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No trip to New Zealand is complete without seeing a Kiwi! Luckily, spotting these unique and fascinating birds is easy if you know where to look - and we’ve made it even more convenient for you with this latest Product Feature. We’ve picked five of the best spots to see real live Kiwis, all with a point of difference and something different to offer. Don’t let your clients miss out on the opportunity to see New Zealand’s national icon, in its natural environment or at specially built facilities.

Willowbank Wildlife Reserve
Christchurch

Just 15 minutes from Christchurch’s city centre is the Willowbank Wildlife Reserve.

Willowbank offers the largest open display of Kiwis in New Zealand and does not keep them behind glass walls. They are instead kept in a natural enclosure, and the ‘Kiwi guarantee’ ensures that your clients will definitely get to see one!

Willowbank is also famous for its nighttime viewing offer, where your clients will be able to see breeding pairs under the stars. The Reserve is also the home of Ko Tane Maori Cultural Performance, giving your clients yet another reason to visit.

The kiwis at Willowbank can be viewed between 10:30am and 10pm daily, all year round.
www.willowbank.co.nz

Ruggedy Range
Stewart Island

In the deep south lies New Zealand’s third largest island, Stewart Island. If your clients are looking to experience kiwi spotting in an unspoilt environment and as close to nature as possible, they will not want to miss a Ruggedy Range Wilderness Experience. Ruggedy Range offers "off the beaten track" wilderness adventures, taking small groups on a journey to discover New Zealand’s national icon in this beautiful environment. Ruggedy Range offer a range of activities to suit a variety of interests and abilities, including multi-day walks, sea kayaking trips, and experiences including crossing the heart of Stewart Island, following a primeval river, through wetland, scrub and across dunes to a wild west coast beach.
www.ruggedyrange.com

Zealandia
Wellington

Zealandia is situated 2km from Wellington city centre at the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary. Not only will your clients have the opportunity to see and hear a kiwi bird but Zealandia is the ideal place to find out more about New Zealand’s native wildlife with a new state of the art Visitor & Education Centre opening in April 2010. Whether your client decides to roam freely around the nature sanctuary or join a night tour, their time will be well spent.

As dusk falls over the sanctuary, your clients will hear birdsongs including the sound of native parrots in the trees overhead. The ancient tuatara (a reptile only found in New Zealand) then prepares for the hunt ahead. Once darkness sets in, the glow-worms come out so bright that visitors often put their torches away.

Zealandia’s night tour runs every day except Christmas and starts 30 minutes before night fall. The sanctuary is also open for day time tours 364 days a year from 10am to 5pm.
www.visitzealandia.com

Rainbow Springs Kiwi Wildlife Park
Rotorua

Rainbow Springs is situated in Rotorua and provides your clients with a ‘behind the scenes’ glimpse at kiwi conservation in action. The Kiwi Encounter is the only purpose built kiwi conservation centre open to the public in the world. With no glass between your clients and the kiwis, this enables clients to view these flightless birds foraging for food in a similar environment to their natural habitat.

New Zealand’s National Kiwi Trust is also located at Rainbow Springs which provides visitors with a unique insight into kiwi conservation. Your clients will learn about the scientific process from egg collection in the wild, incubation, hatching, and raising the kiwi until it’s ready to be released into the wild.

Not only does the award winning Rainbow Springs provide the opportunity to see Kiwi’s, it also provides a wildlife experience including trout, tuatara, pigs, sheep, native birds, and native New Zealand trees.

Guided tours operate between 10am and 4pm daily.
www.rainbowsprings.co.nz

Ulva Island Bird Sanctuary
Stewart Island

The native flora and fauna from a Stewart Island Maori perspective. Ulva’s guided walks take place on an idyllic predator free bird sanctuary on Ulva Island which is a short water taxi ride from Stewart Island’s mainland. One of Ulva’s guided walks includes the world-renowned evening excursion which will bring them face to face with kiwi in the wild.

Ulva Goodwillie, who runs the tours, was named after this lovely island sanctuary. The stories that have been passed down to her over generations enhance the wildlife experience on Ulva Island. Guided walks are available all year round and night excursions on demand.
www.ulva.co.nz