Hamilton Zoo is a zoological park at 183 Brymer Road in Rotokauri, Hamilton. The website describes it as the largest zoological park in the North Island, spread across 25 hectares in the Te Kaaroro Nature Precinct. Its animals include tigers, chimpanzees, native birds and reptiles, with more than 450 animals listed in total.
Visitors can book animal encounters led by keepers with lemurs, tigers, rhinos, red pandas, siamangs, macaws, tuatara and porcupines. The website says 80 per cent of each encounter purchase goes to supporting the species at the zoo and their counterparts in the wild. There are playgrounds, shaded seating and picnic tables, a cafe and a gift shop, and school visits and holiday programmes. The zoo is open daily from 9.30am to 4.30pm, with the last entry at 3.30pm. Our pick in Rotokauri for a family day out with animal encounters.