Zealandia Ecosanctuary by Night and Day – Wildlife Outside Wellington

Tucked up over the city of Wellington is Zealandia, an ecosanctuary reminiscent of the days before humans arrived in New Zealand. A predator-proof fence surrounds the Zealandia sanctuary, creating an “island” within New Zealand’s capital city and allowing birds and other native creatures to live wild as nature intended.

Whether you are a nature or history lover, bird watcher, or just a visitor, Zealandia Wellington is a must see. It is much more than a bird sanctuary, filled with New Zealand flora and fauna (birds, reptiles and insects); it is a paradise a world apart from the city below. Entry options are either daytime or at night, each a unique experience. We have done both, taking a Zealandia night tour earlier this month (April 2018) and a day visit in 2016.

→ Get Tickets for daytime visits or Tickets for a Night Tour at Zealandia

Zealandia Night Tour

As the nocturnal creatures awaken, Zealandia by night becomes a different place. A knowledgeable guide led our tour, and she identified bird calls as well as spotting them. Tui, kaka, pied shags, North Island robins, kereru (wood pigeon), and takahe are amongst the birds we saw. We heard the call of the morepork owl and six calls of kiwi birds.

Our guide also pointed out eels, reptiles, and insects like the tree weta, stick insects, and several species of spiders, as well as the various native plants.

After watching a short film, we headed into the sanctuary, torches (flashlights) in hand. Our Zealandia night tour first stop was this beautiful vantage point looking out over much of the ecosanctuary.

We had a cold and overcast evening, but I imagine on a clear night the sunset would be lovely.

Red light torches (flashlights) are proved to all tour participants. The red light allows us to see without affecting our night vision, and it also does not disturb the animals.
Photo provided by Zealandia and used with express permission. All Rights Reserved.

Some of the nocturnal creatures we saw, in clockwise order: a longfin eel, a tuatara, pied shags, and takahe. As tripods are not allowed on the tour, these were the best night shots I could get.

While we heard the call of six different kiwi birds, we didn’t see any. The park has over 130 little spotted kiwis, but only about 80% of night tours see one. Keeping noise to a minimum increases the group’s chances of seeing our national bird. As nature is unpredictable, there is no guarantee.
Photo credit: Kimberley Collins. Photo supplied by Zealandia and used with express permission. All Rights Reserved.

Practical Information and Tips on Visiting Zealandia by Night

• Zealandia by Night tours are small groups of not more than 12 people, and often sell out in advance.

→  Check Pricing and Get Your Night Tour Tickets

• The Zealandia night tour is 100% guide led (as opposed to the daytime entry where you can roam around the park at your leisure).
• The tours run in all weather, so dress in layers, and remember the weather will cool down as the evening progresses.
• Sturdy shoes are a necessity as sections of the trail are unsealed or have gentle slopes. We found the walk to be comfortable (and fascinating).
• Our guide was extremely knowledgeable about the wildlife and native plants, as well as the sounds and smells of Zealandia by night. She made the tour fun and exciting, and handled a somewhat difficult situation quite well.
• Please note that the minimum age for children on the Zealandia by Night tour is 12 years old. We request that families respect this park rule. Unfortunately, during our time in the ecosanctuary, our tour group included a family insistent on bringing their noisy under-age children, which was distracting for other guests and disruptive to attempts to spot a kiwi bird.
• Twilight tours and Kids’ night walks (school holidays) are for children as young as 5 years old.
• The night tour also includes day entry, which can be used the following day.
• The Zealandia Cafe (Rātā Cafe) is closed at night, but the gift shop remains open.

Zealandia Ecosanctuary by Day

Our daytime visit was in 2016, but little has changed since then as Zealandia’s conservation project is a 500-year vision for full regrowth to a self-sustaining ecosystem as it was before human inhabitants.

Breathing in the fresh, clean air, and glancing down the river, I felt like I had entered an unspoilt world.

In contrast to the Wellington Zoo where the animal enclosures are created for our viewing, at Zealandia, we follow trails through the bush, and the New Zealand native animals are free. There are no large indigenous mammals in the country. In fact, NZ’s only native mammal is the bat.

As we walk along the gentle sloping tracks, the silence is frequently interrupted by songbirds. The crisp, fresh air makes it difficult to remember that this Wellington sanctuary is only 10 minutes from the city centre.

Our guide identifies the Silver Fern, a national symbol of New Zealand, by the green upper and silver underside leaves.

Zealandia reminds me of the Auckland island of Tiritiri Matangi, a sanctuary island close to our home with many of the same native species. However, Zealandia also offers a fascinating and educational exhibition hall (created by the designers of the LOTR Exhibition), an opportunity for a boat ride down the river, or entrance into the abandoned mine which is now home to the cave wētā.

Inside the educational exhibition hall.

The entrance to historical Morning Star Mine, which is open on weekends and holidays after 2 pm.

A Few of the Inhabitants of Zealandia Wildlife Sanctuary

Critically endangered Takahe.

This shag and baby in a nest are some of the many NZ native birds found here.

Reintroduced to Zealandia in 2002, the Kākā had effectively been extinct in Wellington since the early 20th century. It is a North Island bird and related to the alpine parrot, kea.

Often heard before seen, Kākā make a somewhat screechy sound which you can hear here.

I saw a previously endangered Saddleback at Zealandia, up in the trees. I could see either head or body, but never both, so this photo is from the Zealandia Media pack, used with express permission. ©Brendon Doran. All Rights Reserved.

This is the first tuatara I have seen outside of an enclosure. Without the glass that usually separates us, I could clearly see the spines on his back.

Practical Information and Tips for Visiting the Ecosanctuary by Day

• Getting here is easy, as they offer a free Zealandia shuttle from downtown or the top of the cable car during the day.
• If you opt for a daytime visit, we highly recommend taking one of the hourly tours.

→  Check Pricing and Get Daytime Visits to Tickets for daytime 

• Allocate a minimum of two hours for your visit. Nature lovers could easily spend the entire day.
• Wear comfortable walking shoes. The main trail is a gentle grade and very easy to navigate. However, it is unpaved, so the ground can be uneven. If you are into tramping, there are more difficult trails which recommend walking boots. They also have a wheelchair accessible path.
• Bring a drink bottle and a jumper (jacket) as the Wellington weather is unpredictable.

General Information on Zealandia Sanctuary

• The Zealandia entrance is at 53 Waiapu Road.
• There is a small parking lot on site. For our daytime visit, we found the Zealandia free shuttle very easy to use.
• About 500 active volunteers and 50 staff members support this wildlife sanctuary.
• Zealandia offers either day or night time entry.  The cost is as different as the experience.  Night entry includes a guided tour with the high possibility of seeing kiwi birds, eels and other nocturnal creatures.

→ Get Tickets for daytime visits or Tickets for a Night Tour 

• Zealandia is formerly known as the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Check their official website for current Zealandia prices and hours.

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Day or Night, when will you visit Zealandia Ecosanctuary in Wellington?

Disclaimer: Jeff and I were guests of Zealandia. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own.