If you think all zoos are alike, you haven’t yet been to Orana Park in Christchurch. Here, at New Zealand’s only open range zoo, endangered animals live in open enclosures emulating their natural habitat. The wildlife encounters are close up and personal, with safety being paramount.
Imagine looking into the eyes of a white rhino while standing so close you believe could reach out and touch him, but you wouldn’t dare try to find out. Or, feeling the rough wet tongue of a giraffe as he takes the food from your hand. These wildlife encounters are just the tip of the iceberg.
Typical wildlife encounters in New Zealand involve birds, seals, dolphins, and whales (recently we saw penguins and fur seals). In contrast, at Orana Park, there are plenty of large mammals from around the world, as well as birds from New Zealand and elsewhere. It is home to over 400 animals from 70 different species. Orana is a place for adults as much as children. Its open range layout makes it a photographer’s paradise.
African Animals at Orana Park
White rhinos are believed to be named from a mistranslation of the word “wijd” (Dutch for wide) as in wide mouth rhino.
During the encounter, the keepers brought us quite close to some of the animals. It was pretty amazing to be this close to a white rhino, while still being completely safe.
While we arrived for the afternoon feeding times, the giraffes didn’t seem too interested in eating, but they did pose rather well. Giraffes were given vulnerable status last year.
This critically endangered western lowland gorilla seemed interested in watching me through the glass for a while.
Then he got bored, and let me know.
Soon the keepers opened the doors and the gorillas went outside. I think he had one final message for me.
Cheetah.
Waterbuck
Meerkat
The lion encounter is one of the unique wildlife encounters at Orana Park. There is an extra fee for this once in a lifetime adventure.
Photo Credit: Orana Wildlife Park. Used with permission.
New Zealand Animals at Orana Park
By arriving before feeding time and allowing our eyes to adjust to the darkness, we could clearly see the endemic kiwi birds.
Photo shot on an Olympus OMD e-M5
Shutter Speed: 1/15, Aperture: f/1.7, ISO: 6400
Handheld
The giant kiwi bird statue is an icon at Orana Park.
Endemic to the South Island, the Kea is the world’s only mountain parrot. It is nationally endangered in New Zealand.
To keep the bird’s mentally challenged, their food is often hidden in containers.
Asian Animals at Orana Park
Endangered Siamang Gibbons habitat
Yak
This is Charlie. Along with his two female mates Melur and Wanita, they are the only orang-utans in New Zealand. They arrived at Orana Park on November 24, 2017, and will stay there for two years while their home in the Auckland Zoo is being redone. They are an endangered species.
Photo Credit: Orana Wildlife Park. Used with permission.
Farm Animals
Chicken, sheep and this turkey:
Like us, this turkey was just walking down one of the paths.
A Bit of Orana Park History
Orano Park first opened in 1976. At that time it had only 28 animals and a drive-thru lion reserve (which closed in 1995). In 1984 they opened the South Island’s first kiwi house. Orana Park sustained significant damage from earthquakes, floods, snow and wind storms between 2010-2013. They are now fully operational. Orana Park is currently home to the only gorillas and the only Orang-utans in New Zealand.
Conservation of endangered species is a top priority including involvement in an international zoo-based breeding programme. In addition to animal welfare, the park provides education, recreation and enjoyment to the public.
Practical Information on Orana Park:
- Orana Wildlife Park is set on 80 hectares with an entrance at 793 McLeans Island Road. See their official website here.
- It’s a 15-minute drive from the airport, and 30 minutes from Christchurch city.
- Animal encounters and feeding times follow a schedule with 12 options daily, starting with meerkats at 10.45 and ending with cheetahs at 3.45. Not all encounters happen every day, and the giraffe feeding takes place twice daily. Check the online schedule before you arrive, and be aware that the schedules can change to accommodate the animals.
- The lion encounter and lemur feeding (not currently available) have additional fees.
- Allow at least three hours for a visit.
- You can walk the park, or take the commentated Safari Shuttle around the park (25-minute loop).
- Entrance fees support the park’s conservation work.
- We stayed at the Crowne Plaza in Christchurch City. While it’s lovely and had great food, I think on my next visit I will stay somewhere outside of the redeveloping city centre.
⇒ Click here for best prices on 400+ Christchurch accommodation options at booking.com
Do you prefer an open range zoo? What are your most exciting animal encounters?
Disclaimer: We receive a small commission from a few of the links on this page. There is no extra cost to you. Also, we worked with ChristchurchNZ, the local tourism board who arranged for our entrance to Orana Wildlife Park to assist in the writing of this review. The opinions expressed here are strictly our own.
7 Simple tips that WILL improve your photos
Whether you shoot with a phone or a DSLR, let me share my secrets.
Download the free ebook when you subscribe to our Travel Tips newsletter.
Hi Rhonda,
It’s great to check these photos. I was busy with my projects, that’s the reason I was inactive a bit, specially reading & commenting was completely off.
But Anyways, Thanks for the interesting post. Keep up the good work and enjoy the holidays.
A Very Happy New Year Rhonda! Cheers
~ Donna
Wow, this is amazing, Rhonda! What an incredible experience to be able to get up so close to these animals. I’ve been to some more open zoos in the UK and have really appreciated that – both for the animals and the spectators, but this looks really special. Thanks for sharing on #FarawayFiles
What a great park! We have seen a few “free range” zoos, but nothing with such variety. I can see how it’s a photographer’s dream. We’ll definitely have to include this if we ever get to New Zealand! Thanks for sharing on #TheWeeklyPostcard.
Though we personally do not like to visit Zoo’s, this one looks to be an exception. The Orana Park seems to ensure that the animals live in a natural habitat in open space which is so good. Looking at the Gorilla I was reminded of my own encounter with the Mountain Gorillas in the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. Such huge but gentle giants they are.
I love the idea of an open zoo. So many animals to see, and not in cramped quarters which can be sad to see at certain zoos. I would absolutely love to see a cheetah. Thanks for linking up with #farawayfiles
Seems like an amazing place. My son loves animals but only yesterday lamented that all the animal places here are dumbed-down for little kids. He would enjoy Orana Park by the looks of it.
I like zoos or enclosures where you get to learn about the different species. Every time I visit one of these places, I end up learning a lot. I think I would get in that cage surrounded by lions. My husband would never do it though (he is scared of monkeys which are mostly inoffensive, I do not want to see him close to lions). #TPThursday
I love wild animal parks like this. Orana Park seems seems huge and it has quite a large variety of animals. It must have been an interesting experience to be close to some of them. However, I wouldn’t be too comfortable in that cage while lions roam around. I love the color of that turkey.
I love close encounters with animals. Orana looks like the sort of place where I would be in heaven. I am putting it on the list for our next visit to Christchurch.
It’s a great concept and your photos are outstanding. I’m in for the lion encounter.
Thanks Dorothy. You can book in advance to be sure you get in on the day you go. It’s a limited number of people.
The lion encounter looks impressive. If you liked this, you should fo on a safari in Africa (in case you didn’t do that already). #TheWeeklypostcard
I know, we do need to get to Africa.
I love this concept – a zoo but not a zoo and helping endangered animals. And I love the humongous statue of the kiwi bird!
That giant kiwi bird made me giggle. Little New Zealand loves big statues.
Incredible images! The one of them feeding the lions is nuts! But cool at the same time!
Why not put the humans in a cage once in a while.
Hi Rhonda! What a spectacular animal park! All of your photos are incredible, but my favorite is how you
got the gorilla to actually pose for you! You can tell how wise he is! I would’ve been extremely
frightened standing so close to those lions. It seems like they could easily reach through the cage.
Happy Holidays to you and your family!
Maybe the gorilla thought I was cute 🙂
This looks like an incredible spot. I love that animals have room to roam.
Some wonderful shots here, and love the shot of the Gorilla leaning on his chin ( just like a human would) awesome!
That gorilla was more human like than any animal I have seen.
Such an interesting experience indeed, Rhonda. My kids and I will love it! To get that close to those endangered animals is so precious. We have typical zoo here in Bronx, Queens and Central Park, but we have the safari park in Indonesia
How wonderful that the animals are not caged. Quite impressive photos- thank you for sharing your adventure
Looks like a nice zoo to visit. Nearest on to me is Cotswold Wild Life Park, I go there every so often to see the animals
Awesome! I never had this place on my NZ itinerary but will add it. All thanks to you! My son would love his time there seeing all those animals and would jump in joy! But, how did you manage to stay clam with so many lions around! I know we are caged and safe but looks scary!
I’m just hearing all about Orana Wildlife Park with this post, I wasn’t aware about Orana Wildlife Park before this post. This Orana Wildlife Park looks really amazing & trip of Orana Wildlife Park would be unforgettable.
Wild animals looks really amazing & these are such great pictures.
That lion encounter looks so cool. Always believed that the only beings worth being kept in cages is us humans and this looks like exactly that 🙂
LOL – many years ago we visited a monkey park in Florida in which the humans walk on a caged trail and the monkeys were free to roam.
Wow I would love to have such close encounters… I have never seen a white rhino before… Must be amazing. I love the variety of species they have in the park. Will keep in mind when I visit NZ.
Being that close to the white rhino was really cool.
I love the idea of an open range zoo. I’m not really keen on supporting places where the animals are caged. Orana Park in Christchurch sounds like they really have the best interests of the animals at heart, and I love that animal safety is their primary concern.
The lion encounter is something I would definitely pay extra for – that looks like an incredible experience!! … and I love that it’s us as humans who are caged lol which is a nice change for an animal enclosure!
Megan, you and I are on the same page for all of this.
I can’t help wondering how the African animals got to New Zealand, and why. If it is to preserve the species, all well and good, but if it is to give humans the thrill of being in a cage while lions admire them, I have to wonder at the wisdom of it all. Nevertheless, the photos are wonderful.
Kay
An Unfittie’s Guide to Adventurous Travel
I remember the first time I visited Orana Park over 10 years ago. Back then they didn’t have the Lion encounter, but rather a cage, possibly the same one, where the keepers could go into and feed the lions.
Rhonda, your photos are top-notch! So clear and sharp, I can almost feel the fur and feathers! Kudos on this post.
Thanks. It’s a wonderful place for photographers.
Such amazing animals, wish they were out in the wild but it’s no safer there either.
Orana Park is focused on conservation and breeding programs for endangered species. At least they are helping reverse the problems.
Good to hear New Zealand has an open range zoo, where endangered animals live in open enclosures emulating their natural habitat. 400 animals from 70 different species is a lot!! I see you took many photos, they look amazing! Can’t wait to visit this zoo once!
I was pleased to see it too. I am not a fan of most animal enclosures at zoos.
I would love the lion encounter. There’s a place in Oregon called Wildlife Safari and it was always my favorite place to go. Never encountered a lion like that, but I did have a cheetah fall asleep in my lap.
Gorgeous photo of the animals in the park ~
Happy Week to you,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
What an amazing place!!! I love the gorilla and the kiwi and orangutan especially. How scary being in that cage! 🙂 Beautiful photos!
The orangutan just arrived, so I didn’t see him in Christchurch, but I have seen him in Auckland before he left. As for the kiwi, I was really pleased to get the shot. It’s so rare that I get to see one so close.
Ha,ha,ha. That gorilla is thinking, what the heck is that woman doing? That place is brilliant especially when you can be so close to those lions. Fantastic Rhonda. See ya my friend.
Cruisin Paul
That gorilla was so amazing. I could have sat there all day and watched him.
Holy cow, what beautiful shots. Thanks for sharing. That is an once in a lifetime experience.
Thanks Patrick. Actually, this is our second visit to Orana. The first was before me moved to New Zealand, so about 15 years ago when our girls were 2 and 4. This was a completely different experience.
There is something similar in the San Diego area. You ride a bus though different continents and see the wildlife that resides there. It was most enjoyable. That was years ago, and now it’s a bit more pricey. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g32358-c131786/Escondido:California:Wild.Animal.Park.html
Great shots as always.
Have a fabulous day, Rhonda. ♥
I have been to the San Diego Zoo. While the concepts are similar, San Diego is much larger, but this is New Zealand.
Fantastic post Rhonda! Love the idea of animals roaming free and unrestricted. Sounds and looks like an amazing zoo.
Thanks Carol. I am not always a fan of zoos, but Orana was different.
Being in the cage surrounded by lions is really cool. Something is not done in many zoos
I don’t know of any other zoos that do this. Do you?
in one in The Netherladns you can feed them
Hi Rhonda – amazing photos and what a range of animals … wild life is just brilliant – cheers Hilary
Thanks Hilary. There were some really beautiful animals there.
We love visiting zoos, but often are discouraged from taking photos because of the enclosures. Your pictures are great and now I am going to have to visit this zoo. The Cheetah one is my favorite because they are hard to get good pictures of. The lion encounter looks amazing and frighting at the same time. Our family visited a drive through safari zoo in Texas that was crazy because of how close the animals were, one zebra even stuck it’s head in the car!
One of the tricks of the photos is to, whenever possible, try to get a natural background rather than a fence or a structure. As for the safari, I have been to one similar in Florida many, many years ago, but we didn’t have a zebra enter out car.
I have mice in my attic…that’s too wild for me. Great photos!
While I love wildlife, I don’t think I would be to happy with a mouse in my attic either.
What a fab park all those wonderful photos my favourite has to be Charlie LOL
Have a parktastic day Rhonda 🙂
Charlie is pretty cute. I have seen him in Auckland before he moved.
That gorilla gave you his good side.
Looks like a great animal park.
LOL Alex, I hope you are talking about the third gorilla photo, not the second one. And yes, it is a great animal park.