Our Early Childhood Education visits are fantastic ways for New Zealand's youngest students to explore the Zoo and discover.
We look forward to welcoming you and teaching the next generation of wildlife conservationists.
Early Childhood Education
Inspiring future conservationists
We offer Early Childhood Education visits specially catered to our youngest students. Visit the Zoo and join us for Tamariki time - free of charge with your ECE visit.
A fantastic way for young tamariki to discover wildlife.
Guide your students through Auckland Zoo at your own pace with an Early Childhood Education visit.
Explore Auckland Zoo in a safe and welcoming environment for pre-schoolers.
Dinosaur Discovery
Join us as we travel back in time to explore life from long ago! For a limited time, we are offering a Dinosaur Discovery ECE session.
Hear them roar, find their fossils, and engage your senses in our immersive Dinosaur Discovery Track.
Visit Tamariki Time for free!
Develop your toddler’s cognitive skills through story-time. Sing, dance & play!
Every Wednesday and Thursday, our visitor experience and education teams host a fun and educational session for pre-schoolers at 10am and 10:30am.
Suitable for all children under 5, the sessions will have songs, games, activities and much more.
Self-guided Zoo visit:
- All children 5 years and under in ECE groups - Free
- All adults (including teachers and supervisors) - $19 each
- Children over 5 years - $11 each
Bookings are essential. Available during term time (9.30am - 4.15pm, last entry)
Auckland Zoo delivers education sessions in accordance with the Ministry of Education's Te Whāriki.
- WELLBEING | MANA ATUA
- Goal: Children experience an environment where their emotional well-being is nurtured
- BELONGING | MANA WHENUA
- Goal: Children and their families experience an environment where connecting links with the family and the wider world are affirmed and extended
- Goal: Children and their families experience an environment where they know that they have a place
- CONTRIBUTION | MANA TANGATA
- Goal: Children experience an environment where they are encouraged to learn with and alongside others
- COMMUNICATION | MANA REO
- Goal: Children experience an environment where they develop non-verbal communication skills for a range of purposes
- Goal: Children experience an environment where they discover and develop different ways to be creative and expressive
- EXPLORATION | MANA AOTŪROA
- Goal: Children experience an environment where their play is valued as meaningful learning and the importance of spontaneous play is recognised
- Goal: Children experience an environment where they learn strategies for active exploration, thinking, and reasoning