Natureland Zoo

Natureland Zoo Natureland is Nelson’s local zoo! 🐒 Get up close to native and exotic animals in a fun, family-friendly environment.
(435)

As a registered charity, your visit supports wildlife conservation and education in NZ. 🌿🐾 Natureland Zoo: Nelson’s Wildlife Zoo & Conservation Centre

Natureland is your local family-friendly zoo dedicated to wildlife conservation and education. Get up close and personal with native, exotic, and domestic animals right here in Nelson! As a registered charitable trust, every ticket and donation goe

s directly back into animal care and protecting New Zealand’s precious biodiversity. Come visit us for a fun day out that makes a real difference.

🐾 Plan your visit: www.natureland.nz
🌿 Support our animals: www.natureland.nz/donate
📍 Find us at Tahunanui Beach, Nelson

07/06/2026

The kākā are coming back to Nelson—are your gardens ready?

Welcome to the final episode of our series! We’ve shown you the genetics, the breeding, and the daily zoo care, but this last chapter belongs to you. As this taonga species expands into our towns, we need to learn how to truly co-exist with them.

To keep these curious parrots safe and genuinely wild, it’s time for a few adjustments:

Ditch the bird feeders: Sugar water and feeders can spread disease and act as "junk food" that alters their natural wild behaviors. 🛑

Expect some mischief: Kākā love to chew, shred wood, and strip bark. Our suburban fruit trees will definitely be on their radar—and that’s just part of the journey!

Plant native flora: The absolute best way to welcome them home is by planting the native trees and shrubs they evolved with. 🌳

You aren't just feeding a bird; you’re helping mend a fragmented ecosystem.

Thank you so much for following our series! Let’s ensure that when the kākā returns, they find a home that is safe, healthy, and thriving. Drop a 🌱 in the comments if you're ready to get planting!

Shoutout to our friends in Wellington Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne Ecosanctuary and Wellington Zoo Te Nukuao for showcasing Kākā introduction in urban areas and coexistence!

And of course to our amazing conservation partners who all of this would not be possible:
Project Janszoon
Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō
Department of Conservation
The Brook Waimārama Sanctuary

Species

⏰ REGISTRATIONS ARE NOW LIVE!Natureland Holiday Programmes are officially open for bookings! Whether your child wants th...
07/06/2026

⏰ REGISTRATIONS ARE NOW LIVE!

Natureland Holiday Programmes are officially open for bookings! Whether your child wants the fun, games, and crafts of Keeper Kids (Mon–Thu) or is ready to roll up their sleeves for our brand-new Friday Z.A.P. (Zoo Apprenticeship Programme), today is the day to secure their spot.

Spaces are strictly limited and fill up fast. Head straight to our website, choose the programme that suits them best, and lock it in!

👉 Book here: https://natureland.nz/holiday-programmes

Generous bunch we are ❤
07/06/2026

Generous bunch we are ❤

06/06/2026

How do you prepare a zoo-born parrot for life in the wild? It takes precision, passion, and a whole lot of deep-cleaning. 🧼🦜

Welcome to Part 4! Today, we’re showing you exactly how our keepers at Natureland prepare these intelligent birds for the wild. Translocating a kākā is a years-long journey, and it's a delicate balancing act.

Our team follows strict national standards to ensure every bird is physically and mentally ready for the forest. This includes:

Strict Biosecurity: Daily deep-cleans and rigorous health protocols to prevent disease.

Seasonal Diets: Mimicking the natural cycles of the forest with high-protein meals during breeding season.

Occupational Enrichment: Designing complex puzzle feeders to sharpen the foraging skills they'll need in the wild.

Zero Habituation: Providing top-tier care while ensuring they remain wild at heart and independent of humans.

This isn't just a job for our team—it’s a long-term commitment to returning the voice of the kākā to our South Island forests. 💚

Watch today's video for an inside look at daily zoo life, and stay tuned for our final episode!

None of this would be possible without our wonderful partners in conservation:
Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō
Department of Conservation
Project Janszoon
The Brook Waimārama Sanctuary

05/06/2026

Behind every kākā released into the wild is a massive, high-tech genetic puzzle.

Welcome to Part 3! Today, we’re looking at how breeding coordinators manage a strict, science-based breeding plan across New Zealand to maximize genetic diversity and keep the population strong.

From matching the perfect pairs to ensuring chicks are parent-reared to keep their wild instincts, every detail is carefully calculated. Years ago, captive programmes just maintained small numbers—today, the focus is active, high-capacity breeding for wild release.

This massive operation relies on an incredible network of government agencies, wildlife organizations, iwi, and community groups all working together. Without this teamwork, securing the future of the South Island kākā wouldn’t be possible!

Watch the video to see how science meets daily zoo care, and stay tuned for Part 4!

All this amazing work done with our incredible partners in conservation

ngatiapakiterato
Project Janszoon
Department of Conservation
The Brook Waimārama Sanctuary

Come celebrate our parrots with us!Scavenger hunt: we've organised a scavenger hunt across the zoo that will introduce y...
05/06/2026

Come celebrate our parrots with us!

Scavenger hunt: we've organised a scavenger hunt across the zoo that will introduce you to some legendary extinct parrots and some extremely rare ones too!

These parrots need us educated and armed with the tools needed to help in their protection! See if you can spot them all and if you do you can hand in your booklet to be entered into a draw to have a meet and greet with our newest Kea Tiki!

Workshops: Parrots are smart animals and need a lot of enrichment to keep them stimulated and performing natural behaviours. Join us for one of our workshops (11:15am & 2pm) to help us put together some enrichment for these incredible manu!

Pop up talks: After our workshops we'll be offering some educational Keeper talks about our Kea and our South Island Kākā. Learn all about them, their conservation status, their story and how you can help in their conservation efforts.

Most of all we want to share with you how you can care for these taonga that share the same backyard as us!

See you tomorrow!

Due to heavy rain we will be closed for the remainder of today. Stay safe & dry everyone and hope to see you tomorrow fo...
05/06/2026

Due to heavy rain we will be closed for the remainder of today.

Stay safe & dry everyone and hope to see you tomorrow for all of our fun parrot activities!

04/06/2026

Why do we spend thousands of hours caring for the South Island kākā? Because our forests depend on them. 🌲

Welcome to Part 2 of our educational series! Today, we’re looking at the bird itself and its massive ecological role in Aotearoa.

From dispersing seeds to pollinating native flora, the kākā is a vital piece of our ecosystem. While introduced predators and deforestation pushed them to the brink—leading to an 'Endangered' status in 2005—we are finally seeing a hopeful turn.

Thanks to intensive predator control and breed-for-release initiatives, the kākā is officially on the road to recovery. 📈🦜

Watch the video to see how these clever parrots shape the environment around us!

All of this conservation work would not be possible without our amazing partners:

Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō
Department of Conservation
Project Janszoon
The Brook Waimārama Sanctuary

A big shout-out to Westpac, whose team recently joined us for their volunteer days to lend a hand around Natureland.The...
04/06/2026

A big shout-out to Westpac, whose team recently joined us for their volunteer days to lend a hand around Natureland.

Their team rolled up their sleeves, got stuck into a range of projects, and made a real difference around the park. Our native bird aviary is looking great!

With National Volunteer Week coming up we'd also like to recognise the important role volunteers play in helping organisations like ours thrive. Whether it's individuals giving their time or businesses getting involved through corporate volunteering, every contribution makes a difference.

If your workplace is looking for a meaningful way to give back to the community, we'd love to hear from you.

Thanks again, Westpac, we've loved having you as part of the Natureland whānau ❤

04/06/2026

The kākā are returning to Nelson—and we’re taking you behind the scenes! ✨🦜

Welcome to the launch of our new multi-part educational series on the South Island kākā and their breed-for-release programme.

For over 10 years, Natureland has dedicated thousands of hours, resources, and expert care to this vital conservation strategy. Now, we want to give you an inside look at how these complex programmes actually function.

Over the coming days, we’ll cover everything from genetics to how you can help prepare for the resurgence of this taonga species in our backyard.

Stay tuned for the series, get inspired, and let’s make a difference together!

A huge shoutout to our partners in this amazing conservation work:

Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō
Project Janszoon
Department of Conservation
The Brook Waimārama Sanctuary

Address

Hounsell Circle, Tahunanui Beach
Nelson
7011

Opening Hours

Monday 9:30am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 9:30am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 9:30am - 4:30pm
Thursday 9:30am - 4:30pm
Friday 9:30am - 4:30pm
Saturday 9:30am - 4:30pm
Sunday 9:30am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+6435486166

Website

https://www.qualmark.co.nz/, https://zooaquarium.org.au/, https://www.register.charities.govt

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Natureland Zoo posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Natureland Zoo:

Shortcuts

Share

Category