1 / 3Orana Wildlife Trust
📍 McLeans Island, Canterbury
Orana Wildlife Park is New Zealand's only open-range zoo, operating for over 40 years near Christchurch. Animals move through open paddocks. Keeper feeding sessions bring giraffe and rhino to close range. The Farmyard area suits young children.
This is the only Free-Range Open Range zoo in all of Aotearoa. People ALWAYS have a great time when they visit here. They come in smiling with anticipation and go out at 5pm closing time with a BIG GRIN all over their faces and the faces of their children.
🏆 Family Action Verdict
Best for families who want a full-day wildlife experience with genuine animal proximity — the open-range format delivers encounters that enclosed zoos cannot replicate. The keeper feeding sessions are the peak experience; check the daily schedule on arrival. Young children get the most from the Farmyard.
ℹ️ What to Know Before You Go
💬 What Families Are Saying
View all reviews →12 Google reviews
Andrew M. Bell
2 years ago
“This is the only Free-Range Open Range zoo in all of Aotearoa. People ALWAYS have a great time when they visit here. They come in smiling with anticipation and go out at 5pm closing time with a BIG GRIN all over their faces and the faces of their children.”
Kate Burke
2 years ago
“Brilliant wildlife park.”
Matheus Albuquerque
10 years ago
“Lovely place”
Draggs
7 years ago
“A very big place. You need a bit of time to walk around. Watching the feedings was fantastic.”
Reviews from Google
Overview
Orana Wildlife Park is New Zealand's only open-range zoo and the largest in the South Island, set on open paddocks near Christchurch. Animals roam freely rather than in confined enclosures — the format creates genuinely close encounters during keeper feeding sessions, where giraffe and rhino approach visitor areas. The park supports endangered species through active conservation breeding programmes. The Farmyard area delivers hands-on encounters for younger children.
