Auckland Zoo doesn’t list a discount for individual teachers. What it does give is a school-group rate: 1 free teacher or supervising adult for every 6 paying students, with students at $10 each for a session with the zoo’s Conservation Learning team and additional adults at $19 each.
If you’re planning a class trip or an early childhood outing, this is the page for you. If you’re a teacher heading to the zoo on a weekend with your own family, the school rates don’t apply, and the section near the end covers what a regular ticket costs.
How To Get The Auckland Zoo Teacher Discount
You book a school visit through the Education page, not the general ticket page. The Education FAQs say to scroll to the section that fits your group, click Book Now if you know what session you want (or explore the sessions first), and complete the online booking form. One of the Education team will be in touch. The tickets page says the same from its side: school groups or classes should book through the Conservation Learning team for special education pricing.
Book early. Visits that include an education session must be booked at least 3 weeks in advance, and self-guided visits at least 5 working days in advance. You don’t pay up front, either: the zoo invoices your school or center after the visit, so payment is based on how many people actually came on the day.
If you have a question before you book, the Education page lists the Conservation Learning team at conservationlearning@aucklandzoo.co.nz and (09) 360 3817.
What School Groups Pay
The Education page lists costs for NZ educational institutions. For school students in Years 0 – 13, an onsite Conservation Learning session is $10 per student, with 1 free adult for every 6 students and 1:1 teacher aides free. Additional adults outside that ratio are $19 each, and double sessions are $20 per student. A self-guided visit, where you explore the zoo without a session, is $11 per student with the same free adults. The Primary and Intermediate page words the same ratio as 1 free teacher or parent per 6 children.
The page describes a session as 45 minutes, for Year 0-13 students, bookable Monday to Friday. The FAQs add that your time is your own before and after the session, so the rest of the day is yours to spend in the zoo. Tertiary groups pay $13 per student for a session, with 2 free lecturers for groups of more than 10 students.
Supervision Ratios And Early Childhood Visits
The zoo sets minimum adult-to-student ratios: 1:3 for early childhood, 1:6 for Years 0 – 6, 1:15 for Years 7 – 10 and 1:30 for Years 11 – 13. The FAQs say a group that doesn’t meet them can’t enter the zoo, and that supervisors must be responsible adults aged 18 years and over.
Early childhood groups are priced differently. On self-guided visits, the FAQs say all adults, including teachers and supervising adults, are $19 each, and all children 5 years and under are free. They also say only MOE approved ECE facilities or groups are entitled to education discounts, and they tie the discounted education visits to the zoo’s contract with the Ministry of Education.
Special education needs are eligible for further discounts, and the FAQs say to contact the Education team for more info. If you hold an Annual Pass, the FAQs say Annual Pass memberships and other discount vouchers can’t be used with an already discounted education visit.
A Free Pre-Visit
Before the big day, the FAQs recommend a complimentary pre-visit as part of planning your zoo visit. They say complimentary entry isn’t provided for children or family members, so it’s a trip for you on your own. Contact the Education team to arrange one.
For Secondary Teachers
The Education page links a teacher professional development program. Its own page says the program aims to build conservation science understanding and skills in Auckland secondary teachers, and that it’s made available to the selected teachers for free. It includes online learning, a 1-Day Workshop at Auckland Zoo, a visit to your school from the Conservation Learning facilitators, and a conservation challenge you lead with your students. Participants must be secondary school teachers with an interest in wildlife conservation science, and priority goes to teachers in lower decile or high equity index Auckland schools.
The page says applications have now closed, so we’re listing it as something to watch for, not something you can sign up for today. The Education page also links lesson plans and learning resources to support teachers in online classrooms.
Visiting On Your Own
On a weekend with your own kids, the tickets page doesn’t mention teachers, and its concessions are for Auckland seniors and students. Prices depend on where you live. Auckland residents need to show proof of address for all Auckland tickets. A pre-booked off-peak ticket for an Auckland resident is $19 per adult and $11 per child aged 4-14 years, and a flexible peak ticket is $29 per adult and $16.50 per child. Visitors from outside Auckland, including international visitors, pay a flexible ticket of $39 per adult and $22 per child. Infants aged 0-3 years are free.
If you’re bringing friends or family along, the page says a group discount is applied automatically to all visitors: for 3 paid tickets you get 10% off, for four tickets 15% off, and for 5+ tickets 20% off. The page also lists an Annual Pass Membership with unlimited entry 364 days a year, and a new membership is listed from $49.00.
What We Couldn’t Confirm
The pages print prices with a dollar sign and no currency code, so check the amounts on your invoice or at checkout. We didn’t submit a booking form, so we can’t show you what an invoice looks like.
The Education page says the zoo is redeveloping its Conservation Learning program to align with the refreshed New Zealand Curriculum, with new education sessions for Years 0-10, and that there are no changes to the Year 11-13 sessions. Session details for the younger years may change from what we describe here, so confirm with the Conservation Learning team when you book.
Q&A
Does Auckland Zoo give teachers a discount?
Not for individual teachers on any page we read. School groups get 1 free teacher or supervising adult for every 6 paying students.
What does a class pay?
School students in Years 0 – 13 are $10 each for an onsite session and $11 each for a self-guided visit. Additional adults outside the free ratio are $19 each.
How far ahead do I book?
At least 3 weeks for a visit with an education session and at least 5 working days for a self-guided visit.
Do I pay when I book?
No. The zoo invoices your school or center after the visit, based on actual attendance on the day.
Do early childhood centers get the same rates?
Only MOE approved ECE facilities or groups are entitled to education discounts. On self-guided visits, all adults pay $19 each, and children 5 years and under are free.
Can I use my Annual Pass on a school visit?
No. The FAQs say Annual Pass memberships and other discount vouchers can’t be used with an already discounted education visit.
Can I visit the zoo before I bring my class?
Yes. The FAQs recommend a complimentary pre-visit, though complimentary entry isn’t provided for children or family members.
Is there a discount if I go with my own family?
There’s no teacher rate. The tickets page applies a group discount automatically: 10% off for 3 paid tickets, 15% for four and 20% for 5+.
More Information:
The details above come from Auckland Zoo’s own Education, Education FAQs, Primary and Intermediate Education, Teacher Professional Development and tickets pages as they loaded when we checked. Rates and rules change, so confirm them with the Conservation Learning team before you book. See more entertainment discounts for teachers.
