Trip Planner:   South Pacific  /  New Zealand  /  South Island  /  Canterbury Region  /  Christchurch  /  Zoos & Aquariums  /  Orana Wildlife Park

Orana Wildlife Park, Christchurch

4.2
#1 of 9 in Zoos & Aquariums in South Island
Zoo / Aquarium Nature / Park
New Zealand's only open-range zoo, Orana Wildlife Park allows you to get up close and personal with animals from all over the world. The diverse complex spans 80 hectares (198 acres) and provides a home to over 400 animals, including a number of rare and endangered species. When you arrive, check the presentation and feeding schedule for the opportunity to see meerkats, giraffes, and lions enjoying a meal. Get involved in the feeding process yourself by purchasing an "encounter experience." Guided tours take place daily and are offered both on board the safari shuttle and on foot. Before you head to Christchurch, plan trip itinerary details with our user-friendly Christchurch holiday planner, to make sure you see all that Christchurch has to offer, including Orana Wildlife Park.
Create an itinerary including Orana Wildlife Park
map
Reviews
TripAdvisor Traveler Rating
823 reviews
Google
4.4
TripAdvisor
  • This wildlife park is amazing - so many different and rarely seen animals. We had a great time, especially on the lion encounter. Being able to go out and get incredibly close to these lions was such ...  more »
  • This is a grea park to take the family too with lots of animals in well presented enclosures. They al look happy and can run round happily so we -the public- can see them playing  more »
  • Visited here with my daughter and grandchildren. Very interesting place and a must for small inquisitive children. IT is very well laid out and a shuttle is available to ferry people around the zoo, s...  more »
View more on TripAdvisor »
Google
  • Felt more comfortable about seeing the animals in the enclosures here than I have at any other zoo. They appeared to have strong involvement with conservation and education which was great. Spent a lovely morning with my grandmother walking around investigating the different animals.
  • My family and I did the lion encounter and was well worth the $45 per person for the experience. Seeing a gorilla with only glass between you and him was awesome to be able to get that close. Only negative was the distance between you and some of the African animals great they have so much space but was hard to see them.
  • My husband and I had a wonderful experience here during our vacation to NZ. Being from the States, this is the closest we have ever been to these exotic animals. We opted to do the lion encounter and even in the rainy drizzle, we didn't regret it for a second. You truly get an up close experience with the lions that you can get nowhere else. The animals were all extremely active when we came and the zoo is super informative in how we can actively help keep these wonderful animals alive.
  • Lions! :) Good facilities which are reasonably well maintained. It's a large area so parents with young kids will want to plan for that. They have an updated playground area so that will help breakup the long walk.
  • A wild life park where the animals are well cared for and have space to roam. Small, intimate but fascinating place
View more on Google »

Plan your trip to Christchurch

  • Get a personalized plan

    A complete day-by-day itinerary
    based on your preferences

  • Customize it

    Refine your plan. We'll find the
    best routes and schedules

  • Book it

    Choose from the best hotels
    and activities. Up to 50% off

  • Manage it

    Everything in one place.
    Everyone on the same page.

Best things to do in Christchurch

Popular
©
Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Christchurch
Visit for: 2​h
TranzAlpine Train
Christchurch
Visit for: 8​h
Velocity Karts Ltd
Christchurch
Visit for: 30​min
Kid Friendly Attractions
International Antarctic Centre
Christchurch
Visit for: 1​h 30​min
©
Canterbury Museum
Christchurch
Visit for: 2​h
©
Sumner Beach (Cave Rock)
Christchurch
Visit for: 3​h
Nature
Banks Peninsula
Christchurch
Visit for: 4​h
©
Avon River
Christchurch
Visit for: 3​h
Victoria Lake
Christchurch
Visit for: 3​h
Hidden Gems
©
Pegasus Bay Winery
Christchurch
Visit for: 2​h
Ferrymead Heritage Park
Christchurch
Visit for: 1​h 30​min
©
Christchurch Art Gallery (Te Puna o Waiwhetu)
Christchurch
Visit for: 1​h 30​min
Side Trips
©
Ohinetahi Garden
Lyttelton
Visit for: 2​h
©
Swim with Dolphins
Akaroa
Visit for: 3​h
©
Dolphin & Whale Watching
Akaroa
Visit for: 2​h
Nearby
Christchurch Gondola
Christchurch
Visit for: 2​h
©
Willowbank Wildlife Reserve
Christchurch
Visit for: 1​h 30​min
Rubicon Valley Tourist Centre
Christchurch
Visit for: 3​h
Don't Miss a Thing. See & Do More.
©

Where to stay in Christchurch

Offering an extensive range of hotels, hostels, motels with kitchens, and campsites, Christchurch makes a great place to set up camp as you explore the city and beyond. The greatest diversity of accommodations clusters in the city center next to North and South Hagley parks. You'll find apartments, boutique and luxury hotels, and backpacker hostels in the central district and towards the coast, while cheaper places to stay--such as motels, RV parks, and economy hotels--dot the outskirts and the area surrounding the airport.
CHECK IN - CHECK OUT
TripAdvisor
Millions of travel reviews
on TripAdvisor

Plans in Christchurch by other users

12 days in New Zealand BY A USER FROM SINGAPORE January, outdoors, relaxing, popular PREFERENCES: January, outdoors, relaxing ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular PACE: Medium 16 days in New Zealand BY A USER FROM AUSTRALIA September, kids, popular PREFERENCES: September, kids ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular PACE: Medium 8 days in Christchurch & Queenstown BY A USER FROM DENMARK October, kids, culture, outdoors, relaxing, beaches, historic sites, popular & hidden gems PREFERENCES: October, kids, culture, outdoors, relaxing, beaches, historic sites ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular & hidden gems PACE: Medium 33 days in New Zealand BY A USER FROM BELGIUM December, culture, outdoors, relaxing, historic sites, popular PREFERENCES: December, culture, outdoors, relaxing, historic sites ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular PACE: Medium 42 days in New Zealand BY A USER FROM UNITED KINGDOM October, popular PREFERENCES: October ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular PACE: Medium 59 days in Australia & New Zealand BY A USER FROM BELGIUM February, culture, outdoors, relaxing, romantic, beaches, historic sites, museums, popular & hidden gems PREFERENCES: February, culture, outdoors, relaxing, romantic, beaches, historic sites, museums ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular & hidden gems PACE: Medium 2 days in Christchurch BY A USER FROM INDIA November, teens, kids, culture, historic sites, museums, popular PREFERENCES: November, teens, kids, culture, historic sites, museums ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular PACE: Medium 11 days in New Zealand BY A USER FROM AUSTRALIA September, popular & hidden gems PREFERENCES: September ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular & hidden gems PACE: Medium 10 days in Christchurch & Queenstown BY A USER FROM SINGAPORE August, popular PREFERENCES: August ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular PACE: Medium 12 days in South Island BY A USER FROM AUSTRALIA September, kids, historic sites, popular & hidden gems PREFERENCES: September, kids, historic sites ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular & hidden gems PACE: Medium 10 days in South Island BY A USER FROM NEW ZEALAND September, popular PREFERENCES: September ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular PACE: Medium 8 days in New Zealand BY A USER FROM INDONESIA December, culture, outdoors, relaxing, historic sites, popular PREFERENCES: December, culture, outdoors, relaxing, historic sites ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular PACE: Medium
View more plans