Activities

Here at Auckland Zoo, we invite you to immerse yourselves in the stunning environments of Te Wao Nui (our Aotearoa Track) - home to many unique taonga - from tīeke (saddleback) and kākā to kea, tuna (long-fin eel) and tuatara.

Live painting to celebrate Sir David Attenborough

This week, Aotearoa visual artist Paul X Walsh will be at the Zoo live-painting a Sir David Attenborough themed mural ahead of this world-renowned naturalist and broadcaster’s milestone 100th birthday on 8 May 2026!  You’ll find Paul in action at our rotunda in the centre of the Zoo – so come and see this amazing artwork take shape.

Get along to keeper talks – like Hidden New Zealand (1pm daily at the Wild Work Centre) to see some of these animals up close and learn about how we can all act for nature to help native wildlife thrive – in our own backyards, neighbourhoods, at the beach or in the bush.

Tara iti colouring competition

Throughout this week, we have a special tara iti (New Zealand fairy tern) colouring competition which you can colour in and enter either onsite or online via email. If entering at the Zoo, drop your completed colouring sheet into the Zoo Shop to receive a voucher for a free ice block thanks to our friends at Tip Top. If you’re entering at home, email your entries through to us at community@aucklandzoo.co.nz (email submissions do not qualify for an ice block voucher). All entries received from New Zealand residents by Sunday 3 May will go in the draw to win a Zoo Shop prize pack!

Our DOC colleagues are joining us

On Saturday 25 April, our Department of Conservation colleagues will be joining us in Te Wao Nui (our Aotearoa New Zealand Track) – where rangers will be sharing their love for nature and ways that you can get involved in helping te taiao and enjoy ‘naturing’. Pick up DOC’s free ‘take action for nature’ activity booklet and seek out our New Zealand animal habitats around the Zoo to answer the fun prompts.

Our passionate volunteers will also be out in the Zoo with an interactive conservation activity station and their famously fun quiz boards.

Conservation Week finishes on a high on Sunday 26 April with the start of an exciting fourth series of the Zoo’s action-packed wildlife documentary Wild Heroes starting on Three (7pm) and ThreeNow – so be sure to tune in!

Take action for nature at home

You could be a conservation superhero by doing these activities at home.

Whether it is by picking up rubbish, donating time or money to a local community group, there is always something you can do to help our environment and the native species that make Aotearoa special.