zooboy28
Well-Known Member
Te Wao Nui is the new New Zealand precinct at Auckland Zoo, which cost NZ$16 million, and opened on Sunday 11 September. I visited today (16 September), here is my review:
The Coast
This is the first habitat, and one of two pre-existing (if modified) exhibits in Te Wao Nui. The entry now includes a large whale skeleton, the rib cage of which visitors pass through on their way up to an excellent exhibit for New Zealand Fur Seals, Subantarctic Fur Seals & Californian Sea Lions. From this, visitors enter a DOC research hut, with various educational displays before entering a walk-through aviary. This holds Little Blue Penguins, Spotted Shags & New Zealand Dotteral, all of which put on a great show. From this, a path leads down, past a life-size model of a Wandering Albatross, to an underwater viewing window, through which the seals can be seen. This area is very, very good, although a little more species-related signage in the aviary would be helpful. The path then leads on to...
The Islands
This habitat has been built on top of the old Hippo exhibit, and retains a few features, most notably the old viewing platform (possibly heritage-listed?). It starts with an 'Island Sanctuary' hut, which has a large exhibit for Tuatara on one side, and five exhibits for Chevron Skink (x2), Forest Gecko, Falla's Skink & Northland Green Gecko. Unsurprisingly there was no sign of the skinks, but all the other reptiles were readily visible. Exiting the hut, visitors enter a small walk-through aviary, which contains Campbell Island Teal & Antipodes Island Parakeets. This aviary is very nice, and both species were readily visible and unperturbed by people. From here, a bridge/Kauri Dam leads out to the old hippo platform, which has two other bridges across the creek (one of which is a fun swing bridge). A new boardwalk leads under the Old Stone Bridge to...
The Wetlands
This habitat is built on the old Sea Lion and Alligator/Otter exhibit, and is the largest new aviary. It is also the most disappointing. Basically a huge aviary with a huge pond and a huge rock wall + waterfall and a whole pile of concrete paths. The pond had six ducks on it. SIX! And not exciting ducks, just Grey Teal & New Zealand Scaup. There was a sign for White-faced Heron, but we saw none (and I really think there were none in there as it was a ridiculously bare aviary). There was a large tank for Long-finned Eels as well, and this was well done (although it looked empty). This aviary could be improved by adding more vegetation, maybe some bulrushes or similar, and some more birds (Pukeko, Shovellers, Kingfishers, etc.). A tank for introduced frogs would also fit well in here. Exiting this area, visitors enter...
The Night Forest
This nocturnal house was built on the site of the old Aquarium, and you start in a cave-like cavern with fake glow-worms on the roof. Next is an empty exhibit which says Archey's Frogs coming soon. All along one wall is a big exhibit for North Island Brown Kiwi & New Zealand Lesser Short-tailed Bats. I think this is divided by a low wall to give two kiwi exhibits. The Kiwi were very active and visible, while I only saw the bats in flight, but it was great to see them, especially when they flew past the backlit moon in the centre of the exhibit. On the other side of the building are small glass-fronted exhibits for Cave Weta, Robust Skink, Duvaucel's Gecko & Kauri Snail. Past this area are three tanks holding native freshwater fish, one has Black Mudfish, the next has a sign for seven fish species (bullies, galaxiias and torrent fish - can't confirm all were present) and Freshwater Crayfish, while the third has Giant Kokopu I think, but was completely unlabelled. I think this was the best habitat in Te Wao Nui. From the nocturnal part, you enter a DOC hut which focuses on Kiwi conservation, before exiting and heading back under the Old Stone Bridge to...
The Forest
This is the other pre-existing part of Te Wao Nui, although it has been closed for a number of years. This is the largest aviary in the zoo and has not changed largely from its previous incarnation, although it appears a bit more open. It contains North Island Kaka, Yellow-crowned Parakeets, Red-crowned Parakeets, New Zealand Wood Pigeon, Bellbird, Silvereye, Tui & North Island Saddleback! Didn't see all of these sadly, and it seems very weird that there are no ground-dwelling birds (ie. Banded Rails) or waterfowl (ie. Brown Teal) in here, especially given the large pond just inside. No gecko exhibits either, which used to be part of the aviary. The back of the aviary is still separated-off, and although there were no signs saying that this part was for breeding North Island Kokako, I think it probably will be used for this purpose. Exiting this aviary, the path leads down to the old 'Frog Research Hut', which appears to be devoid of native frogs and anyhting else surprisingly. From here, the path leads around to...
The High Country
This habitat starts off with a Southern Alp-themed walk-through aviary with Kea & Weka. Nice aviary, although the Kea were a bit shy I thought. Exiting this, a covered pathway leads past a set of four glass-fronted exhibits, presumably for Otago Skinks and Rough Gecko (according to the zoo's website), although they had no signs and appeared empty. To get to the last exhibit, visitors enter a beautifully-recreated schist hut (however this is not obviously enter-able, and I think many visitors wouldn't know they could actually go in), which has a Gecko exhibit with no signage (but definitely occupied). Another door leads out to a verandah, from which you can look into the final aviary, which contains Blue Duck & Orange-fronted Parakeets.
So that is Te Wao Nui, a very beautiful precinct, with largely perfect signage and exhibits. The Night Forest and Coast are the stand-out areas, and the Islands are also excellent. The High Country will be as good when the reptile exhibits are occupied and signage is improved, while the Forest needs more ducks and rails IMHO. The Wetlands needs the most work, as it is currently nothing but a 'glorified duck pond'. The precinct as a whole works very well from all visitors perpectives I would think, and displays almost all of New Zealand's fauna and flora (as well as heaps of our culture and heritage - Maori carvings and artwork abound). The main species missing are predators, but there is space for a New Zealand Falcon aviary in the High Country habitat, and Morepork could be added to the Night Forest if the Bats were confined to just one of the Kiwi exhibits (cos I don't think they would mix so good?). Overall easily the best NZ exhibit in the world (with 45+ species) and highly recommended.
Photos to come.
The Coast
This is the first habitat, and one of two pre-existing (if modified) exhibits in Te Wao Nui. The entry now includes a large whale skeleton, the rib cage of which visitors pass through on their way up to an excellent exhibit for New Zealand Fur Seals, Subantarctic Fur Seals & Californian Sea Lions. From this, visitors enter a DOC research hut, with various educational displays before entering a walk-through aviary. This holds Little Blue Penguins, Spotted Shags & New Zealand Dotteral, all of which put on a great show. From this, a path leads down, past a life-size model of a Wandering Albatross, to an underwater viewing window, through which the seals can be seen. This area is very, very good, although a little more species-related signage in the aviary would be helpful. The path then leads on to...
The Islands
This habitat has been built on top of the old Hippo exhibit, and retains a few features, most notably the old viewing platform (possibly heritage-listed?). It starts with an 'Island Sanctuary' hut, which has a large exhibit for Tuatara on one side, and five exhibits for Chevron Skink (x2), Forest Gecko, Falla's Skink & Northland Green Gecko. Unsurprisingly there was no sign of the skinks, but all the other reptiles were readily visible. Exiting the hut, visitors enter a small walk-through aviary, which contains Campbell Island Teal & Antipodes Island Parakeets. This aviary is very nice, and both species were readily visible and unperturbed by people. From here, a bridge/Kauri Dam leads out to the old hippo platform, which has two other bridges across the creek (one of which is a fun swing bridge). A new boardwalk leads under the Old Stone Bridge to...
The Wetlands
This habitat is built on the old Sea Lion and Alligator/Otter exhibit, and is the largest new aviary. It is also the most disappointing. Basically a huge aviary with a huge pond and a huge rock wall + waterfall and a whole pile of concrete paths. The pond had six ducks on it. SIX! And not exciting ducks, just Grey Teal & New Zealand Scaup. There was a sign for White-faced Heron, but we saw none (and I really think there were none in there as it was a ridiculously bare aviary). There was a large tank for Long-finned Eels as well, and this was well done (although it looked empty). This aviary could be improved by adding more vegetation, maybe some bulrushes or similar, and some more birds (Pukeko, Shovellers, Kingfishers, etc.). A tank for introduced frogs would also fit well in here. Exiting this area, visitors enter...
The Night Forest
This nocturnal house was built on the site of the old Aquarium, and you start in a cave-like cavern with fake glow-worms on the roof. Next is an empty exhibit which says Archey's Frogs coming soon. All along one wall is a big exhibit for North Island Brown Kiwi & New Zealand Lesser Short-tailed Bats. I think this is divided by a low wall to give two kiwi exhibits. The Kiwi were very active and visible, while I only saw the bats in flight, but it was great to see them, especially when they flew past the backlit moon in the centre of the exhibit. On the other side of the building are small glass-fronted exhibits for Cave Weta, Robust Skink, Duvaucel's Gecko & Kauri Snail. Past this area are three tanks holding native freshwater fish, one has Black Mudfish, the next has a sign for seven fish species (bullies, galaxiias and torrent fish - can't confirm all were present) and Freshwater Crayfish, while the third has Giant Kokopu I think, but was completely unlabelled. I think this was the best habitat in Te Wao Nui. From the nocturnal part, you enter a DOC hut which focuses on Kiwi conservation, before exiting and heading back under the Old Stone Bridge to...
The Forest
This is the other pre-existing part of Te Wao Nui, although it has been closed for a number of years. This is the largest aviary in the zoo and has not changed largely from its previous incarnation, although it appears a bit more open. It contains North Island Kaka, Yellow-crowned Parakeets, Red-crowned Parakeets, New Zealand Wood Pigeon, Bellbird, Silvereye, Tui & North Island Saddleback! Didn't see all of these sadly, and it seems very weird that there are no ground-dwelling birds (ie. Banded Rails) or waterfowl (ie. Brown Teal) in here, especially given the large pond just inside. No gecko exhibits either, which used to be part of the aviary. The back of the aviary is still separated-off, and although there were no signs saying that this part was for breeding North Island Kokako, I think it probably will be used for this purpose. Exiting this aviary, the path leads down to the old 'Frog Research Hut', which appears to be devoid of native frogs and anyhting else surprisingly. From here, the path leads around to...
The High Country
This habitat starts off with a Southern Alp-themed walk-through aviary with Kea & Weka. Nice aviary, although the Kea were a bit shy I thought. Exiting this, a covered pathway leads past a set of four glass-fronted exhibits, presumably for Otago Skinks and Rough Gecko (according to the zoo's website), although they had no signs and appeared empty. To get to the last exhibit, visitors enter a beautifully-recreated schist hut (however this is not obviously enter-able, and I think many visitors wouldn't know they could actually go in), which has a Gecko exhibit with no signage (but definitely occupied). Another door leads out to a verandah, from which you can look into the final aviary, which contains Blue Duck & Orange-fronted Parakeets.
So that is Te Wao Nui, a very beautiful precinct, with largely perfect signage and exhibits. The Night Forest and Coast are the stand-out areas, and the Islands are also excellent. The High Country will be as good when the reptile exhibits are occupied and signage is improved, while the Forest needs more ducks and rails IMHO. The Wetlands needs the most work, as it is currently nothing but a 'glorified duck pond'. The precinct as a whole works very well from all visitors perpectives I would think, and displays almost all of New Zealand's fauna and flora (as well as heaps of our culture and heritage - Maori carvings and artwork abound). The main species missing are predators, but there is space for a New Zealand Falcon aviary in the High Country habitat, and Morepork could be added to the Night Forest if the Bats were confined to just one of the Kiwi exhibits (cos I don't think they would mix so good?). Overall easily the best NZ exhibit in the world (with 45+ species) and highly recommended.
Photos to come.
