Natural World

Places to watch birds

New Zealand is a bird watcher's paradise with an international reputation. It is an important location for migratory birds, especially from the Arctic, and also home to many rare and unusual flightless birds.

The Seabird Coast (Miranda)

One hour from Auckland, the coast around Miranda enjoys an international reputation for migratory shorebirds. Flocks of 30,000 birds are not unknown and 25% of all known seabird species visit every year, many from Alaska, Mongolia and Siberia. Turnstones, curlews, sandpipers, godwits, wry bill plovers and lesser knots are among the visitors. The Miranda Shorebird Centre is a good place to start.

Tiritiri Matangi (Hauraki Gulf)

This small island, served by ferry from Auckland, is a bird sanctuary open to the public. Some of the rarest flightless birds in the world live here, thanks to the absence of predators. Daytrips and tours are plentiful and allow the visitor to see many species including takahe, saddlebacks, kokako, teals, stitch birds and Northern Blue penguins.

Ulva Island (Steward Island)

Ulva Island is in an inlet, a short water taxi ride from Oban on Stewart Island. Birdlife thrives in the vegetation in this predator-free bird sanctuary. Take your own lunch (Sydney Cove is a good spot for a picnic) and follow the well-marked walks to see all manner of rare and inquisitive birds including weka, bellbirds, kaka, fantails and oystercatchers. The island is full of ferns and orchids too.

Farewell Spit (S. Island)

A wetland of international importance and the summer home of many species of Arctic birds. Only the vehicles of guided tours and safaris are allowed on the spit where gannets, terns, shags, godwits, turnstones and pied are seen in numbers. The visitor centre has an excellent café with a viewing room and binoculars for hire. Whale carcasses are not uncommon on the shoreline as for unknown reasons many whales beach themselves in the area.

Kapiti Island

January and February are the best months to visit this rare bird sanctuary. A 15-minute boat trip from the coast 50km north of Wellington, though visitors are restricted to 50 per day. Birds include kaka, weak, kakariki, whiteheads, tui, bellbirds and the takeha. Easy to follow walkways make for a good daytrip, be sure to bring a picnic as there are no facilities on the island.

Best of the Rest

Firth of Thames (Coromandel Peninsula) - On the east coast of the Hauraki Gulf this is a popular spot for bird watching. Visit the Karaka hide in the town of Thames for good views of knots, godwits, shags and tern.

Otago Peninsula - outstanding location for Little Blue and Yellow-Eyed penguins. The observatory at The Royal Albatross centre at Taiaroa Head is a unique way to see the magnificent Albatross in a breeding colony

Cape Kidnappers Gannet Colony - largest mainland colony in the world. These big birds are unphased by humans, Nov-Feb best time to visit. Gannets colonies also found in Muriwai (Auckland) and Farewell Spit