What it is
The zoo's first animal was a young lion given by Bostock and Wombwell's Circus in June 1906 and named King Dick after Prime Minister Richard Seddon, who died less than a week later. Today the zoo covers about 13 hectares of hilly ground in the city's green belt on Daniell Street and keeps more than 500 animals of around 80 species, from big cats and primates to New Zealand natives such as kiwi.
The Nest Te Kōhanga, the zoo's animal hospital, opened in 2009. It treats the zoo's own animals as well as injured native wildlife brought in by the public and conservation groups, has cared for more than 5,000 native animals, and lets visitors watch the vets at work.
Getting there by bus
Route 23, Houghton Bay - Newtown - Wellington, serves the zoo directly. Manchester Street opposite Caprera Street (stop 7925) and Manchester Street at Caprera Street (stop 6925) are about 200 metres away, and the route also stops at Wellington Zoo - Stop A (stop 7924) and Stop B (stop 6924).
Wellington Zoo - Stop C (stop 7923) is served by the HX between Wellington Hospital and Wellington Station, and Russell Terrace opposite Lavaud Street (stop 6942), about five minutes' walk away, by route 29.
