Kiwi Park Queenstown — Attraction in South Island

Australian here, I've not felt so compelled to write a review in my life before this week.

I will be very honest, of all the wildlife sanctuaries/zoos I've visited across Asia-Pacific, this has to be the most disappointing in terms of enclosure size/variety of birds/interactions and service, based on cost of ticket - $60 NZD per adult.

First and foremost, this place is SMALL, as in, you can probably do everything under 2hrs (including the shows). Don't get me wrong, you do get to see the key native birds (

This park has both good and bad aspects. Good points are as follows:They lend out audio guides in several languages other than English for free. Shows with staff explanations are also free to attend (tokens are distributed in advance and are necessary to attend). There are several feeding times for kiwi, making it highly likely to see them frequently (this may be good for humans, but unfortunate for the kiwi, as I will explain later). The bad points are as follows:It can all be summed up in one word: the exhibit environment prioritizes humans. I have visited several other facilities within New Zealand where kiwi conservation is carried out. This is my personal impression based on that experience. Firstly, the space per one kiwi bird is narrower compared to other facilities, and the barrier between kiwi and humans is only an acrylic board of limited height. This is likely causing significant stress to the kiwis, which are sensitive to smell and sound. In fact, there was a kiwi which behaviors that appear to be stereotypical behaviors (movements animals make due to stress factors such as being confined in a narrow cage, etc. Please look it up if you are unfamiliar). I was shocked because I had never seen such behavior in other facilities. While it may be unavoidable for small children visiting the park to shout, I believe it is the responsibility of the facility to create an environment where such noises do not directly reach the kiwis. I feel sorry for the kiwis. As for the condition of other animals, it is as others have mentioned. Finally, regarding the price, considering the location of the facility in Queenstown and that it is not run by a public institution, I think the price is reasonable. After all, everything in Queenstown is expensive. Just look at the price of gasoline; it's obvious. Perhaps it's because land...

I want to start by saying that Kiwi Park offers an engaging and educational experience that truly showcases New Zealand’s unique wildlife. However, I’m giving this low rating because the front desk service during our visit was extremely disappointing and frankly damaging to the otherwise positive image the Kiwi Park team works hard to build.

On the afternoon of April 14th, the front desk staff showed clear impatience and a lack of professionalism. A particularly frustrating moment was when I was simply trying to get my credit card ready to pay — instead of giving me a moment, the staff member abruptly asked if I “needed more time” in a tone that felt like I was holding up the line, even though there was no one behind me. It felt like being rushed through a process that should have been welcoming and informative.

Even worse, I witnessed the same staff showing attitude and zero effort in helping non-English speaking visitors who were clearly confused about the ticketing process. Rather than offering basic assistance, they were dismissed and shuffled aside with minimal communication or empathy. At one point, I saw them repeatedly asking people to move around for no clear reason, creating confusion and discomfort for several guests.

This type of customer-facing behavior completely undermines the spirit of Kiwi Park — which should be about accessibility, education, and warmth. It’s disheartening to see great work from the conservation and animal care teams overshadowed by a poor front-of-house experience.

I hope the management takes this seriously. Training in cultural sensitivity, basic customer service, and patience is urgently needed. Front desk staff represent the first and last impression of any visit — and what I experienced left me disappointed and embarrassed for a place I otherwise would have...