Where to see wildlife in New Zealand
New Zealand has some of the most stunning & diverse landscapes in the world. It is a wonderful country to explore the great outdoors from the mountains & glaciers to the lakes & coastline. Unsurprisingly, the diversity of landscapes leads to amazing opportunities to spot wildlife in their natural habitat. Here's our guide to what you can see & where best to see them.
Kiwis
The iconic national bird is nocturnal & very shy so is not always the easiest to spot. For guaranteed sighting, you'll need to visit one of the excellent conservation or breeding centres.
- Visit the National Kiwi Hatchery where they incubate & hatch over 130 chicks every year. You can go at any time of the year & learn all about kiwi conservation. To see the chicks though, you'll need to visit in hatching season from September to March.
- Explore Zealandia, a fully fenced urban ecosanctuary with the aim of restoring the 500+ acre site to their pre-human state. For the best chances of seeing a kiwi, join one of their guided night tours.
- Take a night tour with a local expert on beautiful Stewart Island / Rakiura, off the southern coast of the South Island.
Penguins
Seeing these cute waddling birds is top of the wildlife list for many visitors. There are 3 species native to New Zealand, they are the Yellow-eyed, the Fiordland crested & the Little Blue.
- Coastal Otago Peninsula, south of Dunedin is the best place to see the Yellow-eyed Penguin. This is the rarest & most endangered penguin, so we recommend taking a guided tour. This is the best way of ensuring your visit doesn't negatively impact the penguins.
- For Fiordland Crested Penguins with their yellow crests, we recommend visiting Lake Moeraki or Jackson Bay. If you'll be cruising Milford Sound, you may be lucky enough to see them here.
- Oamaru is a wonderful place to see the Little Blue Penguin. the smallest penguin in the world. There is a large population here, so the chances are quite high. You can also see them at Marlborough Sounds & Akaroa Harbour as well as Stewart Island.
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Dolphins & Whales
New Zealand's coastline is stunning plus it's home to a rich variety of marine life. Dolphin or whale watching is hugely popular with plenty of opportunities to see them.
- Kaikoura is considered one of the best whale watching destinations in the world. Here it is possible to see sperm whales all year round, but you may also see humpback whales, orca or dolphins. Take a boat tour to maximise your chances, you may also see albatross & fur seals too.
- The gorgeous Bay of Islands has a subtropical climate & is home to wild dolphins. Migratory whales can also be seen in this region
- Orca can be seen off the Bay of Plenty in June & again from October to December. Both the bottle nose & common dolphins are often sighted in the summer months November through April.
Glowworms
Female glowworms use bioluminescence to emit a greenish glow primarily to attract mates. Often found in caves, the effect of the thousands of glowing lights is magical. The best places to experience this for yourself are:
- Take a walk & a boat ride through the grotto at the Waitomo Caves. You can see the glowworms up close in Ruakuri Cave. For the thrill seekers, try black water rafting!
- Starting with a cruise across Lake Anau, your journey continues into the Te Anau Caves. Learn about this underground labyrinth with its rock formations, whirlpool & even a subterranean waterfall & see the fascination light show.
- Hokitika glow worm dell may be small but its free to enter & you don't need to have a guide.
Did you know they aren't worms at all? They are actually beetles.
Note: Photography isn't permitted in the glowworm caves. This photo is a green screen photo kindly shared by Jude, taken at Waitomo.
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