Mogo Wildlife Park has reopened its doors, two months after staff sheltered in the zoo to protect hundreds of animals from a devastating bushfire that swept through the NSW south coast on New Year's Eve.

Key points: Mogo Wildlife Park has been closed for two months following the NSW south coast bushfires

Mogo Wildlife Park has been closed for two months following the NSW south coast bushfires About 200 animals housed in the zoo were protected by staff from blazes

About 200 animals housed in the zoo were protected by staff from blazes Tourists have been urged to visit the zoo and other bushfire-impacted businesses in the region

The zoo officially reopened on Sunday and free tickets were handed to local families impacted by the destructive fires, giving them the chance to welcome back the popular tourist attraction and celebrate a story of resilience.

The park came under threat when the Clyde Mountain fire tore through the nearby township of Mogo.

Mogo itself was evacuated but staff stayed on at the zoo and enacted their fire plan.

Residents in the small coastal town were advised to head to the beach on New Year's Eve morning but 16 staff from the zoo decided to go to the park to protect the some 200 exotic animals.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian attended the zoo's reopening. ( ABC News )

Some businesses in town were destroyed but, aside from damage to the perimeter fence, the park was largely unscathed and all animals were kept safe.

Zoo director Chris Staples said the survival of the animals was down to a well-executed bushfire plan.

"People have said ever since New Year's Eve, 'What made you make the decision to stay?' There was never a decision — it had to be this," he said.

"These animals are family and that was shown by everyone who stayed."

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Watch Duration: 1 minute 5 seconds 1 m 5 s Mogo zoo reopens after bushfires

Mr Staples said some of the animals sheltered in his own home on the zoo premises, larger animals such as giraffes and rhinos were given access to all of their paddocks, and the more dangerous species like lions, tigers, gorillas and orangutans were held in their night dens.

He said the survival plan included access to plenty of water and staff were in constant communication via two-way radios.

He said the zoo had been impacted by the loss of visitors over the peak summer season but it was a relief to get back to normal.

"The simple fact is there's nothing better than that beautiful energy of people enjoying encounters with animals, and I'm desperate to have it back again."

All the animals were saved after what was described by zoo staff as "armageddon". ( Chad Staples )

After two months of cleaning up, the NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and NSW RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons joined other dignitaries in marking the parks reopening.

"In my view, the Mogo Zoo is a role model for how people should prepare and plan for bushfires and disasters impacting them," Mr Fitzsimmons said.

"You've only got to look around at the extraordinary grounds here, the wildlife — and to have largely boundary fences impacted and requiring repair, but every animal survived."

'They want you to visit'

Ms Berejiklian paid tribute to the efforts of zoo staff to protect the animals.

"To see the zoo not only saved its most precious animals, being the largest private zoo in the nation, it also really preserved and represented the spirit of this wonderful community," she told the audience at a ceremony which was also attended by Bega MP Andrew Constance.

"To be able to preserve all the animals without any losses is a wonderful sign of resilience and survival, and with the zoo reopening, the best days are ahead of it."

Mr Fitzsimmons called for tourists to visit and support bushfire-impacted businesses.

"We want people right across NSW, right across Australia, right across the world to come and visit NSW, visit all those fire-affected areas of NSW including the south coast, they want you to visit.

"What I can guarantee you is there will be plenty of smiles and there'll be a warm handshake to welcome you to their town and serve you and support you on your visit to these areas."