Diggers and cranes are still working hard at Auckland Zoo's south-east Asia habitat, but a year from now it will be a jungle paradise in the heart of Auckland.

Construction on the $58 million dollar project began in 2018, but really the first step was when Auckland Zoo's trio of orangutans moved to Christchurch for two years in late 2017.

Almost two years later Melur, Wanita and Charlie are waiting at their South Island home, while a crane puts together their brand new playground.

Once it opens, visitors to the zoo will see orangutans and Siamangs will climb on ropes suspended 23 metres in the air across a lake, while tigers will prowl above ground and the Sunda gharial crocodile hangs out in a specially built swamp.

It's all part of the zoo's master plan and overarching goal to get visitors and animals closer to each other.