Want to see a kiwi in the wild? Here’s where to find them
Seeing a kiwi will undoubtedly be one of the highlights of your motorhome adventure in New Zealand. This flightless bird is a national icon in New Zealand, and of particular significance to the indigenous Maori people.
Despite their relatively small numbers (their survival is under threat due to predators), you can see this bird in real life at a number of conservation sites, wildlife parks and zoos around New Zealand. If you’re lucky, you might also catch a glimpse of them in the wild.
Here’s where you should stop to take a look at this rare and wonderful creature.
Kiwi House, Otorohanga
Image: Николай Максимович (own work), (CC BY 3.0) via Wikimedia Commons
The Otorohanga Kiwi House and Native Bird Park, en route from Hamilton to Waitomo, is a sanctuary for New Zealand reptiles and birdlife, including three species of kiwi. It’s been conserving and breeding kiwi for release back into the wild since 1971, and continues to use the money from entry fees to engage in kiwi conservation. The park is open every day for visitors to explore and has regular keeper talks and live feedings included in your ticket price.
Kiwi Birdlife Park, Queenstown
The Kiwi Birdlife Park makes for a scenic stop on your Queenstown campervan journey, being only a short drive from the city centre. This park helps breed kiwi in captivity and then releases them into the wild. It’s also home to an array of other incredible kiwi wildlife that the whole family will love.
Pukaha Mount Bruce Wildlife Centre, Tararua District
This wildlife park is located between Masterton and Eketahuna, close to the Tararua Forest Park. It makes for an ideal stopover on a North Island campervan adventure, either on your way south from Auckland to Wellington or vice versa. In the nocturnal house you might be lucky enough to spot Manukura, the world’s only white kiwi in captivity.
Auckland Zoo
Take your Auckland motorhome rental out to Western Springs for a day trip to Auckland Zoo, where you can get up close to the brown kiwi. If you’ve got a group of four people or less, you can even go behind the scenes to view the kiwi breeding area of the zoo, where you’ll get to talk to the keepers and see newly-hatched kiwi chicks.
Wellington Zoo
Fizzy and Tahi are the resident kiwi birds in Wellington Zoo’s nocturnal house. The zoo has a daily kiwi talk where you can get up close to Tahi, a kiwi of global fame who has appeared on TV around the world after being caught in a trap and losing his leg.
Aroha Island Kiwi Preserve
For a less touristic kiwi encounter on the North Island, make your way up north to the pristine Bay of Islands and the beautiful sanctuary that is Aroha Island, home to the North Island Brown Kiwi. If you park your RV overnight on the island, it’s possible to take a self-guided nighttime walk where you may get a chance to spot one of these shy, nocturnal creatures in their natural habitat.
Rainbow Springs, Rotorua
If you’re travelling with children, this nature park should definitely be on your New Zealand bucket list. Your kids will love exploring the world’s largest kiwi hatchery, from spotting the elusive birds in the nocturnal enclosure to sitting in a giant kiwi egg. You can pay a little extra to get a behind the scenes tour of the hatchery and learn more about what goes into hatching kiwi eggs, and even get to see some eggs yourself. The interactive displays, including a human-sized kiwi burrow, make the serious topic of conservation fun and exciting for the whole family.
In the wild
Image: Glen Fergus (own work), (CC BY 2.5) via Wikimedia Commons
There are plenty of places to get up close and personal with kiwis in captivity, but their nocturnal nature means it’s much harder to see them in the wild. However, with a bit of luck you might be able to catch a glimpse of one by visiting Rakiura National Park on Stewart Island, Waipoua Forest in Northland or Ohope Scenic Reserve in Whakatane.
To experience more of New Zealand, securing campervan rentals from the likes of Christchurch, from Hamilton, or from Wellington are also great options to start with.
When you visit one of these places with your New Zealand motorhome, consider supporting the work they do, so they can continue to keep these beautiful birds alive and well for future generations of motorhome enthusiasts to enjoy.
Written By: Kristof Haines
It’s funny how motorhome memories stick with you. I can still recall a motorhome vacation my family took when I was five years old and how awesome I thought I was, tucked away in a loft bed above the cab. From revealing unique destinations to providing tips and tricks, it’s my mission to help others build great motorhome memories too.
It’s funny how motorhome memories stick with you. I can still recall a motorhome vacation my family took when I was five years old and how awesome I thought I was, tucked away in a loft bed above the cab. From revealing unique destinations to providing tips and tricks, it’s my mission to help others build great motorhome memories too.
