Wellington Zoo Te Nukuao

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Wellington Zoo Te Nukuao Te Nukuao Wellington Zoo is New Zealand’s first Zoo, and Wellington’s oldest conservation organisation, saving wildlife and wild places since 1906.
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Adult: $28/Ch: $14

You're probably already well-acquainted with Te Nukuao's wonderful pair of Gibbons, Robyn and Vilson - or rather, you mi...
23/10/2026

You're probably already well-acquainted with Te Nukuao's wonderful pair of Gibbons, Robyn and Vilson - or rather, you might have heard their beautiful song from a distance! 🖤🤍

Robyn and Vilson have been a pair for over 20 years, and they sing a duet from the treetops every morning to reaffirm their pair bond and mark their territory.

Sadly, Robyn and Vilson are one of the most vulnerable species here at the Zoo. Northern White-Cheeked Gibbons are critically endangered, with an estimated 2000 left in the wild.

We partner with Fauna & Flora Vietnam Programme to support their conservation work, which includes protecting key habitat areas, reducing the impact of hunting and habitat loss in Pu Mat National Park, and working alongside local communities.

Here in NZ, we can do our bit by choosing FSC-Certified paper and wood products and supporting sustainable forestry. Every small choice helps to make a difference.

Next time you're at the Zoo, don't forget to spot Robyn and Vilson in the trees! 🌳

📸 Primates Team, Photographers Sebastian Blair and Tasha Knaggs

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)

How much do you know about these “ghosts of the mountains”?🐆Snow Leopards live across high-altitude alpine zones in coun...
22/10/2026

How much do you know about these “ghosts of the mountains”?

🐆Snow Leopards live across high-altitude alpine zones in countries like Nepal, China, India, Mongolia and Pakistan.

🐆They’re actually more closely related to Tigers than they are to Leopards.

🐆Adult Snow Leopards generally live alone. If they’re with other Snow Leopards, it’s usually because they’re mums raising their cubs, or they’re a mating pair.

🐆Snow Leopards can leap 9-10 metres in a single bound – that’s about six times their body length!

🐆They don’t roar or purr. Instead, they make chuffs, yowls and mews.

🐆The Snow Leopards that live at Te Nukuao Wellington Zoo are sisters called Asha and Manju. They were born at Melbourne Zoo as part of an international breeding programme and crossed the ditch to Pōneke in 2023 when they were three years old.

🐆Snow Leopards are classified as Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). There are an estimated 4,000 to 7,000 left in the wild. It’s hard to know exactly how many are left because they live in such remote, high-altitude locations.

🐆Te Nukuao proudly partners with the Nepali Conservation Group, Mountain Spirit. Mountain Spirit works with mountain communities to help protect the Nepali population of wild Snow Leopards by reducing human/animal conflict.

📷: Keeper Izzy

Boo at the Zoo 🎃 Saturday 31st October 🎃 5-7pmBring the whole family along for a frightfully fun, family-friendly experi...
22/10/2026

Boo at the Zoo 🎃 Saturday 31st October 🎃 5-7pm

Bring the whole family along for a frightfully fun, family-friendly experience at Boo at the Zoo this Halloween!

We're staying open until 7pm for a spooktacular evening filled with themed activities, special pop-up talks, visits from Moana, Elsa and friends, trick or treating, a spooky walk-through of the River Trail Forest and plenty of animal magic. Banana Bar will be open, plus you'll be able to buy a range of delicious spooky treats all evening.

Dress up in your favourite costume and take part in our costume parade, with prizes for the best dressed! Get ready to explore the Zoo after hours and see what really happens when the sun goes down at Te Nukuao.

Plus, Zoo Crew members get in for free!

Boo at the Zoo festivities will kick off at 5pm, however you’re welcome to visit the Zoo any time from opening and stay until we close at 7pm.

Get your tickets here >>> https://bit.ly/4eGJG3g

Zoo

5 Facts about Reptiles: 🦎 Aotearoa has around 126 species of lizard, with new species still being discovered. A whopping...
21/10/2026

5 Facts about Reptiles:

🦎 Aotearoa has around 126 species of lizard, with new species still being discovered. A whopping 29 new lizard species were assessed for the first time since the last report in 2021!

🦎 Tuatara are New Zealand’s largest reptile, and they are not lizards – they are the only surviving members of the order Sphenodontia.

🦎 NZ's Geckos and Skinks can't be found anywhere else in the world.

🦎 At Te Nukuao Wellington Zoo, we do not have snakes, but we do have a Scheltopusik - a lizard that has evolved to have no legs!

🦎 Just four native species of Lizard (3%) are Not Threatened.

We love the beautiful native reptiles we have here in Aotearoa as well as the other species we are lucky to hold under our care at the Zoo, such as our Lace Monitor, Golden Bell Frogs, and Blue-tongued Skink, just to name a few.

This Reptile Awareness Day, have a think about how you can protect the lizards in our own backyard: growing native plants, keeping your cat indoors, and keeping on top of pests can make a big difference to our scaly little friends 💚

📸 Amazing photos by Keeper Joel, Team Lead of our Birds & Ectotherms Team.

20/10/2026

Bring the whole family along for a frightfully fun, family-friendly experience at Boo at the Zoo this Halloween!

🎃Staying open until 7pm
🎃Spooky walk-through (enter if you dare!)
🎃Special spooky pop-up talks
🎃Trick or treating
🎃Deliciously spooky dinner and treat options to purchase
🎃Special guests including Moana and Elsa
🎃Costume parade with prizes for the best-dressed

Get ready to explore the Zoo after hours and see what really happens when the sun goes down at Te Nukuao.

Plus if you are a Zoo Crew member, you get in to Boo at the Zoo for free!

Find out more here >>> https://bit.ly/4eGJG3g

At the end of the day, sometimes all you need is a hug from your mum 🤍 📸 Photo of Malika and baby Kasana by Chris ...
18/10/2026

At the end of the day, sometimes all you need is a hug from your mum 🤍

📸 Photo of Malika and baby Kasana by Chris

This Tākapu/Australasian Gannet was brought to us by the team at MPI after a member of the community reported the manu l...
14/10/2026

This Tākapu/Australasian Gannet was brought to us by the team at MPI after a member of the community reported the manu looking exhausted and weak in Evans Bay.

Tākapu are migratory seabirds and are considered high risk species for HPAI (avian influenza). Sadly, populations of Gannets in the Northern hemisphere have been severely impacted by the virus, with some studies projecting that colonies could take up to 20 years to recover from unprecedented mortality rates.

At Te Kōhanga The Nest, we are continuing to admit high-risk wildlife species under strict biosecurity and isolation protocols. Thankfully, this gannet’s swab samples tested negative for HPAI.

However, the Tākapu had some significant abnormalities on their bloodwork consistent with chronic dehydration and starvation, unfortunately the most common presentation for our seabird patients due to the effects of climate change on our oceans. Intensive care including IV fluid therapy and nutritional support meant this bird began to improve within days of admission and could be transferred to our saltwater pool for rehabilitation.

After a few more big meals of sardines and anchovies, the Tākapu was successfully released on Wellington's South Coast after two weeks in our care.

Interestingly, the Gannet had a metal band on its leg which was placed under permit by DOC. The New Zealand Banding Office told us that this bird was banded in 2014 as an adult at Farewell Spit, meaning they are likely over 15 years old! We hope this beautiful Tākapu has made their way back home to their colony in time for summer.

Congratulations to Tanya Rowe who won our September photography competition! For her efforts, Tanya won two free entry t...
13/10/2026

Congratulations to Tanya Rowe who won our September photography competition! For her efforts, Tanya won two free entry tickets to Te Nukuao.

This stunning photo is of Minerva the Tasmanian Devil. She is very chatty – which might be what she’s doing in this photo!

Keen to win two entry tickets to the Zoo this month? Submit your favourite snaps to [email protected] by Friday 23rd October.

T&Cs: We want to share your beautiful entries with the world! Please note that entries that don’t win for the month may be still shared on socials and in our wider marketing – please consider this especially if your images include any children ❤️

Behind the Zcenes on film thanks to Splendid Photo! ☀️🎞️
13/10/2026

Behind the Zcenes on film thanks to Splendid Photo! ☀️🎞️

11/10/2026

Exhale.

This Mental Health Awareness Week, here's 40 seconds of peace and quiet.

Address

200 Daniell Street, Newtown
Wellington
6021

Opening Hours

Monday 9:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 9:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9:30am - 5pm
Friday 9:30am - 5pm
Saturday 9:30am - 5pm
Sunday 9:30am - 5pm

Telephone

+6443816755

Website

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