Small Group Daytime 2-Hour Eco Wildlife Tour at Zealandia

Name: Small Group Daytime 2-Hour Eco Wildlife Tour at Zealandia
Brand: Zealandia
SKU: 5306P3
Price: 36.52 USD
Rating: 5.0 (156 reviews)

Badge of ExcellenceWellington, New Zealand

2 hours
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Zealandia is the world’s first fully fenced urban eco-sanctuary and home to some of New Zealand’s most extraordinary wildlife. This 2-hour guided walking tour will introduce you to native birds such as kakariki, tui, and bellbirds; rare species like takahē; and unique reptiles including green gecko and tuatara. Entrance fees are included.

2-hour guided tour of Zealandia Wildlife Sanctuary in Wellington
Explore the vast wetlands of the Zealandia eco-sanctuary on a walking tour
Spot rare and endangered birds including takahē, tui, and kākā
Learn more about New Zealand’s native wildlife from an expert guide
Small-group tour limited to 10 people ensures a personalized experience

What's Included

Professional Tour Guide

Alcoholic beverages (available to purchase)
Food and drinks
Lunch
Hotel pickup and drop-off

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

53 Waiapu Road, Karori, Wellington 6012, New Zealand
Turn left after the Karori Tunnel and travel along Waiapu Road. Zealandia is located at the end of Waiapu Road.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Make your own way to the Zealandia Visitor Center, just outside of Wellington city center, in time for a 10am, 11am, or 1pm departure (depending on tour time selected). After meeting your guide and small group of no more than 10 participants, set out on a 2-hour walking tour of the park.

Learn more about Zealandia and its pioneering conservation efforts as you follow your guide around the park’s walkways, exploring the lush forests and wetlands. Along the way, stop at viewpoints and feeding stations, and look out for green gecko, tuatara, and native New Zealand birds. Kākā (bush parrot), kakariki, tūī, tīeke (saddleback), hihi, and bellbirds are all common sightings, and you might even spot rare birds including the flightless takahē.

After 2 hours exploring the vast parklands, your tour ends back at the Visitor Center.

ZEALANDIA Ecosanctuary

2 hours • Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
Not wheelchair accessible
Children must be accompanied by an adult
Stroller accessible
A maximum of 12 people per booking
Near public transportation
Arrive at the Visitors Centre 15 minutes before your tour start time

Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
Infants must sit on laps
Photography allowed on this tour
Please enquire about service animal entry before booking.
Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
Some of the tracks are wheelchair accessible, private tours are available
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.

Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.

Traveler Photos

Featured review

Mary_H

Our guide, Julia was wonderful and knowledgeable! It was a beautiful day - and the ecological effort being made is extraordinary.

Reviews

5.0

156 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

We perform checks on reviews

Showing 1-10 of 156 reviews

Learning more about NZ...

Lizzy_S, Apr 2024

Learning more about NZ floors and fauna not only from the guide but from the other group members as well. Inspiring place. Excellent cafe too

Poor contact

Don_G, Apr 2024

We tried to cancel, unable to we tried to contact the excursion company could not get a hold of them trying to get our refund, unable to

Great experience

Lynne_L, Apr 2024

Having a tour guide who was very knowledgeable of Zealandia. Hearing and seeing the birdlife was beautiful.

Highly Recommend!

Andrew_C, Mar 2024

Highly recommend, it was a very interesting experience. Especially for those who have an interest in NZ nature and birds. The tour guide was very knowledgeable.

Big disappointment

Maralyn_G, Mar 2024

The problem with our tour was that our group included a person with mobility problems which meant that we limited to go to only areas that a mobility scooter could go on it also slowed the progress of the tour .whilst we accept that people with disabilities should have the same rights of access as we do. The tour information did point out that it wasn’t really suitable for people with mobility issues and our opinion we should have been advised that since our party consisted of a mobility issue and therefore we would have limited access to the reserve. At the point the tour was returning we continued on our own and we were able to access a lot more the tracks and we were therefore able to see a lot more than we did with the guide. We would therefore recommend a self guided tour. Don’t expect a coffee at the end of your visit as the cafe had run out of coffee.

Nature at its best in New Zealand

carolyncox8, Mar 2024

Zealandia is a wonderful place to encounter native birds in a lush natural habitat where they are protected from predators. Our guide was passionate about sharing his knowledge and helping us locate multiple species of birds in the sanctuary.

Enhanced experience

Patricia_L, Feb 2024

Having a guide to point out animals and explain ecology made our short visit so much more enjoyable than walking around on our own.

A great afternoon in Wellington.

Ed_B, Feb 2024

Our guide was very entertaining and informative. If you have the time and energy try and fit in a walk around the Botanic Gardens as well. There is a free courtesy bus from Wellington.

Loved it! But don’t book with Viator

Alyssa_E, Feb 2024

Loved this experience but will not book with Viator again. Their customer service was poor. They missed an incorrect time on our ticket, and we weren’t able to do the tour because of it. Viator wouldn’t issue a refund either. So book this experience!!! But with someone else! The wildlife and forest was amazing! Got to see many birds and reptiles.

Informative tour

Barrett_W, Feb 2024

Lots of information shared by the guide. We hoped to see more birds but there were active young children on the tour. Really appreciated the free shuttle service.

Entertaining and Infirmative

Judith_S, Feb 2024

Wonderful to hear about the conservation efforts in Zealandia to return this area to its native New Zealand state. Very informative. We enjoyed spotting the endangered birds being bred in the habitat

A very special excursion.

Shauna_H, Jan 2024

What a great tour!!! Our guide was a true expert in the area and wildlife we saw. Don’t expect to see much other than plants and birds. But it was worth it! The beauty of this place and its history was fascinating. A definite must!

Great family activity

David_T, Jan 2024

Our guide was extremely knowledgeable! We were able to see many birds throughout the hike/ walk through the reserve. The fauna was most interesting and great to see up close. The environmental concerns and actions being taken are impressive.

Seeing the takahe was...

Elsa_C, Jan 2024

Seeing the takahe was worth the ticket. We appreciate the enthusiasm and knowledge of our guide. A very pleasant and well organized park.

Great Wildlife Experience

Michael_A, Jan 2024

Roy was a very knowledgeable guide. He made the experience very enjoyable and educational. I highly recommend this tour.

Knowledgeable guide; highly recommended tour

Yanmin_L, Jan 2024

Highly recommend anyone who can afford it to take this tour! The guide Julie was very knowledgeable and showed us various birds throughout the 2-hour tour (if I remember correctly she went longer than 2 hours too). Without the tour I would not really know where to look/ what to look for. We also lucked out on a very pleasant day: Not too hot or cold, and not windy either. The vision of Zealandia and what the urban eco-sanctuary is trying to achieve is worth supporting. Also worth noting that there are free shuttle from Wellington to Zealandia. I got picked up near I-Site and dropped off at the top of the cable car (there are pickups and drop-offs at both location), which was super convenient.

Walk it yourself.

Melanie_C, Jan 2024

Seeing a kaka in the wild was incredible really loved it. Tour guide wasnt the best, and our tour group ended up growing (people tagging along who didn't pay) and thiae who did pay ended up being left put. Didn't get the experience we expected. Would just recommend walking yourself.

Beautiful nature...

David_S, Jan 2024

Beautiful nature preserve, get to see one endangered species where there are only 400 in the world. Definitely recommend!

Highly recommend

Wendy_Y, Jan 2024

Fantastic tour to learn about conservation efforts and to see wildlife in their own habitat. Would get a membership if we were local.

Learned and saw so much!

Jett_H, Jan 2024

Learned so much about the history and mission of the reserve from my guide! Would be beautiful to visit without a tour but definitely worth having someone to show you around.

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