Essential maintenance and upgrades

We do everything we can to make sure you have an amazing experience every time you visit Auckland Zoo.

To ensure we’re meeting the requirements of a good modern zoo today and into the future, it’s necessary that we carry out essential ongoing maintenance and upgrades to our animal habitats and visitor spaces.

On this page, you’ll find information on what areas of our Zoo are currently being worked on. We aim to have the most up to date information available, however please be aware that weather and other circumstances can impact these dates.

PSA: Tīeke aviary is closed

The tīeke (saddleback) chicks are *fledging, so we’ve closed the aviary to give them space to safely leave the nest and explore.

You’ll be able to visit the Tuatara Hut but will need to exit the way you came in, and can visit the rest of our immersive Te Wao Nui track as you usually would.

*Fledging is the time when a young chick's flight feathers start to come through, and they leave the nest and start learning to fly.

PSA: Swamp forest maintenance

On Tuesday 27 and Wednesday 28 October 2026, the Swamp forest tropical dome will be closed while it receives some maintenance works to ensure it is in tip top shape. 

While the works are taking place, you’ll be able to visit the rest of our immersive South East Asia track as you usually would.

PSA: Rhino habitat maintenance

From Monday 16 – Friday 20 November 2026, the rhino and nyala are not able to be visited, while their habitat receives some essential maintenance works to ensure it is in tip top shape. 

While the works are taking place, you’ll be able to visit the rest of our immersive Africa Safari Track as you usually would.

PSA: Coast habitat closure

The specialist marine habitat, that is a quarter-century old has been found to be unrepairable, so the entire Takutai/The Coast habitat is now permanently closed. 

The Zoo’s kororā/little penguin have been able to be relocated to established aviaries at the top of the Zoo (a non-visitor area) where our specialist bird keepers can continue to care for and fully provide for them.

In the future, this area will be redeveloped and once again be home to kōrorā, however this will take time to plan and build, and is therefore a few years away.