Top 10 Zoos & Aquariums in South Island, New Zealand

May 16, 2022 Frederic Celentano

Discover the best top things to do in South Island, New Zealand including Time Tripper Queenstown, Sherlin Alpacas, Orana Wildlife Park, Willowbank Wildlife Reserve, Natureland Zoo, Kaikoura Marine Aquarium, National Kiwi Centre, EcoWorld Aquarium & Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, New Zealand Marine Studies Centre, Salmon World.
Restaurants in South Island

1. Time Tripper Queenstown

Rees St Marine Parade, Queenstown 9348 New Zealand +64 3-442 8538 [email protected] http://www.kjet.co.nz/our-trips/time-tripper/
Excellent
86%
Good
10%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
2%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 49 reviews

Time Tripper Queenstown

Looking for something to do in Queenstown for the family? Hold on to your seats, we’re taking you back to the beginning on a journey through time and legend! Head down under the Main Town Pier and travel back to a time when dinosaurs roamed the earth, learn about how Lake Wakatipu was carved out by a giant glacier and experience the adventure activities you can do in Queenstown, all from the comfort of your seat. Time Tripper is a state-of-the-art animated show that takes you on a journey through time and legend, where you experience 90 million years in under 30 minutes. The show is approximately 12 minutes long, with 10-15 minutes of underwater viewing available after the show, where you can see the diving ducks, slinky eels and rainbow & brown trout.

Reviewed By sesjj - Nelson, New Zealand

This is a very cool experience, especially for the price. You get a quick journey back in time and a snapshot of how NZ and Queenstown looked as far back as 80-90 million years ago by watching a semi-surround movie. Then the screens roll up and you are confronted with huge eels and trout and the odd diving duck. You can go right up and stand beside them.

2. Sherlin Alpacas

43 Lawford Road, West Melton 7675 New Zealand
Excellent
100%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 1 reviews

Sherlin Alpacas

3. Orana Wildlife Park

793 McLeans Island Road McLeans Island, Christchurch 8051 New Zealand +64 3-359 7109 [email protected] http://www.oranawildlifepark.co.nz/
Excellent
52%
Good
31%
Satisfactory
11%
Poor
3%
Terrible
3%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 1,031 reviews

Orana Wildlife Park

Set in 80 hectares within 15 minutes’ drive of Christchurch Airport, Orana Wildlife Park is New Zealand’s only open range zoo. We get you up close and personal with the animals. Imagine hand feeding a majestic giraffe; seeing New Zealand's only gorillas; eye balling the magnificent white rhino; meeting New Zealand’s national icon, the kiwi, or travelling through the Lion Reserve! Over 400 animals representing more than 70 species are displayed at the Park. Regular animal feed presentations occur daily and are accompanied by a presentation from a wildlife guide. Visitors can enjoy the antics of tigers, cheetah, Tasmanian devils, monkeys, meerkats and more. Two large walk-through aviaries enable you to see some of New Zealand’s unique native birds and Orana is home to a wide range of native reptiles. Visitors can pet domestic animals in the Farmyard. Orana is internationally renowned for its involvement in zoo-based breeding programmes for endangered exotic and native species. When you visit, you are supporting our conservation work. It’s a full day of fun for everyone at Orana Wildlife Park!

Reviewed By ants811 - Wellington, New Zealand

Absolutely in awe, i have seen animals in Zoos and they do not compare to the size of the animals in this wild life park. The enclosures were ginormous which let the animals freely move around. The Giraffes, Yaks, Buffalo, Lions, Tigers, Spider Monkeys, Gorillas, Orangutans, Cheetahs, Meerkats even the Turtles just seemed closer, bigger, more interactive and available to see. I feel like we must have come at the perfect time because we saw everything, my son loved the silver back, didn't want to leave.

4. Willowbank Wildlife Reserve

60 Hussey Road, Christchurch 8051 New Zealand +64 3-359 6226 [email protected] http://www.willowbank.co.nz/
Excellent
59%
Good
33%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 1,043 reviews

Willowbank Wildlife Reserve

See Kiwi in a natural environment - there is no glass! Get close to Kea, Tuatara and other native icons. Willowbank Wildlife Reserve is also home to introduced and exotic breeds. Make your own way around the park and animals will eat right out of your hand. Willowbank is open from 9.30Am daily - kiwis are able to be viewed from 10.30am until close.

Reviewed By 757denised - Parks, United States

Wonderfull done with lots of beautiful birds and original farm animals for this area and a great Kiwi habitat were you can see the birds up and personal. went to several other but this was by far the best.

5. Natureland Zoo

1 Hounsell Circle Tahunanui Beach Reserve, Nelson 7011 New Zealand +64 3-548 6166 [email protected] http://www.natureland.nz
Excellent
50%
Good
37%
Satisfactory
10%
Poor
3%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 156 reviews

Natureland Zoo

Natureland is Nelson's zoo and wildlife conservation centre where you can get up close and personal to some unique New Zealand natives like Tuatara and Kea. Hang with the monkeys and get hands on with a range of interesting domestic animals. We are proud to be a community focused charitable trust so come on in and lets have a conservation conversation.

Reviewed By 652stuartb - Auckland, New Zealand

Natureland Zoo is awesome place to visit while your in Nelson, its very reasonably priced and you can buy food to give the animals as you walk around. It’s very kid friendly as they love feeding the animals and there is a playground. Kids and adults will love this alike. A must do.

6. Kaikoura Marine Aquarium

Building 1, New Wharf Wakatu Quay, Kaikoura New Zealand http://www.marineaquarium.co.nz
Excellent
37%
Good
28%
Satisfactory
18%
Poor
11%
Terrible
6%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 57 reviews

Kaikoura Marine Aquarium

7. National Kiwi Centre

64 Tancred Street, Hokitika 7810 New Zealand +64 3-755 5251 [email protected] http://thenationalkiwicentre.co.nz
Excellent
35%
Good
38%
Satisfactory
13%
Poor
8%
Terrible
6%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 292 reviews

National Kiwi Centre

Welcome to The National Kiwi Centre The National Kiwi Centre is situated in the heart of Hokitika in an undercover facility that provides viewing of kiwi in our nocturnal house that replicates their natural environment. During your visit you can take part in feeding the giant eels (10am, 12 noon and 3pm daily). The eels are approximately 85 to 100 years old. After the Eel feedings you can see the Kiwi being feed. view the tuatara, New Zealands oldest living dinosaur. Try your hand at catch and release crawly fishing fun for all ages . We have lots of other fish and creatures to look at. And it's all inside so no getting wet on that rainy day

Reviewed By galfrog - Rangiora, New Zealand

We loved this place. From the great guy at reception to the speaker at the eel feeding, they made us feel welcome and at home exploring this week presented little display. The kids loved feeding and touching the eels and catching the little koura on a line with a wee net... Then putting them straight back. Informative and fun hour spent there.

8. EcoWorld Aquarium & Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre

Picton Foreshore, Picton 7220 New Zealand +64 3-573 6030 [email protected] http://www.ecoworldnz.co.nz
Excellent
32%
Good
25%
Satisfactory
16%
Poor
10%
Terrible
17%
Overall Ratings

3.5 based on 361 reviews

EcoWorld Aquarium & Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre

Meet amazing Marlborough Sounds creatures up close✓ Touch our rare living dinosaur (Tuatara - can live up to 250 years) Get close to rescued Little Penguin*, native fish and more ✓conservation in action ✓nature ✓heritage ✓explore & learn ✓family–friendly ✓FUN Get up close and discover some of the amazing animals that live in our beautiful Marlborough Sounds. EcoWorld’s knowledgeable staff share with you outstanding, intimate animal experiences with our animals that have been rescued, donated or bred by us. •Tuataras - New Zealand’s very rare “living fossil” •Little Blue Penguins - Wildlife Rehabilitation Refuge •Yellow and Red Kakariki - endangered parrots •Seahorses - New Zealand pot-bellied seahorses •Giant Squid - “Monster of the deep” •Fish - species from the Marlborough Sounds •Lizards, frogs, turtle refuge etc. •Orca and Hectors Dolphin - life size models •Touch pool, kid’s area, movies, shells, displays etc.

Reviewed By 828libbys

This aquarium is so cool the pufferfish is amazing. I thought I was in a coral reef. There was a giant squid in a container dead because they did experiments on it. We went on a tour - we got to pat heaps of animals and sea life and we learnt heaps.

9. New Zealand Marine Studies Centre

185 Hatchery Road, Portobello, Dunedin 9014 New Zealand +64 3-479 5826 [email protected]
Excellent
33%
Good
22%
Satisfactory
17%
Poor
22%
Terrible
6%
Overall Ratings

3.5 based on 18 reviews

New Zealand Marine Studies Centre

Currently closed to the public for renovation, the Research Aquarium (part of the University of Otago) showcases southern New Zealand marine life.

10. Salmon World

9 Railway Terrace East, Rakaia 7710 New Zealand +64 3-302 7858 [email protected]
Excellent
20%
Good
24%
Satisfactory
29%
Poor
12%
Terrible
15%
Overall Ratings

3.0 based on 41 reviews

Salmon World

Salmon World is in Rakaia, the Salmon Capital of New Zealand, next to the beautiful Rakaia River. The unique Salmon Tales building, shaped like a Salmon, is situated right next to the world famous Giant Salmon on the side of State Highway One, only 40 minutes drive south of Christchurch. Take a look at the live Salmon, Trout, and other Freshwater species in Salmon World's Aquairum. Experience our 4D Movie Ride that will show you all the great adventure activities our region has to offer. There is also the great Salmon Tales Cafe, Rakaia Country Arts and the Southern Gateway Visitors Centre all in the same building.

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