Birdwatching

Where

To see most, if not all New Zealand’s endemic species, you'll need to travel through much of the three main islands. See Birding New Zealand for a full list of operators(opens in new window) that offer birdwatching tours, excursions, and accommodation.

When

Birdwatching in New Zealand is an all-year-round activity, but the seasons provide unique opportunities to observe different species and behaviour:

• Spring (September to November) is when many birds are more visible as they nest and raise their young, or return from their Arctic breeding grounds.
• Summer (December to February) is when birds are highly active, feeding and caring for their fledglings. It is also a great time to see seabirds, including albatross.
• Autumn (March to May) is when some migratory birds start their journey back to the Northern Hemisphere and native forest birds like the tūī and bellbird are more vocal.
• Winter (June to August) is when you can easily spot alpine birds such as kea, which live in mountain regions of the South Island.