Brilliant..... Orana Park, set on 80 hectares of park like grounds is nearer to ChristchurchAirport than the centre of town. It is about a 25 minute car journey from the city centre. Car Parking is available outside. A bike track (moutain biking) is opposite so another alternative is that you could hire a bike from town, cycle to Orana Park (be about an hours ride) and then have an hours ride round McCleans Island. A shuttle bus is available from centre of town (check out the visitor centre in Cathedral Square). Anyway, Orana Park is one of the best I have ever visited.
Check out; http://www.oranawildlifepark.co.nz $19 for adults, $7 for school age kids but $45 for family (2 adult and 3 kids). Can pay extra for a trip in the lion feeding truck - about $13 each for adults. Open from 10am till 5pm.
Get there early so you can follow the feeding time schedule.
This is an attraction that is under rated and not widely advertised. On arrival we wondered what on earth we had come across, it appeared to be nothing there.... we saw some meer cats and a porcepine and then nothing... a flying fox and a few picnic tables..... however, then the adventure began. This is more of a safari than zoo as the open spaces for the animals was a delight to see. The hands on experience is fantastic. The giraffe - you go to a hut and get some straw and then walk up a platform and feed the giraffes. You do have to follow the zoo keepers and keep up with the feeding schedule but the hands on approach is something that needs to be experienced.. its like ...wow. Be careful of the giraffes knocking off your hat, or even some of the more elderly people, they are very strong. The rhino's - no hands on approach for feeding these, however, we got to enter the compound (gate unlocked by keeper) and the only thing between us and the rhino (and their food) were a few wooden posts (obviously required for safety purposes). The rhino's were only a few feet away and I could pratically touch them. You can see the texture of their skin and hooves. The main attraction and experience which was an additional cost to the entrance price was a visit in the lion cage. About 10 people have the opportunity to pay extra to go into the feeding truck. Basically a cage on the back of a pick up truck. The lions come right up and the keeper feeds the raw meat to the lions. The lions crawl up the sides and lie on top of the cage. It's definately the closest that I want to be next to a lion. Brilliant photo opportunity. The cheetah's - at feeding time, the keepers put their food on the pulley system so you can see them run for their food.
Basically, keep to the feeding schedules within the park and the keepers feed the animals and tell you interesting facts about the animals - some strange stories about the the hyena's !
You can also see the kiwi - native bird to New Zealand where Orana is doing kiwi conservation and breeding them.
It has a walk through aviary which is one of the largest in New Zealand, being able to see the endangered native birds.
As well as walking round, you can also get on the shuttle (tractor with carriages behind it) which again provides a good commentary.
Staff are extremely helpful and knowledgable.
Brilliant experience which I'd love to do again. Definately for the kids and adults ! Don't need the kids to have a great time here...
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