Zoos, Aquariums & Animals on Long Island

Zoos, aquariums and animal attractions on Long Island range from a major marine aquarium and traditional wildlife parks to petting zoos, fish hatcheries, nature centers, live-animal museums and farm experiences designed for families. This guide brings those destinations together in one place so visitors can compare different types of animal experiences across Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau and Suffolk.

Use the interactive map to filter attractions by type, indoor or outdoor setting, audience, season and county. Because some animal farms and outdoor wildlife attractions operate seasonally or adjust hours for weather, always confirm current schedules before traveling.

Because Brooklyn and Queens are geographically part of Long Island and contain several major animal attractions that are practical day trips for Nassau and Suffolk residents, this guide also includes Queens Zoo, Prospect Park Zoo, and the New York Aquarium. The Bronx Zoo is not included because it is located off Long Island.

Where to See Animals on Long Island

Long Island does not have a large collection of traditional city-style zoos, but it does have a varied group of animal attractions. Families can see sharks and sea lions in Riverhead, feed trout in Cold Spring Harbor, visit wildlife parks and petting zoos in Manorville and Melville, meet rescued or non-releasable wildlife at nature centers, and explore museums with live reptiles, amphibians, fish and touch tanks.

Aquariums & Aquatic Animals

• Long Island Aquarium in Riverhead: Large marine aquarium with sharks, sea lions, penguins, stingrays, butterflies and scheduled animal presentations. Official website.
• Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery & Aquarium in Cold Spring Harbor: Two aquarium buildings, eight outdoor ponds, New York freshwater fish, reptiles and amphibians, trout feeding and catch-and-keep fishing. Official website.

Zoos, Wildlife Parks & Petting Zoos

• Long Island Game Farm Wildlife Park & Children’s Zoo in Manorville: Wildlife park and children’s zoo with domestic and exotic animals, feeding areas, animal encounters and educational programming. Official website.
• The Animal Farm Petting Zoo in Manorville: Nonprofit family petting zoo with rescued animals, hands-on feeding, pony rides, Safari Train, playgrounds and picnic areas. Official website.
• White Post Animal Farm in Melville: Animal farm and petting zoo with hand- and bottle-feeding, giraffe experience, bird aviaries, primates, playgrounds and seasonal family attractions. Official website.

Wildlife & Nature Centers with Live Animals

• Sweetbriar Nature Center in Smithtown: Nature center and wildlife rehabilitation facility with resident animal ambassadors, reptiles, farm animals, trails and a seasonal butterfly vivarium. Official website.
• Quogue Wildlife Refuge in Quogue: 305-acre refuge with trails and an Outdoor Wildlife Complex housing non-releasable native animals including owls, hawks and falcons. Official website.
• South Fork Natural History Museum & Nature Center in Bridgehampton: Natural history museum with a marine touch tank, live native reptiles and amphibians, freshwater and saltwater aquariums and family nature programs. Official website.
• Center for Science Teaching & Learning in Rockville Centre: Science museum at Tanglewood Preserve combining dinosaurs with more than 30 live animals, hands-on exhibits and nature programming. Official website.
• Tackapausha Museum and Preserve in Seaford: Nassau County nature museum and preserve with Long Island ecology exhibits, animal exhibits, live-animal programs and children’s activities. Official website.

Farm Animal Attraction

• Harbes Barnyard Adventure in Mattituck: Eight-acre family attraction with farm animals, chick observatory, pig races, playgrounds, bounce pillows and other farm activities. Official website.

Year-Round vs. Seasonal Animal Attractions

Several destinations, including Long Island Aquarium, Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery & Aquarium, Sweetbriar Nature Center, South Fork Natural History Museum, the Center for Science Teaching & Learning and Tackapausha Museum, provide year-round or largely year-round visitor experiences. Long Island Game Farm, The Animal Farm Petting Zoo and Harbes Barnyard Adventure are more seasonal and weather dependent. White Post Animal Farm operates throughout the year, although individual activities can change with the season and weather.

Choosing the Right Animal Attraction

For a large aquarium experience, Long Island Aquarium is the clear destination. Families interested in freshwater species and a shorter educational visit may prefer Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery & Aquarium. For hands-on farm animals, feeding experiences and younger children, White Post Animal Farm, The Animal Farm Petting Zoo and Harbes Barnyard Adventure are especially relevant. Visitors looking for native wildlife, trails and environmental education should consider Sweetbriar Nature Center, Quogue Wildlife Refuge, Tackapausha Museum and the South Fork Natural History Museum.

Methodology

LongIslandGuide.com compiled this directory by reviewing current official attraction websites, municipal park and museum pages, visitor information and current operating updates. Locations were included when live animals, animal exhibits, hands-on animal encounters or wildlife education are a substantial part of the normal public visitor experience. General farms, nature preserves without visitor-facing animal exhibits, veterinary facilities, adoption centers, and wildlife rehabilitation operations without regular public animal viewing were excluded.

Map coordinates were checked separately and embedded directly into the map rather than generated through live geocoding. The Holtsville Ecology Site animal sanctuary was not included because the Town of Brookhaven’s 2026 transition plan calls for a gradual closure and transfer of the animals. Hours, admission prices, available animals and specific encounters can change, especially at seasonal and outdoor attractions, so visitors should confirm details directly before traveling.

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Key Facts & Details

Feature	Details
Guide	Zoos, Aquariums & Animal Attractions on Long Island
Mapped Attractions	14 researched visitor destinations
Counties	Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau and Suffolk.
Attraction Types	Aquariums, zoos and wildlife parks, petting zoos and animal farms, wildlife and nature centers, and live-animal museums
Largest Aquarium Experience	Long Island Aquarium in Riverhead and New York Aquarium in Coney Island
Traditional Wildlife Park	Long Island Game Farm in Manorville, Queens Zoo, and Prospect Park Zoo
Indoor Options	Long Island Aquarium, Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery & Aquarium, South Fork Natural History Museum, CSTL and other museum/nature-center exhibits
Seasonality	Mix of year-round and seasonal attractions; outdoor operations may be weather dependent
Interactive Map	Filter by attraction type, setting, audience, season and area

Whether you want to spend a day exploring marine life, introduce young children to farm animals, see rescued wildlife, or combine an animal encounter with a nature walk, Long Island offers more variety than a simple list of “zoos” suggests. Use the map above to compare destinations, then confirm current hours and experiences directly with the attraction before planning your visit.