Your Visit
50 Years of Orana
On Saturday 25 September, 1976 Orana Wildlife Park (Orana Park at the time) opened the gates to the public at 10am. By 2pm the queue to enter the Park stretched 7km, with the last cars coming through in the dark!
On opening day the animals of Orana consisted of 18 lions which included 6 cubs, 2 tiger cubs, 2 donkeys, 2 camels, 2 water buffalo and two Shetland ponies. The main attraction on opening was the first drive thorugh lion reserve in New Zealand.
Share your memories
On 25th September 2026 Orana turns 50! To bring this important milestone to life we need your help. We’d love to hear your stories, favourite moments and see photos of your experiences at Orana. It might be a funny memory, a special event, a snapshot from years gone by, or a note about what Orana has meant to you.
Your photo or story may feature in a newsletter, on our website, social media or as part of our 50th anniversary celebrations (such as a photo exhibition) so we will need your permission to use the content.
Please submit your image/story below. Submissions close Tuesday, 30 June so we can assess material ahead of the event. We will contact you should your material be chosen to outline how it would be utilised. Thank you for being part of our story!
If you have any questions around submitting your photo/s please email [email protected]
For any media enquiries please contact:
Nathan Hawke
Marketing & PR Manager
[email protected]
