![Orana Wildlife Park, Christchurch](/img/gd_attr/1099.jpg)
Orana Wildlife Park, Christchurch
Orana Wildlife Park, located just outside Christchurch, is the nation's only open-range zoo. Since its establishment in 1976, the park has been managed by the Orana Wildlife Trust, a recognized charity. The Trust has various goals, including providing top-notch recreational opportunities for locals and visitors, conserving endangered species (both local and foreign), educating the public about environmental issues—especially targeting children—and supporting research aimed at preserving endangered animals.
Covering 80 hectares, Orana Wildlife Park is a short 15-minute drive from Christchurch Airport, making it easily accessible for nature lovers. The park is famous for its interactive animal experiences, such as hand-feeding giraffes, encountering rhinos up close, observing New Zealand's only gorillas, and spotting kiwi birds. Visitors can also opt for a closer encounter with lions for an additional fee. Daily presentations offer insights into the lives of various animals, including cheetahs, Tasmanian devils, monkeys, meerkats, and more.
A notable feature of Orana Wildlife Park is its extensive New Zealand section, which showcases kiwi birds, a variety of birds, and reptiles, along with two walk-through aviaries. These aviaries provide a unique opportunity to interact with playful kea and other native birds. Guided tours are offered daily to enhance the educational aspect of the visit.
Aside from wildlife experiences, the park includes a café for refreshments and a gift shop offering souvenirs and educational materials. With its promise of a full day of entertainment and learning, Orana Wildlife Park is an ideal destination for families, school groups, and wildlife enthusiasts eager to connect with nature and support conservation efforts.
Covering 80 hectares, Orana Wildlife Park is a short 15-minute drive from Christchurch Airport, making it easily accessible for nature lovers. The park is famous for its interactive animal experiences, such as hand-feeding giraffes, encountering rhinos up close, observing New Zealand's only gorillas, and spotting kiwi birds. Visitors can also opt for a closer encounter with lions for an additional fee. Daily presentations offer insights into the lives of various animals, including cheetahs, Tasmanian devils, monkeys, meerkats, and more.
A notable feature of Orana Wildlife Park is its extensive New Zealand section, which showcases kiwi birds, a variety of birds, and reptiles, along with two walk-through aviaries. These aviaries provide a unique opportunity to interact with playful kea and other native birds. Guided tours are offered daily to enhance the educational aspect of the visit.
Aside from wildlife experiences, the park includes a café for refreshments and a gift shop offering souvenirs and educational materials. With its promise of a full day of entertainment and learning, Orana Wildlife Park is an ideal destination for families, school groups, and wildlife enthusiasts eager to connect with nature and support conservation efforts.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Christchurch. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Orana Wildlife Park on Map
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Sight Name: Orana Wildlife Park
Sight Location: Christchurch, New Zealand (See walking tours in Christchurch)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Sight Location: Christchurch, New Zealand (See walking tours in Christchurch)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Walking Tours in Christchurch, New Zealand
Create Your Own Walk in Christchurch
Creating your own self-guided walk in Christchurch is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Statues and Memorials Tour
Although Christchurch is not very large, it has a wealth of public art heritage. Although ravaged by a powerful earthquake in 2011, which caused severe damage to many local attractions, Christchurch nonetheless has retained much of its charm and has a lot to offer visitors in terms of sightseeing. Indeed, there is no shortage of beautiful buildings, parks, gardens and other places of interest... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.4 Km or 0.9 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.4 Km or 0.9 Miles
Christchurch Introduction Walking Tour
Captain James Cook was not the first person to discover New Zealand. There is evidence that the Christchurch area was visited by groups of moa-hunting people as early as 1250 AD.
They were followed by the Waitaha from the east coast of the North Island in the 16th century. In a series of wars Waitaha were displaced by the Ngati Mamoe, who in turn were conquered by the Ngai Tahu. The Europeans... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.8 Km or 2.4 Miles
They were followed by the Waitaha from the east coast of the North Island in the 16th century. In a series of wars Waitaha were displaced by the Ngati Mamoe, who in turn were conquered by the Ngai Tahu. The Europeans... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.8 Km or 2.4 Miles