We invited @naturewithanna along on a Kiwi Experience tour to experience in our opinion the top wildlife activities and encounters that our beautiful home has to offer. Read on to find out what she had to say!
Before I embarked on my journey to Aotearoa, I knew that I wanted my trip to feature the highlights of native wildlife found in this special corner of the world. New Zealand separated from other land masses 80 million years ago. This enabled its animal and plant-life to evolve uniquely and is now home to 80,000 native species, contributing enormously to the globe’s biodiversity.
As a solo-traveller I decided the best way to get around would be with a local company who knew the area well and provided a place to meet other solo-travellers and form new friendships. So as a handy guide, here I am going to highlight the best activities for wildlife watching or places where I encountered wildlife during my Kiwi Experience Hop-On Hop-Off trip. So hopefully you have a better idea of where to go and what activities are worth doing!
North Island
1. Wildlife in the Bay of Islands - Urupukapuka Island
In Paihia, I took the Hole in the Rock boat tour which travels around the 144 islands, and then stops on Urupukapuka Island for the afternoon. On the boat tour I spotted a pod of dolphins in the distance, and sometimes other marine mammals can be spotted too – including the occasional orca. The boat tour was very relaxing and depending on the sea and weather conditions, the boat even may be able to make it through the hole in the rock! Whilst on the island, I explored some of the shorter walks and the island was filled with bird life and song – with plenty of Fantails and Tui making an appearance, as well as Banded Rails. By the jetty, there were also some tropical looking fish which really proved I was looking into the South Pacific Ocean.
2. Hahei Explorer, Coromandel Peninsula
The Hahei Explorer was a highlight of the North Island for me. You spend an hour on the water in a powerboat, zooming along the coastline and slowly making your way into intricate cave systems which have been eroded overtime by the waves. The trip also gives you a chance to look at the famous Cathedral Cove. We saw a New Zealand Fur Seal which was about 6 weeks earlier than one has been seen here before. We also saw cormorants, red snapper and blue Maui Maui which were following boat. You can also choose to do kayaking here, and the people who did the trip saw stingrays.
3. Glow Worms in Waitomo
The glow worms of New Zealand are the larvae of fungus gnats which are endemic to the country. They can be seen taking part in a variety of activities. I decided to go on the Ruakuri Glow Worm Caves tour which involves a leisurely walk down into the caves to see their striking bioluminescence. If you are feeling more adventurous there are 3–5-hour black-water rafting experiences, where you can see even more glowworms whilst rafting through the cave systems on a rubber ring! Interestingly, during floods in New Zealand, these glowworms can be washed away.
4. Birds of Zealandia
Zealandia is an urban nature reserve which is predator free thanks to its 3-metre-high fence along the perimeter of the reserve. This allows native ground-nesting birds and animals to live here freely without being at risk of predation.
I took a guided tour by day; however, you can also come at dawn and at night when you have a chance to see one of the 200 kiwis which call Zealandia home. I saw tuataras which are rare reptiles around at the same time as the dinosaurs, some loud parrots called the kākā, the monstrous looking tree wētā, and lots of other species too. A free shuttle bus runs between the city iSite and top of the cable car. I booked onto a guided tour, which was led by one of the regular volunteers and it was fantastic to learn more about the wildlife here and get some insider knowledge.
South Island
5. Kiwi Park, Queenstown
Another option is to visit the Kiwi Park located in Queenstown by the gondola, to see native birds more up close and personal. The park has a range of native birds found in New Zealand and surrounding islands, such as the Chatham Islands. Some of these birds are commonly found and have been rescued and rehabilitated, whilst others form part of breeding programs across the country. The park had several talks running which were free to join, and they introduced you to some of their residents, including a tuatara and possum. My main reason for visiting was to see the North Island Kiwis. As you cannot really say you have visited New Zealand without seeing a kiwi!! They have two nocturnal houses where you can see the kiwis – it takes about 10 minutes for your eyes to adjust to the darkness. Although hard to see it was amazing to see a kiwi foraging in the darkness. It was like looking at a rather large pom-pom running around with a humongous beak! I'd definitely recommend adding this to your list!
6. Dolphin Swim Encounter in Kaikoura
I made sure to include Kaikoura in my itinerary, as often it can be an overlooked gem of the South Island. I booked the dolphin swim which meant a bright and early start to get kitted out in our wetsuits and snorkelling gear. It truly was a magical experience, including the roaring red sunrise we were welcomed by, followed by an influx of dolphins surrounding the boat. There were around 400 dusky dolphins in the area at the time of our swim, with around 20 in the single pod which came to play with us. The whole experience is ethical, with the dolphins being completely wild, with no feeding taking place. And this is what makes the experience so much more special! I’d recommend taking a GoPro to capture this bucket list moment forever. Make sure to book this one in advance, as it is really popular and often sells out. Kaikoura was definitely a highlight of my trip and if you have the time, you can also choose to kayak with the seals or take a boat tour to see Kaikoura’s Sperm Whale residents!
7. Pōhatu Penguins and Hector's Dolphins at Akaroa
I took a bus trip with French Connection to Akaroa, which is a peninsula near to Christchurch. The town has French history and influence, with many of its houses built in a French-style. The whole area is a flooded crater which was created when of the volcanic walls collapsed and allowed the ocean to enter to create Akaroa Harbour. I signed up to Pōhatu Penguin’s two-hour wilderness tour which fitted in with my bus. However, you can choose to do a penguin evening experience which is best between the months of May and December. My wilderness tour involved commentary about the local area and landscape as well as the more intricate details of the penguins that cool flea in their home. We successfully spotted one of the penguins in its house!
In Akaroa, you can also do a boat trip to see the Hector's Dolphins, which are only found in this area in the entire world!
8. Wildlife of Milford Sound/Fiordland
You can experience a cruise on Milford Sound as a day trip from Queenstown, as part of the Kiwi Experience bus route. Known by some as the eighth wonder of the world this area has high mountainous areas with many waterfalls. Unfortunately, when I visited the cloud was low and you did not have a good view of the mountains. But our trip improved when we were joined by a pod of bottlenose dolphins and a rock sausage better known as a New Zealand Fur Seal.
Kea are endangered alpine parrots, which are some of the most intelligent in the world, and they are often found in the area of Fiordland. We spotted a couple going through the tunnel to Milford Sound, but you can also find them across the Southern Alp region, with hotspots along Arthur’s Pass and Mount Cook.
Other included walks as part of the Kiwi Experience stop-offs.
- We took a walk in the Redwoods Forest in Rotorua which was originally planted in 1901 to experiment whether Californian Redwoods would grow in New Zealand and also as a source of timber. There we some interesting species of plant and fungi spotted along this route!
- Along the coast near Westport is Cape Foulwind which is home to the Tauranaga Seal Colony, overlooking the Tasman Sea. It is just one of many opportunities to spot seals along the coastal parts of your trip.
- We took a short break at Nelson Lakes where you can choose to take a dip in the glacial fed lake however be careful of the Longfin eels. These are an endemic species to New Zealand.
I hope this inspires you to add some wildlife activities to your tour and experience wildlife which you have never encountered before! I travelled across the North and South Islands with Kiwi Experience in April 2024. Some of these sightings can be seasonal – so check before you go!
Check out some more from Anna here
Instagram: www.instagram.com/naturewithanna
Website: www.naturewithanna.com
