Hamilton Zoo

We were on our way out of town after a great adventure in Hamilton when we spotted the sign for the Hamilton Zoo. Early morning seems to be great times to visit the zoo and this morning did not disappoint. So with a wide-eyed child, we wandered into the zoo to see what this little gem had to offer.

Although Thomas didn't last long, we were able to enjoy some spectacular sights, many of which we did not have the opportunity too at the Auckland zoo. Unlike the view of one of the rhinoceroses at Auckland, there were six rhinoceroses out and feeding that morning and they were not the least big shy, being out in the open for all to see.

Another elusive critter from the Auckland zoo is the spider monkey. We normally can see them lazing in trees or hiding below the observation post, but in Hamilton, they were up and wandering around the grounds looking for food.

After both those great sightings we moved into an open plains habitat which was home to bison, ostrich, zebras, cheetahs, giraffes, and wild dogs. It was early feeding and and all the animals were out foraging. The giraffes, as usual were the stars of the show, as the crowded around feeding boxes and using their long tongues to gather food. One cheeky one even opened the top of the box to get better access. Thomas slept through it like a champion; with all the sounds and smells as well as an extremely bumpy path.

Not everyone was up and foraging though. The African wild dogs were clearly enjoying a sleep in, one of which refused to lift his head to anything, not even the zoo worker who wandered by. Not everyone can be a morning person.

Out of the plains and into the wetlands. We found ourselves in the aquatic version of Alfred Hitchock's Birds. I have never seen or heard quite so many ducks. They were almost literally everywhere; on railings, water, even some on the pathway. Some of my favourites, the paradise shell ducks were also their squawking like an old married couple, but the highlight was definitely the mandarin ducks with their highly colourful plumage.

We also got to see a New Zealand falcon, one of the birds of prey I had not seen yet since my arrival either in the wild or in a zoo.

The primates were also very well represented at this zoo, with siamang eating in the trees, chimpanzees lazily hanging around in the early morn, adorable cotton top tamarins being...adorable, and cheeky Capuchin monkeys trying to figure out how they can get out of the cage or some sort of hand outs from the very interested tourists.

The two biggest highlights however, where the red pandas and the Himalayan monal. Although we had seen many red pandas before, the enclosure in Hamilton was home to what seemed to be at least five pandas, all of whom were running around, eating, and generally in the open, unlike the Auckland zoo. It was a great opportunity to really see them and their behaviour up-close.  The Himalayan monal was quite possibly one of the most beautiful birds I had ever seen. It's iridescent, almost metallic looking feathers made it look like the most intricate and spectacular sculpture brought to life.

We finished up with a few aviaries containing many sleeping birds we had seen before so we hurried through a growing crowd and back to the car for the trip home to Auckland. A nice send off for our Hamilton trip and likely a place we will visit again soon.