Nature and Wildlife

Kelly Tarltons Antartic Encounter and Underwater World

Kelly Tarltons Antarctic Encounter is home to New Zealand’s only sub-Antarctic penguins. Watch the playful antics and graceful underwater flights of the colony of King and Gentoo penguins before entering into StingrayBay for a look at the giant stingrays and then into the Underwater World coming face to face with sharks, turtles and other deep sea creatures while on the moving walkway. Enter Fish Alley to see species of New Zealand’s rocky shore and tropical species such as crayfish, seahorses, octopus and eels.

For the more adventurous why not hand-feed the giant stingray or snorkel with the sharks.

Auckland Zoo

Lions, tigers, giraffes, elephants, orangutans, birds, spiders … come and see these and much more at Auckland Zoo which has New Zealand’s largest collection of animals and is recognised as one of the most progressive zoos in the world. A winner of national and international environmental-related awards, it is home to 117 different species and over 700 animals.

Auckland Regional Parks

The Auckland region is unrivalled in the number and quality of its parks and beaches. There are more than 4,219 parks covering approximately 16 per cent of the Auckland land area.

Parks and reserves in Auckland provide a vast range of experiences in a unique natural environment which include:

• walking on sandy beaches or through vast areas of native bush
• climbing volcanic cones
• picnicking
• swimming at beaches
• playing on playgrounds or at sports fields
• going camping.

It’s easy to find somewhere different to play, explore and be inspired. Best of all, they cost nothing to visit.

Butterfly Creek

Butterfly Creek hosts a diverse and exciting range of primarily tropical animal species – and almost entirely undercover. See New Zealand’s only giant saltwater crocodiles, Scar and Goldie, and the magnificent tropical butterfly house with over 750 free-flying tropical butterflies, smaller reptiles and various bird species.

Auckland’s Whale and Dolphin Safari

Leave the hustle and bustle of the city behind and travel aboard Dolphin Explorer into the expansive Hauraki Gulf Marine Park where you can find common dolphins, Bryde’s whales, Bottlenose dolphins and Orca.

Each trip is different, however all safaris offer:

• Dolphins viewed on over 90% of trips, whales viewed on 75%
• Cruise and commentary on the culture and history of Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf Marine Park
• Fully licensed bar & light snacks available for purchase

Explore NZ provide you with an exclusive lifetime dolphin viewing guarantee on all trips. If dolphins or whales are not seen, a non-transferable voucher will be given to come again for free.