Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
KIWI SPOTTING
A threatened species, the kiwi is also nocturnal and difficult to see in the wild, although you can do this in
Okarito on the West Coast and on Stewart Island. They can, however, be observed in many artificially dark 'kiwi
houses':
» West Coast Wildlife Centre ( Click here ) Franz Josef
» Orana Wildlife Park ( Click here ) Christchurch
» Willowbank Wildlife Reserve ( Click here ) Christchurch
» Kiwi Birdlife Park ( Click here ) Queenstown
Bird-Watching
The flightless kiwi is the species most sought after by bird-watchers. Sightings of the Ste-
wart Island subspecies are common at all times of the year. Elsewhere, wild sightings of
this increasingly rare nocturnal species are difficult, apart from in enclosures. Other birds
that twitchers like to sight are the royal albatross, white heron, Fiordland crested penguin,
yellow-eyed penguin, Australasian gannet and wrybill.
On the Coromandel Peninsula on the North Island, the Firth of Thames (particularly
Miranda) is a haven for migrating birds, while the Wharekawa Wildlife Refuge at Opout-
ere Beach is a breeding ground of the endangered NZ dotterel. There's also a very access-
ible Australasian gannet colony at Muriwai, west of Auckland, and one in Hawke's Bay.
On the South Island there are popular trips to observe pelagic birds out of Kaikoura, and
royal albatross viewing on the Otago Peninsula.
Two good guides are the revised Field Guide to the Birds of New Zealand, by Barrie
Heather and Hugh Robertson, and Birds of New Zealand: Locality Guide by Stuart Cham-
bers.
Nature Guide to the New Zealand Forest, by J Dawson and R Lucas, is a beautifully photographed foray into the
world of NZ's forests. Far from being drab and colourless, these lush treasure houses are home to ancient
species dating from the time of the dinosaurs. This guidebook will have you reaching for your boots.
Marine Mammal-Watching
Kaikoura, on the northeast coast of the South Island, is NZ's nexus of marine mam-
mal-watching. The main attraction here is whale-watching, but this is dependent on
weather conditions, so don't expect to just be able to rock up and head straight out on a
boat for a dream encounter. The sperm whale, the largest toothed whale, is pretty much a
 
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