This was my second favorite thing to do on my recent trip to Wellington!…read more Before this day I might have said dolphins are my favorite mammals, but now...now I take it back. My absolute favorite mammal is a red panda. My friend booked a "close encounter," with a red panda, and it was THE coolest thing ever. The entire experience was just reflective of the cool, laid back vibe of NZ itself. The setting was picturesque, everyone was kind, the animals were dope (and OUT!), and the gift shop was cute. Sure, the could have more red panda gear, but I get it. High demand. The only thing this place was missing was a bar. My Kiwi friend laughed at me when I suggested it:) There's a fantastic bus shelter just off the main entrance, and you should stop for a fun photo op if you've got time. I love the commitment to making it beautiful and relevant on the inside AND outside. Favorite new thing to see? KUNE KUNE!!!! Y'all. There are hairy pigs out there that aren't razorbacks, warthogs, or wildabeasts. Big, fat, hairy pigs that It's adorable. There is a Banana Bar (where you and your little monkeys can get some treats), but LOTS of people pack lunch/snacks, so you can too. There's even an extra seating shelter to the right of the Banana Bat at the if you're walking towards the bathroom. It's covered, shades, and connected to a zoo video on a loop. It's great, you can take a break and just chill. All in all, a truly fun thing to do in Wellington. 10/10...even without my G&T

What an amazing experience!…read more We booked the red panda experience, and on the day of, the weather was bad so they gave us the option to cancel, or to try any way. We tried anyway and we are so glad we did! We got to go into the red panda exhibit with a trainer. We not only got to feed, but also had the red pandas crawling all over us! We learned so much about them and got a ton of time with them in our laps! We also walked around the rest of the zoo. All of the animals were out where we could see them. All the enclosures looked clean and were good sizes. It seemed like a wonderful place and every staff member we came into contact with was so kind and helpful!

On my first day in Wellington, I took the Cable Car to the top planning to explore the Botanical…read moreGardens. Getting off the Cable Car, there was a sign and driver for Zealandia, so I asked what it was. It ended up being a highlight of my entire trip: if you're a fan of birds, gorgeous landscapes, and flowers, this is a must-visit spot for the whole family. The free shuttle takes about 10 minutes winding up hill (I don't recommend trying to walk), and takes you right to the entrance. You can also catch the shuttle back here about every 20-30 min. The welcome center has restrooms and a gift shop, plus the ticket booth. Prices are reasonable for what you're going to see, and they let you in two days if you want to come back. They also offer guided tours with experts who will show you the birds and tell you about them. The sanctuary goes up the valley and has winding paths, both easy and clean, and more difficult and progressively muddier. So basically, anyone can come here and enjoy it. There are open field areas, lakes and streams, mountain sides, etc. I did all the main paths, but there were even longer ones that go farther away if you have the time. There are fences and gates everywhere to protect against invasive species like possums, so you can learn about what these amazing birds are facing. Throughout there are bird feeders, so you'll get to see rare birds here no matter what. There are educational signs everywhere too, so you can learn what you're looking about and where they're from. It's worth going to the dam and bridge at the end of the valley, you can see panoramic views of Zealandia and Wellington beyond. I took so many photos here, they barely do it justice. This is a must-visit natural attraction in Wellington.

Zealandia is truly a conservation wonder - the level of care and attention NZ has put into…read moreprotecting and repopulating their native wildlife is absolutely incredible! The ticket in is pricey ($60 NZD pp) but worth supporting such an incredible cause. The amount of land Zealandia covers is INSANE - something like 60 hectacres or something? And they spent yearsssss ridding the area of invasive species so that native animals could live peacefully and repopulate. The opportunities to see native wildlife here is wonderful - we saw Kaka, Kea, Takahe, and more! The guided tours are at certain times and cost extra, but we found that going through the park with a Zealandia guide was really valuable. Our guide, Grant, was a wealth of knowledge and knew all the best spots to spot and talk about the unique insects, birds, reptiles, and creatures in the park - that we likely wouldn't have spotted on our own. Plan to spend 2-3 hours here - it's large and there's a lot to see! An awesome organization and project to support.

Brilliant This eco…read moreaquarium complete with little blue penguins was brilliant! Because we were waiting for the ferry the cost was half price $25 for 4 people. Small, affordable and fun with little penguins close up, fish, seastars, turtles etc, and a petting pool (although not a good idea as it encourages people to touch these creatures in the wild) A great place to go while waiting for the ferry, staff friendly and helpful.

A small museum worth taking a look. We decided to come here and take a look around. Just like te…read morepapa, this museum was also free admission. We quickly looked around and went through all the floors. This museum had a good mix of interactive exhibits, videos, and information. Overall, not a bad museum, but I would rather go to te papa if I was short on time.

An amazing experience albeit being smaller than The Papa. It has plenty to offer especially for a…read moreyounger audience. My favourite levels were those that allowed for one to vote for an alternate story or name to some things and had a short hologram describing a certain legend involving Maui, and my second most favourite level was the level describing the origins of Wellington.