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The 4 Biggest Wildlife Sanctuary in Hamilton, New Zealand

Hamilton is an enchanting city in New Zealand renowned for its captivating wildlife sanctuaries that provide refuge to a diverse array of native species. These sanctuaries are havens of biodiversity, inviting nature enthusiasts, families, and adventurers to immerse themselves in the wonders of the natural world. Hamilton’s wildlife sanctuaries are dedicated to protecting and preserving New Zealand’s unique flora and fauna, offering a rich and educational experience for visitors of all ages.

Explore the beauty of Zealong Tea Estate, a sanctuary nestled amidst rolling hills and lush greenery. Discover the wonders of Hamilton Zoo, a home to over 600 animals from across the globe. Immerse yourself in the tranquil ambiance of Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari, a haven for native birds and reptiles. Encounter the fascinating marine life at the National Aquarium of New Zealand, a showcase of aquatic wonders.

Top Wildlife Sanctuary in Hamilton, New Zealand

New Zealand (Māori: Aotearoa [aɔˈtɛaɾɔa]) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island (Te Ika-a-Māui) and the South Island (Te Waipounamu)—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island country by area and lies east of Australia across the Tasman Sea and south of the islands of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga. The country's varied topography and sharp mountain peaks, including the Southern Alps, owe much to tectonic uplift and volcanic eruptions. New Zealand's capital city is Wellington, and its most populous city is Auckland.
The islands of New Zealand were the last large habitable land to be settled by humans. Between about 1280 and 1350, Polynesians began to settle in the islands and then developed a distinctive Māori culture. In 1642, the Dutch explorer Abel Tasman became the first European to sight and record New Zealand. In 1840, representatives of the United Kingdom and Māori chiefs signed the Treaty of Waitangi, which in its English version declared British sovereignty over the islands. In 1841, New Zealand became a colony within the British Empire. Subsequently, a series of conflicts between the colonial government and Māori tribes resulted in the alienation and confiscation of large amounts of Māori land. New Zealand became a dominion in 1907; it gained full statutory independence in 1947, retaining the monarch as head of state. Today, the majority of New Zealand's population of 5.25 million is of European descent; the indigenous Māori are the largest minority, followed by Asians and Pacific Islanders. Reflecting this, New Zealand's culture is mainly derived from Māori and early British settlers, with recent broadening of culture arising from increased immigration. The official languages are English, Māori, and New Zealand Sign Language, with the local dialect of English being dominant.
A developed country, it was the first to introduce a minimum wage, and the first to give women the right to vote. It ranks very highly in international measures of quality of life, human rights, and it has low levels of perceived corruption. It retains visible levels of inequality, having structural disparities between its Māori and European populations. New Zealand underwent major economic changes during the 1980s, which transformed it from a protectionist to a liberalised free-trade economy. The service sector dominates the national economy, followed by the industrial sector, and agriculture; international tourism is also a significant source of revenue.
Nationally, legislative authority is vested in an elected, unicameral Parliament, while executive political power is exercised by the Government, led by the prime minister, currently Christopher Luxon. Charles III is the country's king and is represented by the governor-general. In addition, New Zealand is organised into 11 regional councils and 67 territorial authorities for local government purposes. The Realm of New Zealand also includes Tokelau (a dependent territory); the Cook Islands and Niue (self-governing states in free association with New Zealand); and the Ross Dependency, which is New Zealand's territorial claim in Antarctica.
New Zealand is a member of the United Nations, Commonwealth of Nations, ANZUS, UKUSA, OECD, ASEAN Plus Six, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, the Pacific Community and the Pacific Islands Forum. It enjoys particularly close relations with the United States and is one of its major non-NATO allies; the United Kingdom; and with Australia, with a shared "Trans-Tasman" identity between the two countries.

Top Wildlife Sanctuary in Hamilton, New Zealand

Hamilton Zoo

  • Address: 183 Brymer Road, Rotokauri, Baverstock 3289, New Zealand
  • Map: Click here
  • Rating: 4.5 (3671)
  • Phone: +64 7 838 6720
  • Website:
  • Opening hours:
    Monday: 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
    Tuesday: 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
    Wednesday: 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
    Thursday: 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
    Friday: 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
    Saturday: 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
    Sunday: 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Waiwhakareke Natural Heritage Park in Hamilton, New Zealand
Waiwhakareke Natural Heritage Park in Hamilton, New Zealand

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Embark on a thrilling journey through the diverse array of Wildlife Sanctuary in cities like Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland across the Oceania continents, revealing hidden gems waiting to be discovered. Whether you’re a local business or a multinational company, these cities proudly display a rich tapestry of profesional services designed to cater to a wide array of preferences.

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The 4 Best Wildlife Sanctuary near Hamilton, New Zealand

Waiwhakareke Natural Heritage Park in Hamilton, New Zealand
Waiwhakareke Natural Heritage Park in Hamilton, New Zealand

Shaw’s Bird Park

  • Address: 143 Hall Road, Peacocke, Hamilton 3282, New Zealand
  • Map: Click here
  • Rating: 4.6 (512)
  • Phone: +64 274 967 275
  • Website:
  • Opening hours:
    Monday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
    Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
    Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
    Thursday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
    Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
    Saturday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
    Sunday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Reviews:
    Mahmood Nabulsi (Moe)✭✭
    a month ago
    Pretty place, and it needs some maintenance work. Don’t go if it’s raining because you will not be able to see the birds. I didn’t see any bird except a peacock. And cages are dirty and almost destroyed. The office is closed.
    Joanie Badenhorst-Awasthi
    11 months ago
    It was a really bad experience

    The structure on the road side with the name on is so stunning and elaborate, that I was really excited at the prospect.

    What a disappointment.

    There are some yellow arrows telling you where to park. But then there is a very long track with yellow arrows to walk. It’s better to drive to the end of the track. Then you’re not allowed to park close. You have to walk from this 2nd closer carpark. I drove down, because I have mobility issues, and they begrudgingly allowed it.

    There was nobody on site, except for a gentleman doing some cleaning (who said I could park there). I stood in the blazing sun for about 7 minutes. Then I walked to what looked like an office, but it was closed with “restricted access”.

    Then I started walking around the disgusting, dirty cages that had all different birds hoarded together. I took 2 photos, but felt bad that I haven’t paid, or spoken to someone or wouldn’t get the full experience. So I left. I came all the way from West Auckland for this. When I left, a lady drove past on a golf cart. I’m not sure if she was supposed to help me.

    There was a very friendly peacock who came to greet me

    Dmitry Y✭✭✭✭✭
    9 months ago
    I highly recommend visiting this place while you’re in Hamilton. We arrived early in the morning, which was the perfect time to chat with the keepers and get an up-close look at the birds without too many other visitors around.
    Sam Lee✭✭✭✭✭
    a year ago
    Absolutely beautiful experience! Took my 7yr and 2yr olds and wow we will be back! Lovely walks and the birds are so wonderful! A true gem of a place! Better than the zoo for us! My son got to hold a giant bird and my daughter loved patting the bunny and seeing the baby chicks that was their highlight! Also a playground and walking track! All for free! Love this place and will be bringing family and recommending to my freinds! Thankyou shaws bird park!
    Teana K✭✭✭✭✭
    a year ago
    Shaw’s Bird Park is a 7ha area that is home to well over 500 native trees and multiple varieties of birds. Murray and Margaret Shaw bought this property when it was a gully full of blackberry and gorse. It is now a wonderful breeding ground for birds. They breed Mandarin, Carolina and NZ Grey Teal ducks. The park can have up to 2000 visitors a day in busy periods. There is a petition at Change.org under ‘Save Shaw’s Bird Park’ if you would like to add your name to stop council from running the East/West arterial road through the Shaw’s property (the park) within 1.9 meters of their house.

Waiwhakareke Natural Heritage Park

  • Address: 183 Brymer Road, Rotokauri, Hamilton 3289, New Zealand
  • Map: Click here
  • Rating: 4.4 (68)
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Te Kaaroro Nature Precinct

  • Address: 183 Brymer Road, Rotokauri, Hamilton 3289, New Zealand
  • Map: Click here
  • Rating:

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5 Replies to The 4 Biggest Wildlife Sanctuary in Hamilton, New Zealand

  1. Nice spacious zoo. Give yourselves at least 3 hours for a good sight-seeing walk. We were fortunate the weather is good, so we ended up seeing almost all animals, some sheltering under a shade.

    I just wished they made the fences better. Most of the poles and fences are blocking the view, but we like how you can be really close to some animals, so I guess that’s alright.

    Zoo is clean, you can see the staff are passionate about what they are doing.

    Overall, we enjoyed our visit and definitely recommend visiting.

  2. Love this place we went on a Wednesday not many people so we can see every Animal at our own pace, environment are awesome very well maintained and also love staff, we have a zoo keeper walk passed us at the rhino place and he stop and explain a lot to us. At the end of the trip we get to the main playground my 3 years old have so much fun in the playground that she don’t want to leave.

    Will go visit again soon.

  3. I worked as a Zoo Keeper at Hamilton Zoo back in 2000, but haven’t been back for over a decade.

    The Zoo was always a lovely visit in terms of the animals and their enclosures. It has only improved over time with an impressive entrance + cafe, the upgraded play space for kids, and some wonderful landscaping.

  4. We (couple) enjoyed our trip to the Zoo and stayed a good four hours looking around and reading all the info. (It’s not just for kids, Adults need to keep learning too!) It’s great you can bring your own food and have a picnic. We also loved having the ice cream truck halfway through our wonder, prices and portion size was value for money (Boxing Day was hot). All facilities are clean and every path, garden and enclosure if well maintained and cared for (thanks to the staff) Note: There are quite a few steep paths to walk however there are quite a few seats along the way for those who will need to have a little break. Great day!

  5. A great zoo with such friendly keepers. Talks are available and face to face encounters. Enclosures are big enough that it feels like the animals are free to act natural. Recommend allowing 2-3 hours to see it all. More if you want rest and lunch at the cafe.

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