9.30am to 5.30pm. The zoo includes a number of cafes and refreshment kiosks where visitors can get a drink and quick bite to eat, as well as a gift shop for all your souvenir needs. For zoo visitors with special needs, Auckland Zoo offers wheelchairs and mobility scooters.