Auckland Zoo Lates 2024

This summer, Auckland Zoo is encouraging night owls to come out of the woodwork. From Thursday, January 18–Thursday, March 7, the Western Springs sanctuary will open its doors later than usual for an evening of animal spotting. You could get lucky — some of the critters you may see for the first time, due to them being more active at night than during the day.

From 4–8pm on Thursdays, visitors will be welcome to wander the grounds in the evening light and see what the zoo's 144 species get up to after dark. There will be six free keeper talks scheduled throughout the night — discover more about the Galàpagos tortoise, spider monkey or red panda.

The Zoo's newest culinary addition Te Puna will be open for a casual bite to eat, where you can enjoy a pizza and fries while watching the orangutans and siamangs swing around the South East Asia Jungle Track.

Visitors will also have the opportunity to check out the Old Elephant House restaurant, where you can enjoy a relaxed two-course meal surrounded by the sounds of animals winding down — or up — for the night.

On Wednesday, February 14, Old Elephant House will be welcoming lovebirds to a special Valentine's Day dinner. The three-course meal includes a chat with a zoo keeper, a glass of bubbly and an amuse-bouche between courses to cleanse the pallet. Both the Valentine's Day dinner and Zoo Lates 2024 will be available to book on Auckland Zoo's website from Friday, January 5.

Images: Auckland Zoo.