21-Day Mega New Zealand Birding Tour
Birding in New Zealand offers the chance to experience the unique, untamed island with spectacular scenery and an official bird species count of over 300.
The wetland birds, seabirds and terrestrial birds account for about a third of the total number of species, in sharp contrast to the composition of global bird species where 90% are terrestrial. We have the fantastic opportunity to see some of the 91 endemic species and 70 globally threatened species. Get ready for the birding trip of a lifetime!
Private and small group, birding tours can be booked on request for your preferred travel dates
Full Itinerary – Mega New Zealand Birding Tour
Day 1:
Arrival in Auckland, transfer to Kerikeri
Welcome to New Zealand! Your fantastic birding tour will start the moment you touch down at the Auckland Airport. You will be met by your Nature Travel guide, who will help load your luggage into our comfortable vehicle before we set off.
The geographically blessed city of Auckland is located on the North Island of New Zealand and is the largest urban area in the country. Auckland is classified as a “Beta+ World City” because of its importance in commerce, the arts, culture, music and education.
Landmarks such as the Auckland Art Gallery, the Harbour Bridge, the Sky Tower and many museums, parks, restaurants and theatres are among the city’s significant tourist attractions. Auckland was ranked third on the 2016 Mercer Quality of Living Survey, making it one of the most liveable cities in the world. The Māori name for Auckland is Tāmaki Makaurau, meaning “Tāmaki desired by many”, in reference to the desirability of its natural resources and geography. Auckland is one of the few cities in the world to have a harbour on each of two separate major bodies of water, namely the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean.
On the way to the hotel it might be a good idea to familiarise ourselves with the “land of the long white cloud”, the Maori name for New Zealand. The country consists of two landmasses, the North and South Islands, along with many smaller islands, in the Pacific Ocean about 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi) from Australia. Due to this extreme remoteness, the country was among the last places on earth to be settled by humans. Between about 1280 and 1350, Polynesians began to settle in the islands, and then developed a distinctive Māori culture. Europeans only arrived in 1642. In 1841, New Zealand became a colony within the British Empire and it gained independence in 1947.
As you will see over the next 3 wonderful weeks the fauna and flora species of New Zealand are absolutely incredible! Due to the islands’ unique biogeography and isolation for 80 million years, some very unique evolutionary ecology took place here, resulting in an incredible high level of endemism. About 82% of New Zealand’s plants are endemic, along with 70% of bird species, all bats, all amphibians, all reptiles, 90% of freshwater fish and 90% of insects. Incredible! For at least several million years before the arrival of humans, the islands had no terrestrial mammals except for bats and seals, the main component of the terrestrial fauna being insects and birds. Unfortunately since the arrival of Homo sapiens on the islands at least 51 species of birds, 3 frogs, 3 lizards and one bat species have become extinct.
We will enjoy our Nature Travel Birding welcome dinner at our comfortable accommodation, getting to know each other a bit and hearing everyone’s target species for the amazing trip ahead of us.
Day 2:
Auckland to Warkworth
After breakfast at our hotel we will head out for our first full day on this amazing tour.
We will depart from Auckland and head west to Muriwai Beach to encounter an amazing Australasian Gannet colony which can be viewed from a few scenic viewpoints. Silver Gulls and White-fronted Terns also attend their nests at this location. Other species of note are the Tui (endemic honeyeater), the very large New Zealand Pigeon and the New Zealand Fantail. Superb views and photographic opportunities exist here, and we will also look for other common coastal species such as Little Pied Cormorant and Silver Gull.
Afterwards, we will proceed northerly to Waipu Estuary, stopping en route for lunch. Once at Waipu, we will conduct a target search for the Fairy Tern and the endemic New Zealand Plover.
Several estuarine areas further south may also be checked depending on time and whether we have been successful in finding Fairy Tern. Other species we could find include New Zealand Pipit, Royal Spoonbill, Australasian Grebe, Sacred Kingfisher, White-faced Heron, introduced California Quail, Masked Lapwing, Tui, Caspian Tern, introduced Common Chaffinch and many others.
We will then continue onward to Warkworth where we will spend the next two nights.
Warkworth is a small town on the Northland Peninsula in the northern part of the Auckland region. Flowing through the town is the Mahurangi River, which was once the lifeblood of Warkworth. Along the river bank there is a playground, parks and a lovely walkway, and the town’s main street has a distinct village atmosphere. Warkworth has a great selection of shops to wander through and plenty of cafes and restaurants, and is close to good beaches and excellent vineyards.
Some of the species we could see in town and along the river include Mallard, Silver and Kelp Gull, Little Black Cormorant, introduced House Sparrow, Song Thrush, Common Blackbird and Brown Teal.
We will freshen up and get together for dinner. After an evening of relaxing and socialising we will retire for a good night’s sleep.
Day 3:
Warkworth
We will start the day exploring some wetlands in the area to look for Paradise Shelduck, Masked Lapwing, Little Black and Pied Cormorants, Royal Spoonbill, White-faced Heron, Australasian Shoveler, Grey Teal, endemic New Zealand Scaup and New Zealand Grebe, Buff-banded Rail, Caspian Tern, Pacific Reef Heron and Swamp Harrier.
We will also visit a Regional Park to look for the North Island Saddleback, New Zealand Bellbird and the critically endangered South Island Takahe, plus Red-crowned Kakariki, Whitehead and New Zealand Robin.
The evening offers the first opportunity to find the fantastic North Island Brown Kiwi.
The night will be spent at the same accommodation back in Warkworth after a magical day.
Day 4:
Tiritiri Matangi Island
Our day will start with early morning breakfast, and then we check out and head off.
Today we will enjoy one of New Zealand’s most incredible birding locations. Tiritiri Matangi Island is truly a gem in New Zealand’s conservation crown. It is a wildlife sanctuary and one of New Zealand’s most important and exciting conservation projects. It is a predator-free island, located 30km northeast of central Auckland and just 4km from the end of the Whangaparaoa Peninsula. A hundred and twenty years of farming had seen this 220-hectare island stripped of 94% of its native bush, but between 1984 and 1994 volunteers planted between 250,000 and 300,000 trees. The island is now 60% forested with the remaining 40% left as grassland for species preferring open habitat. In conjunction with this planting programme, all mammalian predators were eradicated and a number of threatened and endangered bird and reptile species have been successfully introduced.
A short ferry or water taxi ride out to the island should give us a chance to see Fluttering Shearwater, White-fronted Tern, and possibly even Parasitic Jaeger.
Once on the island we will focus on seeing all of the endemics on the island, with North Island Saddleback, North Island Kokako, Stitchbird, South Island Takahe, Brown Teal and Red-crowned Parakeet being present. Other more common forest birds such as Whitehead, Tui, New Zealand Bellbird, New Zealand Fantail, Grey Gerygone and North Island Robin will also be seen, and we will also wait for Spotless Crake to appear at one of the small ponds.
We will take a packed lunch with us as no food is sold on the island. After our exciting day we return to the mainland for dinner and a good night’s rest.
Day 5:
Miranda and Taupo
We will leave after breakfast and head south via Auckland to one of New Zealand’s premier shorebird sites, the world-renowned Miranda, in the Firth of Thames in the Waikato region. The Firth of Thames is listed under the Ramsar Convention as a Wetland of International Importance. Miranda is also known for the Pūkorokoro Miranda Naturalists’ Trust, a charitable trust to encourage people to visit the coastline and appreciate its wide range of flora and fauna.
We will head to the Miranda Shorebird Centre (owned and operated by the trust) to get information on the latest sightings and then head out to the mudflats and shell banks to see what’s around for ourselves. Thousands of migratory wading birds come to Miranda at different times of the year. Some come from other parts of New Zealand; others make a remarkable 10,000 kilometre journey from the Arctic Circle.
We are likely to see the strangely unique Wrybill (the only species of bird in the world with a beak that is bent sideways one way, always to the right), Bar-tailed Godwit, Red Knot, Red-necked Stint, Ruddy Turnstone, Curlew Sandpiper, Eurasian Whimbrel, New Zealand, Double-banded and Pacific Golden Plover, Variable, South Island and Pied Oystercatcher, Spotted Shag, Pied Stilt, Black-billed, Kelp and Silver Gull, and Caspian, Black-fronted and White-fronted Tern.
During the summer months there are usually a few of the less common shorebirds that visit our shores, such as Sharp-tailed, Pectoral, Marsh or Terek Sandpiper, and we will be on the look-out for these and other vagrants. Shorebird watching in this area is largely dependent on the tides, so we will be working around the high tide, and may visit other nearby areas if time permits.
After another fantastic day we will head to our accommodation in the town of Taupo for dinner, updating our growing trip lists and a good night’s sleep.
The town is situated on the shores of Lake Taupo, which is the largest lake in New Zealand. The lake offers breathtaking views and a wide range of water activities like fishing, boating, kayaking, and swimming. Taupo is known as the adventure capital of the North Island, with people indulging in thrilling activities like skydiving, bungee jumping and scenic flights over the lake and mountains. Taupo is also a gateway to Tongariro National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The park is famous for its stunning volcanic landscapes, including the iconic Mount Ruapehu, Mount Ngauruhoe (also known as Mount Doom from The Lord of the Rings) and the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, one of the best day hikes in the country.
Day 6:
Taupo to Turangi
After breakfast, we will make our way westwards to Pureora Forest Park, our main focus for the day. This extensive area of forest (760 km2/290 sq mi) has high conservation value due to the variety of plant life and animal habitats within it. There are some magnificent trees in the rainforest, including an abundance of 1,000 year old podocarp trees. The park is one of the best places on the North Island to see New Zealand Kaka (North Island subspecies), Yellow-crowned Parakeet, North Island Kokako, Tomtit, Pacific Long-tailed and Shining Bronze Cuckoo, Rifleman, and we will also encounter other more common forest species. We will also be on the look-out for New Zealand Falcon which inhabits this area, and New Zealand Pipit may be seen on the roads in the area.
We will then continue onward to Turangi and meander the Tongariro River to look for the Blue Duck, a duck species that prefers fast-flowing water. We will also scour an old wharf nearby on Lake Taupo for waterbirds and with a bit of luck we could find Australasian Bittern, Spotless Crake or Marsh Crake at an adjacent wetland.
Turangi is situated at the southern end of Lake Taupo on the banks of the Tongariro River and offers all sorts of water based activities, and is world renowned as ‘The Trout Fishing Capital of the World’. The town was built to accommodate the workers associated with the Tongariro hydro-electric power development project and their families. These days it is a sporting and outdoor haven, with many activities available in the vicinity of the town.
We will enjoy dinner at our accommodation in Turangi, update our trip lists and then enjoy a good night’s sleep.
Day 7:
Turangi to Waikanae
We will again start our day with an early breakfast and coffee, and then check out of our accommodation.
We will start the day by looking for Blue Duck (if we missed it previously). We will then head south to the west coast of the North Island to some wetlands and coastal hotspots for shorebirds, such as the Manawatu Estuary, which is listed as a Wetland of International Importance, and a couple of the target species are Double-banded Plover and Black-fronted Dotterel. Along the way we will stop at Tongariro National Park to marvel at the volcanoes if the sky is clear and allows good viewing.
We then head to the charming coastal town of Waikanae, renowned for its beautiful beaches. The Waikanae Beach stretches for several kilometers along the coast, providing ample opportunities for swimming and sunbathing. It is also a great spot for water activities such as surfing, fishing, and kayaking. The town is also surrounded by stunning natural landscapes and many reserves. The heart of Waikanae, however, is its village, which features a range of shops, cafes and restaurants.
We will get together for dinner in Waikanae and have some time to socialise into the night, wondering why it took us so long to come to New Zealand!
Day 8:
Waikanae to Picton
We will again start with an early breakfast at our accommodation.
We will enjoy some morning birding before heading south to Wellington. It is the capital city of New Zealand and is located on the southern tip of the North Island. It is the second-most populous urban area in New Zealand after Auckland, with a population of around 420,000 people. Wellington is known for its stunning natural beauty, vibrant cultural scene, and strong creative industries. Wellington is often referred to as the “Coolest Little Capital in the World” due to its vibrant arts and cultural scene. The city hosts numerous events, festivals, and exhibitions throughout the year, including the New Zealand Festival, the World of WearableArt Awards Show, and the Wellington Jazz Festival. The city is also home to several museums, art galleries, and theaters, including the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, which is the national museum and one of the country’s top tourist attractions.
At Wellington we will take a ferry across the Cook Strait to the South Island of New Zealand. The ferry crossing (some say it is one of the most beautiful ferry rides on Earth) provides good pelagic opportunities for albatross species, prions and shearwaters as we make our way into the Marlborough Sounds and into Picton. Spotted Shag, Fairy Prion, Fluttering Shearwater and White-fronted Tern should be seen, and depending on weather conditions and prevailing winds, Wandering, Shy and Salvin’s Albatross, Northern Giant and Westland Petrel, and Sooty Shearwater are all possible. Common Diving Petrel and Little Penguin are often seen near the entrance to the Marlborough Sounds, and the latter often in the calmer enclosed waters of the Sounds. Less common seabirds are often seen within this stretch of water, as are dolphins, so it is well worth being on the lookout.
Picton’s location at the head of Queen Charlotte Sound makes it a popular destination for those wanting to explore the Marlborough Sounds. The area is renowned for its stunning network of waterways, secluded beaches, and scenic walking tracks, such as the Queen Charlotte Track, which spans 70 kilometers and offers incredible views.
We will spend the night in Picton after enjoying dinner and updating our trip lists. Marlborough, including the areas around Picton, is internationally acclaimed for its wine production, particularly Sauvignon Blanc, so it might be a good idea to try some local wine and seafood tonight!
Day 9:
Picton to Kaikōura
We will start the day by taking a boat into the Marlborough Sounds to head to Blumine Island Bird Sanctuary. Here we will have opportunities to see the South Island Saddleback and the South Island form of the New Zealand Robin, in addition to other bush species like the Critically Endangered Orange-fronted Kakariki or Malherbe’s Parakeet , which will be our primary target. A localized species of shag, the King Shag, will be one of the other targets.
Marine mammals such as sea lions or dolphins may be spotted along the way. In the afternoon we will drive south to Kaikōura and stop at a wildlife refuge along the way.
Kaikōura is a picturesque coastal town located on the east coast of the South Island. It is known for its stunning natural beauty, abundant marine wildlife (including many whale species), the breathtaking Peninsula Walkway, excellent local lobster, and outdoor adventure opportunities.
We will get together for dinner at our comfortable hotel (our home for two nights) and an evening of relaxation.
Day 10:
Kaikōura
Today we have an exciting day planned – a pelagic trip!
Kaikōura, to many, is the pelagic capital of the world. Due to the depth of the Kaikoura canyon just offshore, we are able to be in water 4,000 metres (13,000 feet) deep within half an hour, allowing us to really get amongst the seabirds, and although the species list varies throughout the year, in any season we can expect to have at least 3 species of albatross, normally as close as 5 or 6 feet away; a special and unforgettable experience. Species we could see include Northern and Southern Royal, Antipodean, Wandering, Black-browed, Buller’s, Campbell, Shy and Salvin’s Albatross.
On top of this add Cape, Westland and White-chinned Petrel and Northern Giant Petrel, and the endemic Hutton’s Shearwater, which breeds in the spectacular mountains behind Kaikoura. There is also the potential for other species like Grey-faced Petrel, Southern Giant Petrel, Sooty and Short-tailed Shearwater. Whatever specific species we see, this has all the makings of a truly memorable morning. The area is also renowned for Dusky and Hector’s Dolphin, and we may see these along the way.
We can visit Fyffe/Palmer reserve in the afternoon for anyone still looking to add in some birding after a spectacular time on the water.
A walk along the Peninsula Walkway offers fantastic views of New Zealand Fur Seals, possible pelagic species and the introduced Cirl Bunting, which is generally near the ground foraging on this walkway. Other introduced species we could see during our time on the South Island include Common Chaffinch, European Goldfinch, Dunnock and many others.
We will get together for dinner after our exciting day and update our lists before heading to bed and a good night’s rest.
Day 11:
Kaikōura to Arthur’s Pass
We will start our day with an early breakfast before checking out.
Today is basically a travelling day, a rare occurrence in a smallish country like New Zealand. We will head deep into the Southern Alps through to Arthur’s Pass. The incredibly beautiful Southern Alps run approximately 500 km northeast to southwest on the South Island. Its tallest peak is Aoraki (Mount Cook), the highest point in New Zealand at 3,724 metres (12,218 ft) above sea level. The range include sixteen other points that exceed 3,000 metres (9,800 ft) in height. The ranges are bisected by glacial valleys, many of which are infilled with beautiful glacial lakes. The Southern Alps were named by Captain Cook on 23 March 1770, who described their “prodigious height”.
We will be making several stops along the way, and passing through some exceptionally scenic alpine areas after skirting the coast for much of our 4 to 5 hour journey; get your cameras ready!
We will stop at a few places along the way, including a stop at Castle Hill where we can scan the large rocks for New Zealand Falcon.
Arthur’s Pass, climbing to more than 920 metres (3,020 feet) through Arthur’s Pass National Park, is the highest and most spectacular pass across the Southern Alps. It is a piece of extreme engineering involving viaducts, bridges, rock shelters and waterfalls redirected into chutes. The pass is named after Sir Arthur Dudley Dobson (1841–1934), who led the first party of Europeans across the pass in 1864.
Arthur’s Pass National Park itself is a landscape of two halves. On the eastern side, you’ll see wide, shingle-filled riverbeds and vast swathes of beech forest. Descend the western side and you venture through dense rainforest alongside and over deeply gorged rivers. The park was established in 1929 and covers some 1,200 km2 (465 sq mi).
Our target bird for the day will be the endangered Kea, which we should be able to find near Arthur’s Pass itself. The Kea is a fascinating bird, and the world’s only alpine parrot. While these birds might be pretty to look at, keep in mind that they are notorious for dismantling peoples belongings! The Kea got its name from its “keeeeeaaaa” call, a long, loud, high-pitched cry.
On the way to the town of Arthur’s Pass, close to the pass itself, we will make short stops to break up the journey, including a stop at an estuarine area, where we will look for shorebirds and terns. We may be lucky enough to find what is almost certainly one of the most beautiful terns, the Black-fronted Tern, which breeds nearby.
We should also catch up with some of the South Islands’ forest species, such as Pipipi, Yellow-fronted Parakeet and South Island Robin, before checking in to our accommodation near Arthur’s Pass.
After dinner we will venture out in the evening to try and listen for the vulnerable Great Spotted Kiwi, which are occasionally heard nearby, but is notoriously difficult to see.
Day 12:
Arthur’s Pass to Franz Josef
We will take a leisurely walk to start the day through a fantastic beech forest near the village to search for Rifleman, Tomtit and Brown Creeper (Pipipi).
Then we will head west, up and over the pass and on to the stunning West Coast.
Our days’ events will be dictated by our previous successes. We could look for New Zealand Fernbird (South Island subspecies), Sacred Kingfisher and Weka, search alpine areas to look for Kea again, and enjoy the views, making stops to take some fantastic photos.
Nearing our destination town of Franz Josef we can head into the glacial valley to admire views of the Franz Josef glacier, or head out to the coast to see Great Egret and Royal Spoonbill in coastal lagoons.
Franz Josef is a small town in the West Coast region of the South Island, named after the Franz Josef Glacier – itself named by geologist Julius von Haast in 1865 in honour of the Emperor of Austria Franz Josef I of Austria. The glacier’s terminal face is 5 kilometres (3 miles) from the town and its accessibility makes it a major tourist attraction and the reason many people visit Franz Josef. The town is within the Westland Tai Poutini National Park, a beautiful area with glaciers, scenic lakes and dense temperate rainforest.
After dinner we might head out to look for the vulnerable and endemic Okarito Kiwi, the rarest of the three brown kiwi, with only an estimated 400 birds remaining. Then we will return to our accommodation in town to rest up.
Day 13:
Franz Josef to Wanaka
We will get together for breakfast, check out and then leave Franz Josef after visiting the glacier itself.
We will head then west and then turn south towards the coastal township of Haast, stopping at one or two places on the way. One such stop could be at Ship Creek for a meander through a swamp forest and to scour the ocean for any seabirds/penguins.
Haast is situated in the heart of Te Wāhipounamu UNESCO World Heritage Area. There are national parks to the north, south and east. The region is named after Julius von Haast, a Prussian-born geologist instrumental in the early geological surveys of New Zealand. The main economic activities in the Haast region are farming, fishing and tourism.
From Haast we head inland through some spectacular mountain scenery, with our focus being a visit to Haast Pass. This site is home to a number of forest species, and has in the past had the endangered Yellowhead. However, more recently the species has been very hard to find here, with the population struggling to hold its own against introduced predators. However, the site is also good for New Zealand Kaka (South Island subspecies), Rifleman, Tomtit, Pipipi and Pacific Long-tailed Cuckoo.
Another stop or two is possible as we navigate through Mount Aspiring National Park on our way to Wanaka.
Wanaka is a popular ski and summer resort town in the Otago region of the South Island. At the southern end of beautiful Lake Wanaka and surrounded by mountains, it is at the start of the Clutha River and is the gateway to Mount Aspiring National Park. Wanaka is primarily a resort town with distinctly different seasons. Summers are hot and dry – perfect for water sports, hiking and biking. Winters are cool and crisp with four diverse ski areas offering great options for skiers and snowboarders. Spring is the ideal time to get out and explore the lakeside tracks and trails, and the vibrant colours of autumn are perfect for photography.
We will get together for dinner at our accommodation (we sleep here for two nights) and to check our trip lists, before heading to bed for a good night’s rest.
Day 14:
Mount Cook
We start our day with coffee and breakfast at our accommodation.
Then we head off northwards to one of New Zealand’s most spectacular sights; Aoraki/Mount Cook! Aoraki is the Maori name for Mount Cook, and it holds significant cultural and spiritual importance for the indigenous Maori people of New Zealand.
A search for the critically endangered Black Stilt, thought to be one of the world’s rarest wading birds, will occur before we stop at Mount Cook.
Aoraki/Mount Cook is the highest mountain in New Zealand. Its height is listed as 3,724 metres (12,218 feet) above sea level. A popular tourist destination, it is also a favourite challenge for mountain climbers. Mount Cook holds a special place in the history of mountaineering as it served as the training ground for Sir Edmund Hillary, the first person to summit Mount Everest along with Tenzing Norgay in 1953.
Apart from the spectacular peaks and mountain range, Lake Pukaki and Lake Tekapo, both blue alpine lakes, will allow good photographic opportunities if it’s a sunny day.
We will return to our accommodation in Wanaka for dinner and socialising into the evening.
Day 15:
Wanaka to Te Anau
We will have breakfast and pack our vehicle this morning.
We will head southwest and stop in the popular (and scenic) resort town of Queenstown today. It is known for its stunning natural beauty, adventure sports, the famous Queenstown Gardens, excellent foody scene (especially burgers!), and vibrant atmosphere.
The endemic New Zealand Pipit will be a target species for the day.
Upon arrival in Te Anau a walk along the lakeshore could produce sightings of Shining Bronze Cuckoo or Long-tailed Koel.
The town of Te Anau is situated on the eastern shore of Lake Te Anau, the largest lake in the South Island and the second-largest lake in New Zealand. The town has a range of amenities, including accommodation options (hotels, motels, lodges, and campgrounds), restaurants, cafes, and souvenir shops. It’s a peaceful and laid-back place to stay while enjoying the surrounding natural beauty.
We will get together at our comfortable hotel (our home for 2 nights) in the town of Te Anau and enjoy dinner and a good night’s rest.
Day 16:
Fiordland National Park
Today we have a day packed full of excitement: a visit to New Zealand’s largest national park AND a boat tour on Milford Sound.
Fiordland National Park is by far the largest of the 13 national parks in New Zealand, with an area of 12,607 square kilometres (4,868 sq mi), and a major part of the Te Wahipounamu UNESCO World Heritage Site. The park is a significant refuge for many threatened native animals, ranging from dolphins and bats to reptiles, insects, and birds. It is known for its stunning fjords, majestic mountains, dense forests and abundant wildlife.
The New Zealand Falcon and Blue Duck can both be found in this area. Walks in the beech forests will allow chances for New Zealand Kaka, Tomtit and the localized New Zealand Rockwren, along with more opportunities for Rifleman, New Zealand Robin and Brown Creeper.
Our focus however, will be to make a stop in alpine habitat for New Zealand Rockwren, one of the world’s most primitive passerines, and related to the more common Rifleman.
The day’s stops will largely be dictated by weather and success with New Zealand Rockwren, which is not possible anywhere else along the way. Although the day will be spent in stunning scenery anyway, we will head through to Milford Sound. Often acclaimed as New Zealand’s most famous tourist destination, Rudyard Kipling even once called it the eighth Wonder of the World! Milford Sound was formed by a process of glaciation over millions of years and runs 15 kilometres inland from the Tasman Sea at Dale Point, the mouth of the fiord, and is surrounded by sheer rock faces that rise 1,200 metres (3,900 ft) or more on either side. Truly spectacular!
We will again spend the night at our accommodation back in Te Anau after another superb day in New Zealand.
Day 17:
Te Anau to Stewart Island
We will start with an early breakfast and then head off for another exciting part of this awesome tour.
Today we are heading for the third main island of New Zealand, namely Stewart Island. It lies 30 kilometres (19 miles) south of the South Island, across the Foveaux Strait.
After driving down to Invercargill, we aim to catch the ferry from Bluff to Stewart Island late morning. There are options for stopping along the way, but it is likely we will head straight through to Bluff to meet the ferry. Our transport will stay in a secure carpark in Bluff, and we will board the ferry as foot passengers, with an overnight bag and the things we need for our two nights on Stewart Island. We will be staying in the settlement of Oban. It is located on Halfmoon Bay and was named after Oban in Scotland, due to the strong influence Scottish settlers had in the south of early colonial New Zealand. It’s a fishing town that also serves as a base for hikers and birdwatchers.
Depending on the sea and weather conditions, the one-hour ferry crossing can be excellent for seabirds, with albatross (Southern Royal, Shy and Salvin’s Albatross), Giant, Mottled, Cape and Common Diving Petrel, Fairy Prion, Sooty Shearwater and Brown Skua all possible. We will also see Foveaux Shag, either as we leave Bluff or on arriving at Stewart Island.
Stewart is New Zealand’s third largest island (after North and South Islands) and covers 1,746 km2 (674 sq mi) in a triangular shape. The island is generally hilly (rising to 980 metres/3,220 feet at Mount Anglem), rugged and densely forested. It is an important piece of land in Maori culture, with many myths and legends attributed to it. The island received its English name in honour of William W. Stewart, the first officer on the Pegasus, which visited in 1809. In the Māori language, the island is known as Rakiura which means “the land of glowing skies”. You’ll get an inkling why when you see the Aurora Australis which often appears in these southern skies.
Upon arriving we will check into our accommodation, and should be able to see New Zealand Kaka (South Island subspecies), New Zealand Pigeon and Tui around the township of Oban, before heading to the nearby Ulva Island via water taxi.
Ulva Island, a small island (2.7 km2/1.0 sq mi) within Paterson inlet, is a predator-free sanctuary, but home to some of the South Island specialties we may still need. Yellowhead, South Island Saddleback and some of the more common forest species such as Pipipi, Red and Yellow-crowned Parakeet, scotti subspecies of Weka, Tui, New Zealand Bellbird, rakiura subspecies of South Island Robin, New Zealand Pigeon, New Zealand Kaka and Rifleman can all be found in this beautiful, forested spot.
Back in Oban we will have dinner, after which we could head out to search for the lawryi subspecies of Southern Brown Kiwi, another unforgettable experience. Stewart Island is a haven for Tokoeka (the bird’s Maori name), which outnumber humans on the island and are active at night.
Then we are off to bed for a good night’s rest, for tomorrow we do another pelagic!
Day 18:
Stewart Island
Today we plan to do another exciting pelagic, but this is one part of the world you don’t want to be caught out by weather. Therefore, we will head out to see what we can find, but the distance and direction of travel will depend entirely on the weather. Normally we explore nearby islands and enjoy the spectacular coastal scenery, along with seeing some fantastic marine birds and mammals.
However, if we hit it right, the results can be stunning. With such a close proximity to the Southern Ocean, and large seabird colonies being on many of the surrounding islands we may be able to find an excellent array of seabirds. In particular target birds for the day are Fiordland and Yellow-eyed Penguin, Antarctic Tern, Southern Royal, Northern Royal, Shy, Campbell, Buller’s (Jan/Feb) and Salvin’s Albatross, both Northern and Southern Giant Petrel, Mottled and Cook’s Petrel, Broad-billed and Fairy Prion and Common Diving Petrel.
Other more common species we will almost certainly see are Cape Petrel, Sooty Shearwater, Spotted and Foveaux Shag, Little Penguin, Brown Skua, White-fronted Tern and Silver Gull. Almost any vagrant Southern Ocean seabirds are possible, and we will be keeping our eyes peeled for storm petrels, and other albatross and petrel species. You never know what might turn up!
Depending on our success with Southern Brown Kiwi the previous night, and the possibility of cancellation due to weather, we may head out again after dark as a back-up.
Our accommodation will be the same as last night, in quaint Oban.
Day 19:
Stewart Island to Dunedin
We start our day with an early breakfast in Oban.
We will leave fantastic Stewart Island on the morning ferry, hoping to catch up with a few more seabirds as we head back to Bluff.
We will then head northwards towards Dunedin, taking in the very scenic Catlins Coast during our drive. The Catlins comprises an area in the southeastern corner of the South Island, and lies between Balclutha and Invercargill, straddling the boundary between the Otago and Southland regions. It includes the South Island’s southernmost point, Slope Point. This coastal section is renowned for its scenic views and rough weather-beaten coastline.
We might stop off at several other places en route to admire the scenery and look for birds. Depending on the weather and prevailing winds, seabirds may also be passing along the coast, with species such as Northern and Southern Giant Petrels and Otago Shag being possible.
Once in Dunedin, the only Northern Royal Albatross colony in the mainland will be the focal point. These large birds fly past the headland along with Spotted Shags, Silver Gulls and White-fronted Terns.
The late afternoon will be filled with a visit to a nature reserve for the endemic Yellow-eyed Penguin.
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand (after Christchurch), and the principal city of the Otago region. Its name comes from Dùn Èideann, the Scottish Gaelic name for Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. The city has a rich Māori, Scottish, and Chinese heritage, and is known for its rich history, stunning surrounding natural landscapes, beautiful Edwardian architecture and vibrant cultural scene.
We will check into our accommodation (we stay here for two nights) and enjoy dinner together.
Day 20:
Otago Peninsula
We start our day with breakfast and coffee, and then pack up and head off.
We will enjoy a full day of birding in and around Dunedin and the Otago Peninsula to round out the tour. The Otago Peninsula is a long, hilly indented finger of land that forms the easternmost part of Dunedin. Volcanic in origin, it forms one wall of the eroded valley that now forms Otago Harbour. The peninsula lies southeast of Otago Harbour and runs parallel to the mainland for 20 km, with a maximum width of 9 km. It is joined to the mainland at the south-west end by a narrow isthmus about 1.5 km wide.
The suburbs of Dunedin encroach onto the western end of the peninsula, and seven townships and communities lie along the harbourside shore. The majority of the land is sparsely populated and occupied by steep open pasture. The peninsula is home to many species of wildlife, notably seabirds and penguins; several ecotourism businesses operate in the area.
Bird species we could see today include Northern Royal and Buller’s Albatross, Yellow-eyed and Little Penguin, Silver, Kelp and Black-billed Gull, Sooty Shearwater, Brown Skua, Royal Spoonbill, Variable Oystercatcher, White-fronted Tern, Fairy Prion, Cape Petrel, several shag and cormorant species, New Zealand Falcon, Tui and many others.
Marine mammals are also abundant here, and with some searching (and luck) we could see New Zealand Fur Seal, New Zealand Sea Lion, Leopard Seal, Southern Right Whale, Dusky Dolphin or even Killer Whale (Orca)!
At the end of our final full day on tour we will have our official Nature Travel Birding farewell dinner back in Dunedin, reminiscing about our wonderful New Zealand tour and the good times we have had together.
Day 21:
End of Tour at Dunedin International Airport
We will have our final breakfast of the tour together and then check out and pack the vehicle.
We will end the tour at the International Airport, situated southwest of the city of Dunedin, where we will catch our onward or homeward flights.
We will say our sad goodbyes after an amazing 3 weeks together in this fantastic country, surely having made friends for life.
Do you have a quick question about this birding tour? Speak to a specialist at
info@naturetravelbirding.com
