Best animal encounters in Auckland
As the country begins to thaw into the spring season, the city folk of Auckland too can enjoy the warm, fuzzy feeling of watching baby lambs bouncing about a paddock.
In fact, Auckland has some of the best spots for animal encounter spots, offering everything from baby calves, birds and spider monkeys to elephants and salt water crocs. Here are five of the best animal encounters in Auckland.
Ambury Harbour Park, Manukau
One of Auckland’s petting gems, perfect to take the kids to or explore with some friends. Ambury Park brings vibrant farm life to the city with cows and chooks, but is also home to peacocks who strut about the grounds. This park is perfect for city folk or tourists who want to experience farm life and join in the milking and feeding shows. Did we mention it’s free?!
Butterfly Creek, Mangere
The cutest zoo and fun park in the city, Butterfly Creek offers a unique experience for all ages to get up close and personal with animals of all sorts. You can even feed the adorable little cotton top tamarin monkeys and watch from a safe distance New Zealand’s only salt water crocs!
Cornwall Park, Epsom
The number one spot in Auckland to see fresh and fluffy lambs and baby calves springing to life. Cornwall Park sparkles with blossoming trees and bouncing lambs that are sure to break you away from city life. Thousands of people flock to the parklands in the heart of the city to swoon over cute new life.
Auckland Springs Zoo, Western
The most obvious place to get your animal fix. From the cutsie and cuddly to the bigger and scarier of sorts, Auckland Zoo is the country’s biggest animal attraction, which makes for a really fun day. From the adorable and cheeky squirrel monkeys to the Asian elephants, hippos, tigers and everything in between, Auckland Zoo is the number one spot in the city for your animal adoration.
Kelly Tarlton’s, Orakei
When you want to explore underwater but don’t want to get wet, Kelly Tarlton’s Sea Life Aquarium is the perfect place to check out sea life in Auckland. Of course the array of fish, sharks and turtles dazzle but visitors can also get up close with penguins.