What it is
The zoo opened on 16 December 1922 at Western Springs, growing out of animals from J. J. Boyd's earlier private zoo in Onehunga. It covers about 16 hectares and keeps more than 1,400 animals of around 135 species, arranged in areas such as the Africa Safari Track, the Australia Bush Track, the South East Asia Jungle Track and the South America Rainforest Track.
Te Wao Nui, opened in 2011 and the zoo's largest project, takes up more than a fifth of the grounds. It recreates six New Zealand habitats, from coast and islands to wetlands, night forest and high country, with more than 60 native animal species. The zoo also houses a national centre for conservation medicine that treats injured native wildlife.
Getting there by bus
The Auckland Zoo stop (stop 8125) on Great North Road, about 580 metres from the zoo's centre, is served by routes 11T, 11W, 18, 195 and 65; the same routes stop at Western Springs Park & MOTAT (stop 8122), and routes 11T, 11W, 18 and 195 at Western Springs Park (stop 8123).
From the other direction, Garnet Road/Old Mill Road (stop 8483), about 380 metres away, is served by route 105, and Meola Road/MOTAT (stop 1051), around eight minutes' walk, by route 101 and the Outer Link (OUT).
