Regardless of their age, children love to visit zoos and wildlife parks. For a vacation with a difference, rent a car in New Zealand and take the kids on a tour of the country’s zoos and wildlife parks. They will love you for it. New Zealand’s zoos and wildlife parks are full of great, hands-on family entertainment. It will be an educational experience with many lasting memories for all of you. The variety of zoos and wildlife parks in New Zealand is vast, with everything from traditional zoo animals to rare and exotic creatures, insects, and native New Zealand animals and birds.
A car rental vacation focused on zoos and wildlife parks gives you a theme that keeps everyone focused and together. The kids can even plan the itinerary, depending on how much of New Zealand you want to cover. No one will have time to get bored, because each location will be different from the last and there will be plenty of opportunities to get involved with the animals and experience them really up close. Many places offer guided tours as well as behind-the-scenes meet-and-greets.
If you’re picking up a rental car in the North Island and heading south, you may want to take a quick detour north of Auckland to Zion Wildlife Gardens, which is just 20 minutes north of Whangarei. It’s a beautiful part of the world and Zion will give your kids a glimpse of dozens of rare species of big cats that they won’t get to see anywhere else in New Zealand.
Back in Auckland, there are a variety of zoos and wildlife parks to choose from. Auckland Zoo has the largest collection of animals in New Zealand and is counted as one of the most progressive zoos in the world. Another great place to visit in Auckland is Butterfly Creek next to Auckland Airport. It is Australasia’s premier tropical butterfly house and also boasts crocodiles, alligators, weta, tarantulas and a variety of other insects.
Just south of Auckland, a short detour to Tuakau will be worth it. The Franklin Zoo is home to a special group of exotic and native species, many of which have been rehabilitated after being in circuses, institutions, or very small zoos. The staff are incredibly knowledgeable and the children will enjoy the elephant. Hamilton Zoo is a short rental car away, but has its own character, with over 600 native and exotic animals, as well as the largest aviary in Australasia. Just south of Hamilton is Otorohanga’s Kiwi House and Native Bird Park. You’ll have a good chance of spotting a kiwi at the night house and the setting is perfect for a picnic with the family.
Drive your rental car to Rotorua to see a variety of native flora and fauna, including Paradise Valley Springs Wildlife Park, which puts you in close contact with native species and lions. If you come at the right time of year, you might even get to pet a lion cub.
