Auckland Zoo brings you Dinosaur Nights & Lights – luminescent evenings on the Dinosaur Discovery Track, running every night from Friday 3 to Saturday 18 July (5:30pm – 8:30pm) throughout the school holidays.

This exciting and unique night-time Zoo offering is an opportunity to experience the Track’s stunning animatronic dinosaurs in a whole new light (literally!) and enjoy kai and connecting with your whānau and friends as you do.

Bring your own kai or choose something delicious from the Zoo’s great food outlet Korimako Café, it will have plenty of hot food and drink options.    

Along with the artfully luminated dinosaurs by the lighting experts at Kenderdine Entertainment Lighting, there is a ‘Silent Dino Disco’ at our Dinosaur Tent for those wanting to get their dino groove on!

Dinosaur Nights & Lights Tickets  

Know before you go:

  • Leave plenty of time for parking before your allocated session time (better still, take public transport).
  • The event will go ahead if it rains - bring your raincoat or umbrella just in case.
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Food and drink

There are plenty of hot food and drink options available every night. 

Korimako Café has a range of dino-themed kai, including burgers, hot chips, drinks and more. 

Plus for Dinosaur Nights & Lights, there is vegetable soup with fried bread on offer.

Check out the Korimako Café menu

Entry Details

Dinosaur Nights & Lights is located at the Zoo’s Dinosaur Discovery Track and surrounding Watering Hole Plaza and does not include access to the rest of the Zoo. From the Zoo’s Entry Plaza, visitors will be guided by staff along the Africa Safari Track via a specially lit path – all part of this luminescent experience.

Event Entry

We are operating a timed-entry system for the Dinosaur Nights & Lights event - entry time slots are every 15 minutes. Your ticket gives you entry to the event at your allotted time. Entry before or after your allocated time slot will be at the Zoo’s discretion and dependent on capacity, last entry at 7:30pm. There is no limit to the length of time you spend enjoying the lights, until closing at 8:30pm.

Video

Dinosaur Nights & Lights

Don't forget to book tickets for the special luminescent evenings on the Dinosaur Discovery Track

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The Styracosaurus artfully luminated by lighting experts at Kenderdine Entertainment Lighting

Pre-booking is essential, tickets are available online only. No tickets will be for sale at cashiers.

We are operating a timed-entry system with entry available every 15 minutes.

A ticket gives you entry to the special event once on a specific date and time; booked at purchase. Your ticket gives you entry for 15 minutes after your scheduled booking time, you must arrive within this window. A grace period outside your scheduled entry time will be at the Zoo’s discretion and dependent on capacity.

There is no limit to the length of time you can spend on the Dinosaur Discovery Track after you enter. Last entry is at 7:30pm. The special event finishes at 8:30pm, at which time the Zoo closes and all visitors will need to leave.

Tickets are non-transferrable and non-refundable.
In the rare case that Auckland Zoo is forced to close for unexpected reasons such as major weather events, a notice of cancellation will be provided and all customers who have booked for that date, will receive a 100% refund.

Access to the rest of the Zoo outside of the Africa Safari Track, the Dinosaur Discovery Track and Watering Hole Plaza is restricted for this special event.

The information centre will be open during the event, for enquiries please contact us during Zoo opening hours, 9:30am till 4:30pm on (09) 360 3805 or via email reservations@aucklandzoo.co.nz

Tickets for this special event cannot be purchased in conjunction with another promotional offer.

Visitors must not bring torches or handheld lights to this event.

We recommend that hire items are booked during normal hours (09) 360 3805 or via email reservations@aucklandzoo.co.nz to avoid disappointment. Visitors can also try hiring them on the night at the Information Centre, subject to availability. Hire items may be subject to time limits dependent on availability and demand.

Anyone under the age of 15 must be accompanied by an adult. Unaccompanied minors will be refused entry.
All standard Auckland Zoo Terms and Conditions of Entry apply.

Auckland Zoo Members (Annual Pass Members and Dinosaur Pass Members):

  • The Member tickets are for Auckland Zoo Members ONLY. A Member must book the Member tickets and must enter their active membership number when completing the order.
  • Every Member will be required to present their ticket and valid Membership on entry to the special event. Please ensure that your membership is up to date/valid prior to the event date as the Membership Hub will not be open.
  • Members are not able to book member priced tickets for friends and family and no discounts are available.

Dinosaur Nights & Lights dates:

  • Friday 3 July 2026 – Saturday 18 July 2026

We are operating a timed-entry ticket system for this special event with entry available every 15 minutes.

Your ticket gives you entry to the special event once and you may arrive up to 15 minutes after the time you have selected. Entry after this time will be at the Zoo’s discretion.

Admission will not be granted if visitors arrive after 7:30pm. 

FAQs

You must buy Dinosaur Nights & Lights tickets online. Tickets are not available for sale at cashiers on the night.

Dinosaur Nights & Lights Tickets 

We recommend purchasing online in advance so that you don't miss out on the date and session time that you want.

Please be advised that anyone who purchases Member tickets will need to present both their ticket and an active Auckland Zoo Membership pass for every person who has a Member ticket.

We are operating a timed-entry system for the Dinosaur Nights & Lights special event with entry every 15 minutes.

Your ticket gives you entry to the event once on your chosen date and at your chosen time. Entry after this time will be at the Zoo’s discretion and dependent on capacity.

There is no limit to the length of time you spend at Dinosaur Nights & Lights, until closing at 8:30pm.

Yes, Auckland Zoo Members (including Annual Pass Members and Dinosaur Pass Members) must purchase tickets to Dinosaur Nights & Lights as these are special events, and we are operating a timed-entry system.

Auckland Zoo Members get a 50% discount on the full admission price.

Every Member will be required to present their ticket and valid Membership on entry to the special event. Please ensure that your membership is up to date/valid prior to the event date as the Membership Hub will not be open.

No, as Dinosaur Nights & Lights are special events, a separate ticket for this event needs to be purchased for your chosen date and time. 

Please note that tickets are not available for sale at cashiers on the night. You can buy tickets online here:

Dinosaur Nights & Lights Tickets 

No, Dinosaur Nights & Lights is a special event and is located at the Zoo’s Dinosaur Discovery Track and the surrounding Watering Hole Plaza only. As an added bonus, visitors will walk along the Africa Safari Track to get to the lights, but the rest of the Zoo is closed. This includes most of the amenities around the Zoo entry plaza: the Zoo Shop, the Membership Hub and Wētāpunga café.

Yes, we have a range of hire items available: pushchairs, wheelchairs, mobility scooters, child carriers and umbrellas.

Advanced bookings of hire items is recommended, visitors can also try hiring them on the night at the Information Centre, subject to availability. Hire items may be subject to time limits dependent on availability and demand.

To make a booking for a hire item, please contact us during Zoo opening hours, 9:30am till 4:30pm on 09 360 3805 or email reservations@aucklandzoo.co.nz

Please don’t. The pathways and Track have been artfully illuminated by a specialist lighting company (Kenderdine Entertainment Lighting) to deliver the best and safest lighting experience for both animals and visitors. You are welcome to use your phone to take photos, but please do not use the torch function.

This is an alcohol free event, and Auckland Zoo prohibits visitors from bringing alcohol onsite.

You may bring your own food, or kai will be available for purchase at Korimako café.

Parking at the Zoo is free after 5pm.

Auckland Zoo has two large car parks providing off-street parking. It costs $3/hour to park in the Zoo car parks, with a maximum charge of $9. Parking charges apply from 9am to 5pm every day.

Accessible car parking is available in the Motions Road car park, closest to the main entrance to the Zoo, for vehicles displaying a current mobility parking permit.

Street parking along Motions Road and Old Mill Road is free and, in some areas is time-restricted to 3 hours.

All of the animals living in and around the African savannah have the choice of heated indoor areas so, depending upon the weather and the animals’ individual preferences, you may see them out and about during Dinosaur Nights & Lights as you are guided to and from the Dinosaur Discovery Track.