Orana Wildlife Park is an 80-hectare open-range zoo on the outskirts of Christchurch, at 793 McLeans Island Road in Harewood. Its wide grounds bring native New Zealand wildlife and animals from around the world into one visit, including gorillas, orangutans, lions, giraffes and rhinos. Scheduled feeding sessions are a highlight, and hand-feeding giraffes is among the encounters available. The park also has native bird aviaries, a playground and a café, so you can plan a full day here with children or other wildlife enthusiasts.
A large open-range park
Orana Wildlife Park sits on 80 hectares on the outskirts of Christchurch. It opened in 1976 and is operated by the Orana Wildlife Trust, a registered charity. Rather than keeping the animals in small display areas, the park is laid out across broad grounds with spaces designed to reflect their natural habitats.
Animals come from Africa, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. The collection includes lions, tigers, cheetahs, wild dogs, rhinos, giraffes, meerkats and porcupines, alongside native birds and reptiles. The scale of the grounds means a visit involves plenty of walking, so give yourself time to move between areas and check the map for the day’s activities.
Feeding sessions and close encounters
Scheduled feeds take place throughout the day and give you a reason to time your route around particular animals. You can hand-feed giraffes, watch tigers search for food, and see feeding sessions for other species. Staff explain the animals during some of these activities.
The park also lists more specialised encounters, including meeting a rhino face-to-face and travelling through the lion reserve in a protected vehicle. These experiences have separate costs and conditions, so check the park’s current information before planning around one. The regular animal feeding activities described for the park are included with admission; that does not apply to every special encounter.
Feeding times can help you catch animals when they are active. The grounds are extensive, so build in walking time rather than trying to move between sessions at the last minute.
Native wildlife and the Great Ape Centre
Orana’s native collection includes kiwi, tuatara and endangered birds and reptiles. Walk-through native bird aviaries provide a closer look at New Zealand forest species, including the kea. The park also takes part in breeding work for endangered native and exotic species.
The Great Ape Centre is home to New Zealand’s only gorillas and orangutans. These animals are among the park’s distinctive residents, alongside the larger African species and smaller animals such as meerkats. Allow time to visit several areas rather than focusing only on the headline encounters: the variety ranges from farm animals to native wildlife and big cats.
Planning a family visit
The playground gives children somewhere to pause between animal areas. An on-site café provides food, and barbecue spots are available if you prefer to bring your own. The park also has a gift shop and parking.
For a comfortable day out, wear walking shoes and bring sun protection, particularly on hot days when you will be outdoors. A map with activity times helps you choose which feeds to attend and avoid backtracking across the grounds. The park is at 793 McLeans Island Road in Harewood, Christchurch, and is about a 15-minute drive from Christchurch Airport.
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How long do you need at Orana Wildlife Park?
Allow about 4 to 5 hours to walk the grounds and fit in animal activities. The visit length depends on your pace and which feeding sessions you attend.
Can you feed animals at Orana Wildlife Park?
Giraffe hand-feeding and other scheduled feeding activities are available. Regular feeding activities are included with admission, while some specialised encounters have separate costs and conditions.
What animals can you see at Orana Wildlife Park?
The park has animals including gorillas, orangutans, lions, tigers, giraffes, rhinos and meerkats. Its native collection includes kiwi, tuatara and birds such as the kea.
Is Orana Wildlife Park suitable for children?
Yes. The park has a playground, animal feeding activities and a café, and its grounds include a range of native and exotic wildlife.
