Zoo Keeper for a Day – Herbivores, Birds & Primates

Here’s your chance to learn what it’s really like to be a Zoo Keeper! You’ll spend an exciting day with a real Wellington Zoo Keeper ‘on-section,’ helping them to provide the best possible care to the animals who call Wellington Zoo home. Your day will include behind-the-scenes access to staff and animal areas and helping to carry out real, daily animal care tasks. You can look forward to feeding and cleaning, and of course getting a closer look at some incredible animals while learning from our professional and passionate Animal Care team members!

This in-depth experience is available for only two participants at a time, so you’ll have plenty of time to get to know the Zoo team. You can ask loads of questions about how they care for the animals at Wellington Zoo, and what being a Zoo Keeper is really like.

A Zoo Keeper’s day looks different every day, so no experience will be exactly the same. With the Herbivores, Birds & Primates teams, you may find yourself helping with morning checks of our Kororā Little Blue Penguins, making enrichment for the curious Kea or feeding the Black-and-White Ruffed Lemurs a tasty treat!

Age: 18 years and older. For kids 12 years old and under, check out our Holiday Programme!

Time: Wednesday's 8:30am – 1:30pm (5 hour duration including 30 min break)

Cost: $499 per person, or $449 per person if you book two people together on the same experience. 

Includes morning tea and Zoo Entry. Zoo Crew members save 10% when booking for one participant. Booking fees apply. 

Participants: Maximum of 2 participants on each of the experience options

Clothing: You must come prepared with appropriate shoes and clothing for the day, like what you’d wear for tramping or working outside. This includes sturdy enclosed shoes, long pants, a hat, and wet weather gear if appropriate. You will be provided with additional information after booking. You may get wet and dirty !

Accessibility and fitness: This is an immersive, full-day experience and requires a moderate level of fitness as there is a lot of walking involved, some uneven surfaces and activities such as cleaning or shovelling. Unfortunately, this experience is not wheelchair accessible.  

Health and safety: Participants must comply with all health and safety directions as per the terms and conditions, and any communications from Zoo staff throughout the experience. Physical contact with animals may or may not occur on this experience and inclusion of any particular animals is not guaranteed. You will be provided a N95 mask for some part of this experience.

Terms and conditions: Full terms and conditions for this experience are available on the booking page. Please read these fully and carefully before booking your experience as these will help you decide if this experience is for you. 

We require that participants for our Zoo Keeper for a Day – Herbivores, Birds & Primates are fully vaccinated, and can show proof of this through a valid Covid record.  For all NZ residents, your vaccination records can be downloaded from My Covid Record.

If you have any further questions about participating, please get in touch by phone or email.