new zealand bird watching tours

New Zealand Birding Tours

Our New Zealand birding tours target many New Zealand bird endemics as well as an assortment of seabird species on our birding pelagic trips. New Zealand or Aotearoa, in the language of the Māori, who are the indigenous people of the region, is an island country in the southwest Pacific Ocean. There are two main islands: North Island and South Island (Te Ika-a-Māui and Te Waipounamu, respectively), and over 600 smaller islands, the largest of these being Stewart Island, with other well-known islands, amongst birders, being Tiritiri Matangi Island, Ulva Island, Little Barrier Island, and Kapiti Island. Our once-in-a-lifetime New Zealand Birding tours visit all three major islands as well as several of the smaller, offshore islands. New Zealand is approximately 1,200 miles (2,000 kilometers) to the east of Australia  across the Tasman Sea and about 600 miles (1,000 kilometers) to the south of the islands of  New Caledonia ,  Fiji , and Tonga.  Antarctica  is 3,822 miles (6,151 kilometers) south of New Zealand. In addition to the above, New Zealand ‘proper’ also consists of the following island groups: Chatham Islands, Kermadec Islands, Three Kings Islands, and New Zealand Subantarctic Islands.

New Zealand is so remote that it was not actually settled by humans (Polynesians) until between c.1280 and 1350 AD, who developed the Māori culture (this compared to Australia, where humans are known to have been present for 65,000 years). The first European sighted the country in 1642, Abel Tasman, a Dutch explorer. In 1840, the Treaty of Waitangi was signed between the  United Kingdom  and the Māori, declaring British sovereignty over the islands and the country became a colony within the British Empire, then a dominion, and finally gained independence in 1947 with the British monarch remaining the head of state.

The country is approximately 990 miles (1,600 kilometers) long and 250 miles (400 kilometers) wide and has a massive 9,300 miles (15,000 kilometers) of coast. New Zealand is one of the most scenically spectacular places on the planet. South Island is particularly impressive and is divided down its length by the massive snow-capped and glacier-covered Southern Alps, which has 18 peaks reaching over 9,800 feet (3,000 meters) and is also home to  Kea , the world’s only alpine parrot. Mount Cook (Aoraki) is the highest point in New Zealand at 12,218 feet (3,724 meters). The southwestern part of South Island is known as Fiordland, here you find giant and deep fiords (such as Milford Sound). While North Island is not as spectacular as South Island, it is more volcanic in nature with Mount Ruapehu being the highest mountain at 9,177 feet (2,797 meters).

Read More About New Zealand

Thirteen  national parks protect 11,583 square miles (30,000 square kilometers) of stunning natural scenery and we visit a range of these on our New Zealand birding tours. New Zealand is famous more recently for the Lord of the Rings  movies. These films were shot across the islands and showcased the amazing scenery of the country and they are even more impressive in real life. For fans of the movies, a visit to  Hobbiton  is a must, and some great birds can even be found on the set! New Zealand has a predominantly temperate maritime climate however conditions vary considerably to the east and west of the Southern Alps. Snowfall is common in the east and south of South Island from June until early October.

Following  International Ornithological Congress  (IOC) taxonomy, v10.2 (December 2020), the bird list of New Zealand stands at  396 species . Of these species, 86 are endemic, 15 are breeding endemics, and 79 are globally threatened. The avifauna of New Zealand also includes species that have naturally colonized from Australia and a great many that were introduced from the UK or Australia by the British as well as migratory species such as  Pacific Long-tailed Cuckoo . A high number of seabirds are found foraging and breeding in New Zealand too and this all combines into an interesting New Zealand birding experience. The number of endangered species is of huge concern and massive conservation efforts are underway (and have been for many years) to protect New Zealand’s endemic families and individual species (such as kiwis, New Zealand wrens, New Zealand parrots, Wrybill ,  Black Stilt ,  Kakapo ,  South Island Takahe ,  Paradise Shelduck ,  New Zealand Falcon , and  Yellow-eyed Penguin ).

The list of key species in New Zealand is staggering and exciting but to get the most out of a bird watching visit, several pelagic trips are recommended, such as one in the Hauraki Gulf to look for the recently rediscovered  New Zealand Storm Petrel . Albatross and whale watching trips off Kaikoura on the east coast of South Island, are also spectacular experiences and you do not need to go far offshore to get the ‘albatross experience’. If you do not have the desire to get on a boat the  Royal Albatross Centre  on the Otago Peninsula is a must-visit place to see  Northern Royal Albatross , at their only mainland nesting colony.

The highlight species are not all seabirds and shorebirds, there are a great many interesting (in terms of the species and their names!) and endemic forest birds too, such as  Little Spotted Kiwi ,  North Island Kokako ,  Rifleman ,  Tui ,  New Zealand Bellbird ,  North Island Saddleback ,  South Island Saddleback ,  Stitchbird ,  Yellowhead ,  Whitehead ,  Pipipi ,  Tomtit ,  North Island Robin , and  South Island Robin .

Our 18-day  New Zealand: Birding Extravaganza  tour starts in Auckland on North Island where we take in the area’s specials such as on a pelagic trip in the Hauraki Gulf with lots of seabirds and a visit to the excellent  Tiritiri Matangi Island , a wildlife sanctuary island full of rare endemic birds, we also look for our first kiwis in this part of New Zealand. We then commence our journey south to  Pūkorokoro Miranda Shorebird Center  where we will look for the highly sought-after  Wrybill . A trip to central North Island (such as at  Pureora Forest Park ) and Kapiti Island will yield more new species including  Blue Duck . Crossing Cook Strait, we will arrive on South Island where we will crisscross our way all the way down the island, picking up endemic birds along the way (such as  Black Stilt ,  New Zealand Rockwren , and  Kea ), as well as fitting in another albatross encounter in Kaikoura. We will visit the sublime  Milford Sound  and marvel at the spectacle of the Southern Alps. We will eventually reach the far south of  Stewart Island  and Ulva Island where further pelagic trips will give us yet more amazing seabirds (e.g.  Fiordland Penguin ) and rare island endemics (such as  Yellowhead ). Dunedin, the end destination of our New Zealand birding tour, on the southern tip of South Island, is right next to the only mainland colony of Northern Royal Albatross , a giant of a bird and a magnificent way to end this  once-in-a-lifetime New Zealand bird holiday .

New Zealand: Endemic Extravaganza November-December 2025

Download New Zealand Itineraries

New zealand gallery.

New Zealand Storm Petrel

New Zealand Kaka

Black Stilt

Fiordland Penguin

Fluttering Shearwater

Australian Pied Cormorant

South Island Saddleback

Antipodean Albatross

New Zealand Fantail

Red-crowned Parakeet

South Island Oystercatcher

South Island Robin

All Rights Reserved, Birding Ecotours

Join our newsletter for exclusive discounts and great birding information!

• Ascension Island
• Tristan da Cunha
• Burkina Faso
• Central African Republic
• Congo Republic
• Côte d’Ivoire
• Equatorial Guinea
• Eswatini (Swaziland)
• Guinea Bissau
• North Sudan
• São Tomé & Príncipe
• Sierra Leone
• Eastern Cape
• KwaZulu Natal
• Northern Cape
• Northwest Province
• Western Cape
• South Sudan
• Western Sahara
• Afghanistan
• British Indian Ocean Territory
• Heilongjiang
• Inner Mongolia
• Andaman & Nicobar Islands
• Andhra Pradesh
• Arunachal Pradesh
• Chhattisgarh
• Himachal Pradesh
• Jammu & Kashmir
• Lakshadweep
• Madhya Pradesh
• Maharashtra
• Uttar Pradesh
• Uttarakhand
• West Bengal
• Indonesian Borneo
• Lesser Sundas
• Kuala Lumpur
• Peninsular Malaysia
• Sarawak & Sabah
• North Korea
• Philippines
• South Korea
• Timor-Leste
• Turkmenistan
• Netherlands Antilles
• Antigua & Barbuda
• Caribbean Netherlands
• Cayman Islands
• Dominican Republic
• El Salvador
• Puerto Rico
• Saint Lucia
• St Vincent & Grenadines
• St. Kitts & Nevis
• Turks & Caicos
• South Ossetia
• Republic of Croatia
• Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
• Bourgogne-Franche-Comté
• Hauts-de-France
• Île-de-France
• Nouvelle-Aquitaine
• Pays-de-la-Loire
• Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur
• Baden-Württemberg
• Brandenburg
• Lower Saxony
• Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
• North Rhine-Westphalia
• Rhineland Palatinate
• Saxony-Anhalt
• Schleswig-Holstein
• Liechtenstein
• Lake Skadar
• Netherlands
• Central Russia
• Eastern Siberia
• Northwest Russia
• Russian Arctic
• Russian Far East
• South Russia
• Western Siberia
• Fuerteventura
• Gran Canaria
• Castilla y Leon
• Castilla-La Mancha
• Extremadura
• Switzerland
• Avon & Bristol
• Bedfordshire
• Buckinghamshire
• Cambridgeshire & Peterborough
• Gloucestershire
• Greater London
• Greater Manchester
• Herefordshire
• Hertfordshire
• Isle of Wight
• Isles of Scilly
• Leicestershire & Rutland
• Lincolnshire
• Northamptonshire
• Northumberland
• Nottinghamshire
• Oxfordshire
• Staffordshire
• Warwickshire
• West Midlands
• Worcestershire
• Yorkshire – East
• Yorkshire – North
• Yorkshire – South
• Yorkshire – West
• Isle of Man
• Angus & Dundee
• Clyde Islands
• Dumfries & Galloway
• Isle of May
• Moray & Nairn
• North-east Scotland
• Orkney Isles
• Outer Hebrides
• Perth & Kinross
• Upper Forth
• Brecknockshire
• Caernarfonshire
• Carmarthenshire
• Denbighshire
• East Glamorgan
• Meirionnydd
• Montgomeryshire
• Pembrokeshire
• Radnorshire
• Vatican City
• Vancouver Island
• New Brunswick
• Newfoundland
• Northwest Territories
• Nova Scotia
• Prince Edward Island
• Saskatchewan
• Aguascalientes
• Baja California
• Baja California Sur
• Mexico City
• Quintana Roo
• San Luis Potosí
• St Pierre & Miquelon
• Connecticut
• Massachusetts
• Mississippi
• New Hampshire
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Rio Grande Valley
• West Virginia
• American Samoa
• Christmas Island
• Coral Sea Islands
• New South Wales
• Norfolk Island
• Northern Territory
• South Australia
• Western Australia
• Cocos Islands
• Cook Islands
• French Polynesia
• Marshall Islands
• New Caledonia

Stewart Island

• Northern Mariana Islands
• Papua New Guinea
• Wallis & Futuna
• Buenos Aires City
• Buenos Aires Province
• Santiago del Estero
• Tierra del Fuego
• Espírito Santo
• Federal District
• Mato Grosso
• Mato Grosso do Sul
• Minas Gerais
• Rio de Janeiro State
• Rio Grande do Norte
• Rio Grande do Sul
• Santa Catarina
• Easter Island
• Northern Ecuador
• French Guiana
• Saudi Arabia
• Farne Islands
• Birding Tour Companies
• Bird Fairs & Festivals
• Trip Report Repositories
• Weather & Tides
• Rarity Alerts
• Ornithological Journals
• Birding Magazines
• Websites with Mega-links
• Books for Birders
• Bird Book Publishers
• Software, DVDs, Recordings etc.
• Bird Writers
• Bird Art & Artists
• Digiscoping
• Photos, Photography & Photographers
• Webcams & Nestcams
• Bird Watching Books
• Bird Watching Telescopes
• Birdfeeders, Birdhouses etc
• Optics Retailers
• Optics Companies
• Outdoor Clothing for Birders
• Other Birding Equipment & Accessories
• Tripod Companies
• Banding or Ringing
• Study & Bird Behaviour
• Birders & Ornithologists
• Threatened & Extinct Species
• Conservation
• Ornithology Courses
• Identification
• Invasive Species
• Taxonomy & Bird Names
• Acanthisittidae – New Zealand Wrens
• Acanthizidae – Australasian Warblers
• Acrocephalidae – Reed & Brush Warblers Etc.
• Aegithalidae – Bush Tits
• Aegithinidae – Ioras
• Alaudidae – Larks
• Arcanatoridae – Dapple-throat & Allies
• Artamidae – Woodswallows, Butcherbirds & Currawongs
• Atrichornithidae – Scrub-birds
• Bernieridae – Malagasy Warblers
• Bombycillidae – Waxwings
• Buphagidae – Oxpeckers
• Calcariidae – Longspurs & Snow Buntings
• Callaeidae – Kokako & Saddlebacks
• Campephagidae – Cuckooshrikes, Cicadabirds, Trillers & Minivets
• Cardinalidae – Cardinals, Grosbeaks & Allies
• Certhiidae – Treecreepers
• Cettidae – Bush Warblers, Tesias & Allies
• Chaetopidae – Rockjumpers
• Chloropseidae – Leafbirds
• Cinclidae – Dippers
• Cisticolidae – Cisticolas, Prinia, Tailorbirds & Allies
• Climacteridae – Australasian Treecreepers
• Cnemophilidae – Satinbirds
• Coerebidae – Bananaquit
• Conopophagidae – Gnateaters
• Corcoracidae – Australian Mudnesters
• Corvidae – Crows, Jays, Magpies & Allies
• Cotingidae – Cotingas, Fruiteaters & Allies
• Dasyornithidae – Bristlebirds
• Dicaeidae – Flowerpeckers
• Dicruridae – Drongos
• Donacobiidae – Donacobius
• Dulidae – Palmchat
• Elachuridae – Spotted Wren-babbler
• Emberizidae – Buntings, New World Sparrows & Allies
• Erythroceridae – Yellow Flycatchers
• Estrildidae – Waxbills, Munias & Allies
• Eulacestomatidae – Ploughbill
• Eupetidae – Rail-Babbler
• Eurylaimidae – Broadbills
• Formicariidae – Antthrushes
• Fringillidae – Finches, Seedeaters, Euphonias & Allies
• Furnariidae – Ovenbirds
• Grallariidae – Antpittas
• Hirundinidae – Swallows & Martins
• Hyliotidae – Hyliotas
• Hylocitreidae – Yellow-flanked Whistler
• Hypocoliidae – Hypocolius
• Icteridae – Oropendolas, Orioles, Blackbirds & Allies
• Ifritidae – Blue-capped Ifrit
• Incertae Sedis – Uncertain Families
• Irenidae – Fairy-bluebirds
• Laniidae – Shrikes
• Leiothrichidae – Turdoides Babblers, Laughingthrushes, Barwings & Sibias
• Locustellidae – Grassbirds & Allies
• Machaerirhynchidae – Boatbills
• Macrosphenidae – Crombecs, Longbills & African Warblers
• Malaconotidae – Bushshrikes, Tchagras, Puffbacks & Boubous
• Maluridae – Australasian Wrens
• Melampittidae – Melampittas
• Melanocharitidae – Berrypeckers & Longbills
• Melanopareiidae – Crescent-chests
• Meliphagidae – Honeyeaters
• Menuridae – Lyrebirds
• Mimidae – Mockingbirds, Thrashers & Allies
• Mohoidae – O’os
• Mohouidae – Whitehead, Yellowhead & Brown Creeper
• Monarchidae – Monarchs, Paradise Flycatchers & Allies
• Motacillidae – Longclaws, Pipits & Wagtails
• Muscicapidae – Old World Flycatchers
• Nectariniidae – Sunbirds & Spiderhunters
• Neosittidae – Sitellas
• Nicatoridae – Nicators
• Notiomystidae – Stitchbird
• Oreoicidae – Australasian Bellbirds
• Oriolidae – Old World Orioles, Pitohuis & Figbirds
• Orthonychidae – Logrunners & Chowchilla
• Pachycephalidae – Whistlers & Allies
• Panuridae – Bearded Reedling
• Paradisaeidae – Birds-of-paradise
• Paramythiidae – Painted Berrypeckers
• Pardalotidae – Pardalotes
• Paridae – Tits & Chickadees
• Parulidae – New World Warblers
• Passeridae – Old World Sparrows
• Pellorneidae – Fulvettas, Ground Babblers & Allies
• Petroicidae – Australasian Robins
• Peucedramidae – Olive Warbler
• Philepittidae – Asities
• Phylloscopidae – Leaf Warblers & Allies
• Picathartidae – Rockfowl
• Pipridae – Manakins
• Pittidae – Pittas
• Pityriaseidae – Bristlehead
• Platysteiridae – Wattle-eyes & Batises
• Ploceidae – Weavers, Widowbirds & Allies
• Pnoepygidae – Wren-babblers
• Polioptilidae – Gnatcatchers
• Pomatostomidae – Australasian Babblers
• Prionopidae – Helmetshrikes
• Promeropidae – Sugarbirds
• Prunellidae – Accentors
• Psophodidae – Whipbirds, Jewel-babblers & Quail-thrushes
• Ptilogonatidae – Silky-flycatchers
• Ptilonorhynchidae – Bowerbirds & Catbirds
• Pycnonotidae – Bulbuls
• Regulidae – Goldcrests & Kinglets
• Remizidae – Penduline Tits
• Rhagologidae – Mottled Berryhunter
• Rhinocryptidae – Tapaculos
• Rhipiduridae – Fantails
• Sapayoidae -Sapayoa
• Scotocercidae – Streaked Scrub Warbler
• Sittidae – Nuthatches
• Stenostiridae – Fairy Flycatchers
• Sturnidae – Starlings, Mynas & Rhabdornis
• Sylviidae – Sylviid Babblers, Parrotbills & Fulvettas
• Tephrodornithidae – Woodshrikes & Allies
• Thamnophilidae – Antbirds
• Thraupidae – Tanagers & Allies
• Tichodromidae – Wallcreeper
• Timaliidae – Babblers
• Tityridae – Tityras, Becards & Allies
• Troglodytidae – Wrens
• Turdidae – Thrushes
• Tyrannidae – Tyrant Flycatchers
• Urocynchramidae – Przevalski’s Finch
• Vangidae – Vangas
• Viduidae – Indigobirds & Whydahs
• Vireonidae – Vireos, Greenlets & Shrike-babblers
• Zosteropidae – White-eyes, Yuhinas & Allies
• Accipitridae – Kites, Hawks & Eagles
• Aegothelidae – Owlet-nightjars
• Alcedinidae – Kingfishers
• Alcidae – Auks
• Anatidae – Swans, Geese & Ducks
• Anhimidae – Screamers
• Anhingidae – Darters
• Anseranatidae – Magpie Goose
• Apodidae – Swifts
• Apterygidae – Kiwis
• Aramidae – Limpkin
• Ardeidae – Herons, Egrets & Bitterns
• Balaenicipitidae – Shoebill
• Brachypteraciidae – Ground Rollers
• Bucconidae – Puffbirds
• Bucerotidae – Hornbills
• Bucorvidae – Ground Hornbills
• Burhinidae – Thick-knees & Stone Curlews
• Cacatuidae – Cockatoos
• Capitonidae – New World Barbets
• Caprimulgidae – Nightjars & Nighthawks
• Cariamidae – Seriemas
• Casuariidae – Cassowaries
• Cathartidae – New World Vultures
• Charadriidae – Plovers, Lapwings & Dotterels
• Chionidae – Sheathbill
• Ciconiidae – Storks
• Coliidae – Mousebirds
• Columbidae – Doves & Pigeons
• Coraciidae – Rollers
• Cracidae – Chachalacas, Curassows & Guans
• Cuculidae – Old World Cuckoos
• Diomedeidae – Albatrosses
• Dromadidae – Crab Plover
• Dromaiidae – Emu
• Eurypygidae – Sunbittern
• Falconidae – Falcons, Kestrels & Caracaras
• Fregatidae – Frigatebirds
• Galbulidae – Jacamars
• Gaviidae – Divers or Loons
• Glareolidae – Coursers & Pratincoles
• Gruidae – Cranes
• Haematopodidae – Oystercatchers
• Heliornithidae – Finfoots & Sungrebe
• Hemiprocnidae – Treeswifts
• Hydrobatidae – Northern Storm Petrels
• Ibidorhynchidae – Ibisbill
• Indicatoridae – Honeyguides
• Jacanidae – Jacanas
• Laridae – Gulls, Terns & Skimmers
• Leptosomatidae – Cuckoo Roller
• Lybiidae – African Barbets
• Megalimidae – Asian Barbets
• Megapodiidae – Megapodes
• Meropidae – Bee-eaters
• Mesitornithidae – Mesites
• Momotidae – Motmots
• Musophagidae – Turacos, Plantain-eaters & Go-away-birds
• Numididae – Guineafowl
• Nyctibiidae – Potoos
• Oceanitidae – Austral Storm Petrels
• Odontophoridae – New World Quails
• Opisthocomidae – Hoatzin
• Otididae – Bustards, Floricans & Korhaans
• Pandionidae – Ospreys
• Pedionomidae – Plains Wanderer
• Pelecanidae – Pelicans
• Pelecanoididae – Diving Petrels
• Phaethontidae – Tropicbirds
• Phalacrocoracidae – Cormorants & Shags
• Phasianidae – Pheasants, Grouse, Partridges & Allies
• Phoenicopteridae – Flamingos
• Phoeniculidae – Wood Hoopoes & Scimitarbills
• Picidae – Woodpeckers
• Pluvianellidae – Magellanic Plover
• Pluvianidae – Egyptian Plover
• Podargidae – Frogmouths
• Podicipedidae – Grebes
• Procellariidae – Petrels, Diving Petrels & Shearwaters
• Psittacidae – African & New World Parrots
• Psittaculidae – Old World Parrots
• Psophiidae – Trumpeters
• Pteroclidae – Sandgrouse
• Rallidae – Rails, Crakes, Gallinules & Coots etc.
• Ramphastidae – Aracari, Toucans & Toucanets
• Recurvirostridae – Avocets & Stilts
• Rheidae – Rheas
• Rhynochetidae – Kagu
• Rostratulidae – Painted Snipe
• Sagittariidae – Secretarybird
• Sarothruridae – Flufftails
• Scolopacidae – Woodcock, Snipe, Sandpipers & Allies
• Scopidae – Hammerkop
• Semnornithidae – Toucan Barbets
• Spheniscidae – Penguins
• Steatornithidae – Oilbird
• Stercorariidae – Skuas or Jaegers
• Strigidae – Owls
• Strigopidae – New Zealand Parrots
• Struthionidae – Ostriches
• Sulidae – Gannets & Boobies
• Thinocoridae – Seedsnipe
• Threskiornithidae – Ibises & Spoonbills
• Tinamidae – Tinamous
• Todidae – Todies
• Trochilidae – Hummingbirds
• Trogonidae – Trogons & Quetzals
• Turnicidae – Buttonquails
• Tytonidae – Barn & Grass Owls
• Upupidae – Hoopoes
• Big Days & Bird Races
• Apocryphal Birding Stories & Urban Myths
• Bird Humour
• Listing & Listers
• Twitching & Twitchers
• Hints & Tips
• Angling & Birds
• Gardening For Birders
• Birding Blogs
• Accessible Birding
• Birding Organisations
• Birds on Stamps
• Fatbirder’s Birding Advice

New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. The country geographically comprises two main landmasses—the North Island and the South Island and around 600 smaller islands of which the five largest inhabited islands are Stewart Island, Chatham Island, Great Barrier Island, d’Urville Island and Waiheke Island. New Zealand is situated some 1,500 kilometres east of Australia across the Tasman Sea and roughly 1,000 kilometres south of the Pacific island areas of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga. Because of its remoteness, it was one of the last lands to be settled by humans. During its long period of isolation, New Zealand developed a distinct biodiversity of animal, fungal and plant life. The country’s varied topography and its sharp mountain peaks, such as the Southern Alps, owe much to the tectonic uplift of land and volcanic eruptions.

New Zealand is long and narrow, over 1,600 kilometres along its north-north-east axis with a maximum width of 400 kilometres with about 5.2 million people. 15,000 km of coastline and a total land area of 268,000 square kilometres. Slightly bigger than the UK, but with less than 10% of its population, it is still rural and uncrowded. Because of its far-flung outlying islands and long coastline, the country has extensive marine resources. Its exclusive economic zone is one of the largest in the world, covering more than 15 times its land area. New Zealand has a population of about New Zealand’s capital city is Wellington, while its most populous city is Auckland.

New Zealand’s climate is predominantly temperate maritime with mean annual temperatures ranging from 10 °C in the south to 16 °C in the north. Historical maxima and minima are 42.4 °C in Rangiora, Canterbury and -25.6 °C in Ranfurly, Otago. Conditions vary sharply across regions from extremely wet on the West Coast of the South Island to almost semi-arid in Central Otago and the Mackenzie Basin of inland Canterbury and subtropical in Northland. The southern and south-western parts of the South Island have a cooler and cloudier climate, with around 1,400–1,600 hours; the northern and north-eastern parts of the South Island are the sunniest areas of the country and receive about 2,400–2,500 hours. The general snow season is early June until early October, though cold snaps can occur outside this season. Snowfall is common in the eastern and southern parts of the South Island and mountain areas across the country.

About 82% of New Zealand’s indigenous vascular plants are endemic, covering 1,944 species. The two main types of forest are those dominated by broadleaf trees with emergent podocarps, or by southern beech in cooler climates. The remaining vegetation types consist of grasslands, the majority of which are tussock.

Birding New Zealand

Marine mammals are abundant, with almost half the world’s cetaceans and large numbers of fur seals reported in New Zealand waters. Many seabirds breed in New Zealand, a third of them unique to the country. More penguin species are found in New Zealand than in any other country. New Zealand is the pelagic birding capital of the world. It also has around 80 endemic species of birds.

To appreciate bird watching in New Zealand one has to understand a little of New Zealand’s history. With the destruction of New Zealand’s lowland bush, dense jungle like forest, (which began with the arrival here of the Polynesians a thousand years ago and was accelerated by the arrival of Europeans a couple of hundred years ago), went a good many of New Zealand’s unique birds, such as the Moa and the Huia. Although New Zealand is still a heavily forested country in the remote and mountainous areas, these forests are infested with introduced animals such as pigs, goats, deer, rats, mustelids and the Australian brush tailed possum, which pose a real threat to New Zealand’s remaining endemic birds. Until recently, it was thought that the only way to preserve New Zealand’s unique bird life was to re-establish them on pest free offshore islands, which happened in a few places where invasive plants and animals were extirpated and native bush allowed to regenerate such as the tiny island of Tiritiri Matangi in Auckland bay. This idea has now been extended to create mainland islands within the vast conservation estate. Hopefully, this strategy will reverse the decline.

As the native birds declined, the ecological niches were being filled by birds that were introduced by British settlers such as Song Thrush, and a number of finches etc. The gaps have also been filled by the natural expansion of Australian species, birds such as the Spur-winged Plover, Black-fronted Dotterel and Welcome Swallow.

New Zealand has so few birds compared with, say, Australia, it would be good to be able to say that every one of them is valued. However, Common Mynas Acridotheres tristis introduced from India and Australian Magpies Gymnorhina tibicen from Australia are not easy to defend. Few New Zealanders even get to see a Kiwi, let alone a Kokako or Kakapo. In most of the settled areas one mostly sees birds introduced here from Europe in the nineteenth century, such as Blackbirds, Song Thrushes and Goldfinches or other introductions like Californian Quail along with a few hardy natives such as Tuis, Fantails, Sacred Kingfishers and New Zealand Pigeons.

However, New Zealand does have a very high percentage of endemic birds. More than eighty five percent of all taxa are endemic. It is just that they are a bit thin on the ground and therefore take some effort or guidance to see. To observe New Zealand`s endemic bird life one has to either visit the offshore islands or visit the vast conservation estate, information about which may be found on the Department of Conservation web site or the birding section of the New Zealand Birds web site.

A Flock of Endemic Wrybill Anarhynchus frontalis  – Pūkorokoro Miranda Naturalists’ Trust Reserve © Allan Sander

New Zealand’s rich marine environment provides for the abundance and diversity of its sea bird life. The New Zealand region extends from the subtropical waters around the Kermadec Islands to the sub-antarctic waters of the Campbell Plateau. Where the subtropical waters and sub-antarctic waters meet, the convergence, areas of upwelling are created where nutrients, fish and seabirds are abundant. One such area is along the Kaikōura coast.

Worldwide, there are 97 species of smaller petrels and of these 49 have been recorded in New Zealand seas. The strategic position of these islands, strung across the prevailing westerly winds, accounts for the many varieties of petrels found in this sector of the Pacific Ocean. The multitude of small islands scattered around New Zealand provide suitable nesting habitat for some, such as the 32 species of petrel which breed from the Kermadecs in the North to Campbell Island 2400 miles to the south. Other species such as the Blue Petrel visit New Zealand waters on a regular basis. Petrels breed once a year in large colonies on remote offshore islands. However, most of the main mountain ranges in New Zealand used to support extensive petrel colonies before the advent of man a thousand years ago and the mammalian predators they brought with them.

On still nights the southern oceans can twinkle with the tiny lights of phosphorescent zooplankton rafted in millions upon the water. Since many of these animals disappear during the day, most petrels feed at night. During the summer when the sun never sets, enormous blooms of the crustacean, Euphausia superba , attract vast concourses of sea birds to the cold polar seas. Not just petrels, but Shearwaters, Gulls, Terns, Skuas and even Albatross can often be seen close to shores, especially after storms at sea when they take to sheltered bays while the storms pass.

This page is sponsored by Wrybill Birding Tours

North Island - Firth of Thames North Island - Firth of Thames North Island - Firth of Thames Miranda reserve[Miranda]

North island - tiritiri matangi island, north island - zealandia, south island - eglington valley and milford sound, south island - haast pass, south island - kaikoura, south island - otago peninsula, narena olliver.

| [email protected]

Duncan Poyser

| [email protected]

Number of bird species: 396

Number of endemics: 97, avibase - bird checklists of the world, birds new zealand, wrybill tours.

A Checklist to New Zealand Birds

A field guide to the birds of new zealand, a naturalist's guide to the birds of new zealand, atlas of bird distribution in new zealand 1999-2004, birds of new zealand, birds of new zealand checklist, birds of new zealand: a photographic guide, birds of new zealand: locality guide, birdwatching in new zealand, buller's birds of new zealand, checklist of the birds of new zealand, collins field guide: birds of new zealand, hawaii, central and west pacific, field guide to new zealand seabirds, field guide to the birds of new zealand, flight of the huia, new zealand birds in pictures, photographic guide to birds of new zealand, the 50 best birdwatching sites in new zealand, the cuckoo and the warbler, the hand guide to the birds of new zealand, the reed field guide to new zealand birds, the story of new zealand's unique birds, new zealand birds online, massey - nz, new zealand rare birds committee, birds nz (ornithological society of new zealand), birds nz local branches, forest & bird, kakapo recovery project, kiwi conservation club, new zealand ecological society, pukaha-mount bruce national wildlife centre, rotoiti nature recovery project, save the kiwi, tiritiri matangi supporters, whangarei native bird recovery centre, wingspan - birds of prey trust, yellow-eyed penguin trust.

Abbreviations Key

**New Zealand's National Parks

*forest & bird reserves, cvp pureora forest park, ir blumine island, ir tiritiri matangi island, kiwi & birdlife park - queenstown, mir boundary stream, np te urewera, nr atawhai-whenua reserve, waiheke island, nr cape kidnappers gannet reserve, nr farewell spit, nr kapiti island, nr mana island, nr maungatautari restoration project, nr motunau island, nr nga manu, nr nugget point, nr oamaru blue penguine colony, nr pekapeka wetland, nr pigeon island - wāwāhi waka, nr pukaha mt. bruce national wildlife centre, nr pukorokoro miranda shorebird centre, rp muriwai gannet colony, rp shakespear, rp tawharanui, wr orokonui ecosanctuary, wr pauatahanui, wr royal albatross centre, taiaroa head, wr willowbank, christchurch, ws brook waimarama sanctuary, ws bushy park, akaroa harbour cruises, aurora charters - stewart island, birding ecotours, elm wildlife tours, farewell spit eco-tours, foris eco-tours, gannet safaris, kapiti island nature tours, kiwi wildlife tours, monarch wildlife cruises, myths & legends eco-tours, nature quest new zealand, nature travel specialists, new zealand land and pelagic trips, ruggedy range, ulva's guided walks, waikanae estuary bird tours, white heron tours, wrybill birding tours, 2015 [11 november] - erik forsyth, 2016 [01 january] - david & amanda mason - australia & new zealand, 2016 [11 november] - dan lane & mark ayer, 2016 [11 november] - erik forsyth, 2017 [02 february] - erik forsyth, 2017 [11 november] - erik forsyth, 2017 [12 december] - erik forsyth, 2018 [01 january] - erik forsyth, 2019 [01 january] - karen worcester, 2019 [11 november] - andy walker, 2019 [11 november] - birding ecotours - andy walker, 2020 [03 march] - kari haataja, 2022 [10 october] - andrew walker, 2022 [10 october] - carlos sanchez, 2022 [12 december] - bill simpson, 2023 [03 march] - julien wright-ueada, 2023 [11 nopvember] - pat lueders, french pass beachfront villas, kakapo cottage - stewart island, stewart island lodge, te kauri birding lodge, te mata lodge - thames, wilderness lodge - lake moeraki & arthur's pass, birders totals, birds of christchurch and canterbury, brown teal recovery programme, new zealand birding directory, new zealand birds, new zealand birds' store & gift shop, penguins in new zealand, brent stephenson - b1rder, gallery - birds of new zealand, photographer - brent stephenson, photographer - neil fitzgerald, photographer - paul gibson.

Fatbirder - linking birders worldwide... Wildlife Travellers see our sister site: WAND

• 1800-BIRDING freecall

New Zealand Birding Tour

Tour Spot Available

Join us on our birding tour across beautiful New Zealand. Leaving from Auckland and ending in Invercargill, this 14-day tour covers both the North and South Islands and takes in all the best birding spots. We aim to visit such places as Tiritiri Matangi, Miranda, the Central Plateau and Pureora Forest, Manawatu Estuary, Kaikoura, the South Island mountains, Stewart & Ulva Islands, Twizel and Central Otago.

Read on below for more info on our scheduled New Zealand birding tours. We also offer custom tours, privately guided, min. 4 days. Please  contact us to discuss.

Birdwatching in New Zealand

New Zealand has many unique bird species and we’ll be looking for representatives of the endemic families – kiwis, NZ parrots, NZ wrens, NZ wattlebirds, NZ creepers, and the stitchbird; in addition, expect species such as Wrybill, New Zealand pigeon, Keas, Kakas, Shags, Wekas and Tuis, Penguins, and even Bellbirds and a variety of seabirds – including Albatrosses – during a half-day pelagic. Expect to see over 120 species: this trip is surely a treat that shouldn’t be missed!

The tour includes a relaxed, bird-rich pelagic trip; night-spotting for Kiwis; spectacular scenery; great camaraderie & good food. Optional add-ons available. (unfortunately, no discounts are available on this tour).

Does our scheduled New Zealand birding tour not suit your timeframe? We also offer custom tours, privately guided, min. 4 days. Please feel free to contact us to discuss.

Featured Birds

• Kaka, Kea, Tui, Stitchbird, Bellbird
• Yellow-eyed & Fairy Penguin
• 4 spp of Shag; Wrybill
• Weka, Kiwis, Takahe, Kokako
• Red-fronted & Yellow-fronted Parakeet
• Rifleman, NZ Pigeon, NZ Dotterel
• Saddleback, Whitehead, Fernbird
• North Island Robin, Sth Island Robin
• Brown Teal, Blue Duck, Tomtit
• sea-birds such as albatrosses, shearwaters, Fairy Prion, Common Diving Petrel, White-fronted Tern, Black-billed & Red-billed Gull
• Paradise Shelduck, Sth Island Pied Oystercatcher
• …and many more!

Aotearoa New Zealand Birding Tours

Birds are our specialty! Join us on a spectacular birding adventure, including all the “must-see” species: Rifleman, Saddleback, Rock wren, Kōkako, Kiwi and many more.

New Zealand is home to forty-five endemic birds, some of which, such as Saddleback, Kōkako and Stitchbird are among the most endangered birds on Earth. Our bird watching tours visit a diverse range of habitats and have an emphasis on the unusual endemic birds of the region. It is richly endowed with seabirds and visits to several coastal sites allow you to experience the incredible variety of marine birds and mammals on isolated islands.

Our New Zealand birding tours will take you to places of great scenic beauty on both the North and South Islands—from stunning Milford Sound to the deepwater upwellings off the Kaikoura coast and the rugged, remote Stewart Island.

Each of our tours is designed especially for the interests of each group, be it a society, university or private group. We will ensure the maximum number of species are viewed and enjoyed while providing an understanding of New Zealand’s avifauna and natural heritage.

Our guides are experienced birders and passionate about sharing their interest and knowledge. We can provide transport throughout, all necessary permits and charters, accommodation and meals as requested, species lists and a detailed background ecology booklet relating to areas visited and species viewed.

Highlights can include:

• Kiwi spotting on Stewart Island
• Albatross up close in Kaikoura
• The haunting call of Kōkako
• Tiny Rock Wren in the mountains
• Takahe on Tiritiri Matangi Island
• Penguin spotting

Self-drive or Private Birdwatching Trips

Want to “do it alone” or wanting to spot a particular bird or range of species?

If you enjoy birding at your own pace or if you have a “must-see”, we can provide expert local advice and guidance where required.

Let us help you design your New Zealand birding itinerary to ensure you target exactly what you want to see and do. We can ensure you get to the right places at the right time to maximize your birding success.

We offer a range of services from fully guided private trips, partially guided or self-drive itineraries, all booked to your specifications.

"I have loved our time here and you have made it very special - what a fun way to see New Zealand."

Join our mailing list for news and updates from Nature Quest

• Australasia
• North America
• South and Central America
• Bucket List Birding Pod Show-notes & links to all podcast episodes.

New Zealand's Endemic Bird Families, pelagic and maori culture.

Jan 5-9, 2026 (extension South Island Jan 10-14, 2026).

Tour Price (Per Person):

USD: $2800. Group size 6-12. With driver and local guide at all time. Meals are included. 

Quest for Endemic Bird Families. Easy birding, pelagic, endemic bird families and Maori Culture. 

Description

New Zealand is a fascinating country with its Maori culture, scenic landscape of the Middle Earth in Lord of the Rings, a paradise for seabirds and pelagic fans, and a number of endemic bird families of truly unique birds, many of them threatened of extinction.

7 Wonders Birding offers two short trips that run back to back. The first part is on North Island and the second part on South Island. The focus of the two tours are a bit different. Both programs include a large amount of driving, but it is helped by the many hours of daylight in the Southern summer.  This North Island Program focuses on these specific goals:

• See at least one representative of each of the six endemic bird family. They include Kiwis (North Island Brown and Little Spotted are possible), New Zealand Parrots (Kaka), New Zealand Wrens (Rifleman), Wattlebirds (Kokako and Saddleback), the Stitchbird and the new Mohouidae familiy (Whitehead).
• See recently rediscovered New Zealand Storm-Petrel on a top NZ pelagic
• See threatened and very local Shore Plover
• See the peculiar Wrybill
• See the torrent loving and threatened Blue Duck
• Get familiarized with the Maori culture . 

All this in only 5 days. Lot’s of bang for the buck. 

Although the birding is easy, it is quite an intense tour with long days. It could lay your base for a fast introduction to New Zealand and later you can explore on your own, or you may want to add the South Island program to maximize your time in New Zealand.  

Many tours to New Zealand run in 21 days and cost over US$8000. In just 10 days we see 80-90% of the same birds at roughly half the price.  

The South Island 5 day extension program is more focused on some iconic birds like the Kea and Black Stilt, the Kaikoura pelagic, and a visit to Stewart Island. 

ITINERARY OUTLINE:

Day 1. Arrive Auckland in the morning. Visit Rangitoto Island, Waipu Cove and  Tawharanui Regional Park. Night in Sandspit area. 

Day 2.  Pelagic. Night Tiritiri Matangi. Day 3.  Tiritiri Matangi- Miranda-Pureora

Day 4. Pureora-Roturoa-Turangi

Day 5. Turangi-Wellington.

DETAILED ITINERARY:

Day 1. auckland-rangitoto island-waipu cove-tawharanui-sandspit., day 2. pelagic from sandspit. pm tiritiri matangi..

We start the morning with a pelagic. Within the littoral zone we shall see South Island Oystercatcher,  Variable Oystercatcher, Silver Gull, Kelp Gull, Little Penguin, Pied Cormorant and White-faced Heron . Once in  the open water and when chumming awaits New Zealand Storm-Petrel, which was thought to be extinct since 1850, but incredibly rediscovered in 2003. It remains a critically endangered species. Other pelagic birds that we have chance seeing today include  Cook’s Petrel,  Parkinson’s Petrel, Common Diving-Petrel, White-faced Storm-Petrel, Fairy Prion and Buller’s, Fluttering, and Little Shearwaters .  

In the late afternoon we continue to Gulf Harbour for a water taxi to Tiritiri Matangi, where we shall stay overnight.  The accommodation is basic and we need to bring a light sleeping bag and pillow. Here we have a chance of seeing Little Spotted Kiwi at night. We may also see Little Penguins near their burrows at night.

Day 3. Tiritiri Matangi. Drive to Miranda and Pureora.

We spend morning exploring the trails on the island. Tiritiri Matangi Island is one of New Zealand’s most important conservation projects. Between 1984 and 1994, volunteers planted around 300,000 trees on 220 ha island that formerly had been subject to farming for 120 years. A ll mammalian predators were eradicated and a number of threatened and endangered bird species have been introduced. The most threatened is the South Island Takahe – a giant flightless swamphen. There is a tiny wild population in the inaccessible Murchison Fiordland area, and introduced on four predator free islands which Tiritiri Matangi is one and the easiest to visit. 

Other birds we hope to find this morning include Brown Quail, New Zealand Pigeon, Sacred Kingfisher, Red-crowned Parakeet, Tui, New Zealand Bellbird, Gray Gerygone, Whitehead, Australian Magpie, New Zealand Fantail, North Island Kokako, North Island Saddleback, Stitchbird, North Island Robin and with luck Rifleman .  Five out of six endemic bird families!

At midday we take the water taxi back to the mainland to drive to Miranda on the shore of Firth the Thames bay. This is a top notch site for shorebirds including the peculiar Wrybill (bill is bent to the right) . Other wetland and shorebirds expected here in January are Black Swan,  Paradise Shelduck, Gray Teal, Buff-banded Rail, Pied Stilt, South Island Oystercatcher, Variable Oystercatcher, Pacific Golden-Plover, Masked Lapwing, Red-breasted Dotterel, Greater Sand-Plover, Double-banded Plover, Bar-tailed Godwit, Ruddy Turnstone, Red Knot, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper and Red-necked Stint.  

After this we have a long drive to Black Fern Lodge at the edge of Pureora Forest Park. We shall look out for Kaka before the sun sets.  Dinner included at the lodge. 

Day 4. Pureora and Roturoa

Additional birding in the morning for Rifleman, North Island Robin, Tomtit and Kaka . There is also Blue Duc k possible here. We bird until 9 AM and then continue to Roturoa, which is the center of Maori culture. We shall visit a Maori Village and get an insight the life of the original inhabitants of New Zealand before the arrival of the white man. We shall also visit the boiling sulphur smelling mud pools of Wai-O-Tapu, and a good area for Tomtit , before going south again towards Turangi. We will search for Blue Duck the remainder of the evening. Sunset is at 8.40 pm, so there shall still be time for those who wish to do more birding. 

Day 5. Drive to Wellington via Blue Duck location.

Depending what is left to see the morning’s birding will be decided. It is likely that one of three targets – the Blue Duck, Kaka or Rifleman is still missing. 

Later we continue to Wellington and end the first part of the tour. Some people will fly back to Auckland in the afternoon while others continue to the South Island extension and the afternoon ferry across Cook’s Straight. Keen birders will look for seabirds while crossing such as Westland Petrel, Fairy Prion, White-capped Albatross, Sooty Shearwater, Fluttering Shearwater and White-faced Storm-Petrel . Night in Picton.

South Island Extension 5 days

If you want a complete experience of New Zealand we recommend our extension, which gives you the highlights of Black Stilt, Kea , the Kaikoura Pelagic, and birding and a pelagic on Stewart Island. Again there is a considerable amount of driving, but there are vast amount of daylight hours and thus the rewards are high. 

The south extension can also be taken as a standalone trip by flying to Wellington and meet up with the group there. 

Day 1 . We shall make a morning boat trip to a small colony of New Zealand King Shag, aka Rough-faced Shag which is one of the rarest cormorants on the planet. We shall also land on a small island where there is free living introduced population of the Critically Endangered Malherbe’s Parakeet, aka Orange-crowned Kakariki.

We drive to Kaikoura (2h) for an afternoon pelagic in these famous waters for albatrosses. No less than 5 species of albatross are seen here at close range. Northern Royal, Southern Royal , gibsoni ssp of Antipodean, White-capped and Salvin’s . Also here are Northern Giant Petrel, Cape Petrel, Grey-faced Petrel, White-chinned Petrel, Westland Petrel, Short-tailed Shearwater, Hutton´s Shearwater and Australasian Gannets .

After the pelagic we have a long drive on to Arthur’s pass (4.5 hours).

Day 2. In the morning we look for the confident parrot known as Kea –  famous for destroying windshield wipers. We also search for New Zealand Rock Wren (or South Island Wren ) on the Otira Valley walk.

We leave after lunch to drive to Twizel which is another 4-5 hour drive.

Day 3. We search for the Critically Endangered Black Stilt and visit the visitor centre to learn more about this rare New Zealand shorebird.

Afterwards we travel to Invercargill and Bluff for the 5:15 Ferry to Stewart Island. At night we shall look for Southern Brown Kiwi .

Day 4 . In the morning we visit Ulva with Brown Creeper, Yellowhead, Red-fronted Parakeets, South Island Saddleback, South Island Robin and Weka . In the afternoon we shall make yet another pelagic trip. We shall add Brown Skua and White-chinned Petrel, Foveaux’s Shags, and Yellow-eyed Penguin .

Day 5. This day is somewhat flexible depending on what people want to do and their continued plans.  If you have time to stay on for 4 PM flight to Christchurch, you can either take the morning ferry at 8 AM to try to twitch NZ Rock Wren if it is still missing, or take it easy on Stewart island and bird in the morning to take the ferry at noon. 

From Christchurch there are flights to Auckland, Sydney and Melbourne. 

Cost of the extension is US$2590

Subscribe to our newsletter

We respect your email privacy

• DESTINATIONS
• SEARCH FOR TOURS or QUICK LINKS
• TOUR CALENDAR
• REPORTS & PHOTOS
• BIRDS OF A FEATHER SERIES
• PHOTO GALLERY ARCHIVE
• GUIDES & STAFF
• LATEST NEWS
• THE FIELD GUIDES STORE
• HEALTH PROTOCOLS
• CONSERVATION SUPPORT
• PRIVATE TOURS
• JOIN OUR MAILING LIST
• ABOUT FIELD GUIDES
• INFO & POLICIES
• TRAVEL RESOURCES
• GUIDING CAREERS

New Zealand

With its picturesque mountains, meadows, and fjords, New Zealand, or Aotearoa ("the land of the long white cloud" in Maori), is an enchanting land that has remained isolated for millions of years, a fact reflected in the near-absence of native land mammals and in the ancient derivation of its avifauna. This is the home of such primitive and endemic families of birds as the amazing kiwis, New Zealand wattlebirds, and the New Zealand wrens. Although New Zealand supports relatively few species of native landbirds, it boasts some forty-five endemics, some of which, such as saddlebacks, Kokako, and Stitchbird (itself a new family), are among the most endangered birds on Earth. It's also richly endowed with seabirds and is one of the cradles of seabird evolution.

Our tour visits some of the wildest and loveliest parts of the islands, with an emphasis on the endemic landbirds, seabirds, and shorebirds. If you are someone who doesn’t like the idea of 12-hour or overnight pelagic trips but want to see albatrosses and other tubenoses, this may be the tour for you! Boat trips off South and Stewart islands and visits to several coastal sites will allow us to experience close at hand the tremendous variety of marine birds and mammals of this region on boat outings lasting less than 4 hours! The short sea-trip off Kaikoura is one of the best pelagics in the world, where you will be nearly within arm’s length of albatrosses and petrels just minutes from shore!

Our travels will take us to many places of great scenic beauty on both North and South islands, from incredible glacier-ringed Milford Sound in Fiordland National Park to the deep-water upwellings off the seaward Kaikouras, the wild and remote Stewart Island, the Northern Royal Albatross nesting colony at Taiaroa Head on the Otago Peninsula, the impressive volcanos of Tongariro National Park, the Firth of Thames with its roosting shorebirds and, finally, Tiritiri Matangi Island, home to a wonderful collection of native landbirds!

Hauraki Gulf Pelagic Extension The short optional extension after the main tour includes an all-day pelagic on the Hauraki Gulf off the northeast coast of the North Island, with New Zealand Storm-Petrel, rediscovered in 2003 after it was believed extinct for 50 years, as the main target.

ITINERARIES • TOUR STATUS • DETAILS • SPACE REQUESTS

• 2025 (PDF expected Feb 2025)

DEPARTURES • We have 3 departures currently scheduled through 2026, with details including limits, guides, fees, and space available listed below.

Nov 9-27, 2024 Guided by: Dan Lane & local guide Tour Manager: Karen Turner Tour Limit: 12 Status: Open - This tour has enough participants registered to insure its operation, but it is not yet full. Click below to book one or more spaces. Tour Fee: $8575 Deposit: $850 REQUEST SPACE OR MORE INFO

Nov 9-27, 2025 Guided by: Dan Lane & local guide Tour Manager: Karen Turner Tour Limit: 12 Status: Provisionally full; waitlist available - The itinerary has not been finalized for this tour. The trip has provisionally filled but, if you are interested, we can waitlist you for the trip. As we do not require deposits until the itinerary and price are finalized, we often have folks drop off a tour when the deposit is required, and so space opens up! Click below to be waitlisted for this tour with no obligation; if you are waitlisted, we will also notify you in case of an added departure of this tour. Tour Fee: Fee TBD / 2024=$8575 REQUEST WAITLIST OR MORE INFO

Nov 8-26, 2026 Guide: TBA Tour Manager: Karen Turner Tour Limit: 12 Status: Open - Space is still available on this tour, and we are accepting provisional bookings. No deposit is required until you receive the itinerary. Click below to book space. Tour Fee: Fee TBD / 2024=$8575 REQUEST SPACE OR MORE INFO

Enjoy looking through the 5 most recent Field Guides triplists for this tour linked below!

• 2023 (Nov departure guided by Dan Lane)
• 2023 (Oct departure guided by Doug Gochfeld)
• 2022 (Nov departure guided by Dan Lane)
• 2018 (Nov departure guided by Dan Lane)
• 2016 (Nov departure guided by Dan Lane)

New Zealand

• Lots of very special and unique birds and wildlife, including kiwis, penguins, parrots, superb seabirds, astonishing Tuis and Kokakos, and the bizarre shorebird, the Wrybill!
• Boat-trips to predator-free islands with numerous endemic birds
• World class pelagic trip off Kaikoura
• Pelagic cruise off Stewart Island
• Spectacular scenery from snow-capped mountains to rugged coastlines and volcanically active highlands!
• Visit several National Parks including Fjordlands, Mount Aspiring and Tongariro

Tour Overview

New Zealand – a land of remarkable and spectacular landscapes, from volcanoes and hotsprings to steep, deep fjords, snow-capped mountains and huge glaciers. The flora and fauna of these islands are equally remarkable and unique. Over 40 endemic bird species occur on the main islands, including quintessential New Zealanders – the Kiwis, those flightless, wingless, long-beaked ground-dwellers after which New Zealanders are named.

There are amazing birds here – New Zealand wrens and wattlebirds including the endangered Kokako, Saddlebacks and Stitchbirds, the world’s rarest penguin – Yellow-eyed, the inquisitive parrot the Kea, flightless Takahe, the scarce Blue Duck, the remarkable Wrybill – surely one of the strangest of shorebirds, the critically endangered Black Stilt, as well as diverse seabirds – albatrosses, shearwaters, storm-petrels, petrels. New Zealand is a land of ancient conifers, magnificent Kauri Pines so important in naval history, Southern Beech forests, magical rainforests of huge podocarps, splendid Tree Ferns, and fields of endemic sub-alpine shrubs and alpine flowers.

Our New Zealand birding tour takes in both North and South Islands, and offshore Stewart Island, each with its own special attractions and natural wonders, from rugged Fjordland National Park, Milford Sound and splendid Mount Cook in the south to the volcanically active central highlands, thermal geysers and primeval forests in the north.

Dates & Prices

Dates & prices, what's included, tour price includes.

• Three Kiwi excursions included (weather permitting)
• All accommodations (Moderate to good quality hotels and lodges)
• All meals included
• Ferry, cruise and pelagic boat trips included
• Ground transportation
• Guides: 4 - 7 participants with one guide and vehicle, 8 - 12 with two guides and vehicles

Tour Price Does Not Include

• Travel to and from start/end location
• Travel Insurance
• Items of a personal nature
• Optional Pre-tour

Day 1 Travel to Tutukaka

Our New Zealand birding tour begins today and we will meet at 3 pm in Auckland to drive north to the seaside town of Tutukaka. Our guide can collect you at the airport or at the hotel where we have booked participants wanting pre-tour nights. This is about a 3 hour drive and we will not be stopping to bird along the way so that we can arrive in Tutukaka and rest up for the next day. We’ll have plenty of time for birding on the rest of the tour! Night in Tutukaka.

Day 2 Optional pelagic birding trip

For those taking part in this pelagic trip, you are in for a treat! The list of potential seabirds is very impressive, with a multitude of albatrosses, shearwaters, petrels and storm-petrels. We have a chance to see endemic specialties like Parkinson’s Petrel, Cook’s Petrel, Pycroft’s Petrel, and Buller’s Shearwater.

The most famous bird on this tour is the New Zealand Storm-Petrel which was only re-discovered in 2002 (presumed extinct since 1850). Predator eradication efforts on Little Barrier Island (now known to be their breeding site) have led to an increase in numbers and this means that we stand a good chance to see some today! There’s always a good chance for a variety of marine mammals.

The pelagic departs about 7 am and returns in the late afternoon. If a full-day pelagic is not of interest, you can do some walking and exploring of the beautiful town and beaches of Tutukaka. Lunch on your own if you are not on the pelagic.

Our group will gather again for dinner this evening and discuss the adventure ahead. Night in Tutukaka.

Day 3: Trounson Kauri Park

We will leave the hotel after breakfast and check the immediate area for Reef Heron. We will then make our way towards Dargaville for lunch with a stop or two along the way depending on recent bird sightings. We will proceed north after lunch and will scour the accommodation grounds for native eels and native birds (Grey Warbler and Silvereye). Trounson Kauri Park will be our destination in the evening to look for Morepork (owl), Weta (cricket) and North Island Brown Kiwi. Night in Trounson Kauri Park.

Day 4: Transfer to Orewa

We have a morning walk around Trounson Kauri Park, which protects some of the last of the mighty kauri forests of New Zealand’s Northland region. These magnificent trees are among the most ancient species in the world—some boasting trunks measuring over 5m in diameter! The wood is highly prized as a valuable timber and thus most of NZ’s kauris were heavily logged until a moratorium was established in the 1970s.

We then head over to Waipu Cove for Fairy Tern, with a detour to look for Australasian Grebe, and take the scenic coastal route via Mangawhai Heads (another locality for Fairy Tern) to Orewa. Time permitting, we may take in Wenderholm Park for commoner landbirds and shorebirds. Night in Orewa.

Day 5: Tiri Tiri Matangi Island

Today we take the boat ride to Tiri Tiri Matangi Island—one of the greatest bird conservation success stories in New Zealand. What was once an overgrazed islet supporting little birdlife, is now a predator-free sanctuary covered in native plants, all supporting a vibrant bird community including some of the countries rarest endemics like Stitchbird, Kokako, and the iconic Takahe (giant flightless swamphen). We’ll spend most of the day exploring this lovely little island then return to our accommodation in the late afternoon. Night in Orewa.

Day 6: Miranda

We leave early and drive through Auckland to our next destination at Miranda. Our day will be partially organized around the high tide here. The coastal mudflats and saltmarsh of Miranda (NZ’s most famous shorebird hot spot) support Bar-tailed Godwits (who fly non-stop from Alaska—11,000+km—to winter here!), Red Knot, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Red-necked Stint, Wrybill, New Zealand Dotterel, Banded Rail, Pied Oystercatcher, and White-fronted Tern. If we’re lucky there might be a few other Siberian waders here such as Marsh Sandpiper or Greater Sand Plover. Night in Taupo.

Day 7: Pureora Forest

Pureora Forest Park straddles the Hauhungaroa and Rangitoto Ranges between Lake Taupo and Te Kuiti, and is renowned for its towering trees - totara, rimu, matai, miro and kahikatea up to 40-60 metres. There is rich native bird life in this forest including the Kokako and the Kaka, Kakariki (Yellow-crowned Parakeet), Long-tailed Cuckoo, Whitehead, Rifleman and North Island Robin. The Waipapa Walk is a loop that begins along the edge of the Waipapa Ecological Area, and it offers the best chance of finding Kokako. Later in the day we plan on stopping at Whakamaru Dam, for waterbirds and perhaps a rarity such as Caspian Tern. Night in Taupo.

Day 8: Tongariro and Turangi

Today we visit Tongariro National Park with its spectacular series of snow-capped volcanoes including Ngauruhoe (Used for “Mt Doom” in the Lord of the Rings movies). We stop along the Tongariro River to look for the rare and declining Blue Duck (or “Whio”)—a highly specialized endemic of NZ’s mountain rivers. Depending on time we can check out a few forest and alpine trails in the park. Night in Palmerston North.

Day 9: Waikanae and Ferry Crossing to South Island

We start off the morning by heading to the west coast of North Island and checking out wetlands and shorebird hotspots such as Waikanae and the Manuwatu estuary. We then head to Wellington for the Interisland Ferry across the Cook Straight Crossing to Picton during which we are likely to see another fine array of seabirds and perhaps whales and dolphins. Night in Picton.

Day 10: Marlborough Sounds

We take a morning cruise through the magnificent Marlborough Sounds, looking for Fluttering and Sooty Shearwaters, White-fronted Terns and especially New Zealand King Shag, a highly endangered species. Hector’s Dolphins occur here also. We’ll stop at Blumine Island and bird the forest edge looking for Orange-fronted Parakeet and Yellowhead. After lunch, we drive to Kaikoura - world famous for its sea-life as the continental shelf is just over 1 mile offshore. This means you can expect a wonderful variety of seafood on the menu this evening, and it also means that there are a lot of seabirds out there on the waves! We’ll enjoy a casual evening on the waterfront, perhaps with an optional visit to the Point Keane seal colony where we may find Double-banded Plovers and Ruddy Turnstones foraging along the shoreline. Sometimes albatross are visible from shore and perhaps we’ll be able to see large rafts of Hutton’s Shearwaters—a Kaikoura endemic. Night in Kaikoura.

Day 11: Pelagic birding

It’s albatross fiesta time! Kaikoura is touted by many as the pelagic capital of the world, so you can expect to see a variety of seabirds at close-quarters today including the massive Wandering Albatross, with a wingspan of 3.5m! In addition to the albatrosses, shearwaters, petrels, and penguins we might encounter, there is a chance we might see marine mammals including several dolphin species and even a Sperm Whale or two! In the afternoon, we have an optional afternoon birding hike in nearby Fyffe/Palmer reserve, or perhaps out to the seal colony at Point Keane if we did not visit yesterday. Night in Kaikoura.

Day 12: Across the Southern Alps to Arthur’s Pass

We leave Kaikoura, and head south, stopping at a few coastal birding hotspots such as St Ann's Lagoon in Cheviot along the way where we may be able to add species like Cape Barren Goose, Far Eastern Curlew, and possibly Pacific Reef-Heron. We then head inland to spend the night at Arthur’s Pass.

Day 13: Arthur’s Pass and Franz Josef Glacier

This morning we explore the alpine meadows and shaded forests of Arthur’s Pass National Park. This is a fantastic time of year for blooming flowers and the birding should be fun too with cheeky Keas stirring up mischief and the possibility of NZ Falcon and NZ Rock Wren in the area. We then head down to the coast and drive south to our overnight accommodation at Franz Josef Glacier. We will schedule an optional evening outing to Okarito to try to find the rarest of the kiwis, the Okarito Brown Kiwi (Rowi). Night in Franz Josef Glacier.

Day 14: Franz Josef Glaciers and Haast Pass

We plan to visit Franz Josef Glacier this morning and then take a short walk in the swamp forest along Ship Creek. We travel today along the coast of the Tasman Sea whose isolated beaches and old-growth tree-fern forests give us a taste of what the rest of New Zealand might have looked like before human settlement, and then through the beautiful mountain forests of Haast Pass where, time permitting, we may take a short walk or two looking for Brown Creeper and Yellowhead. Night in Wanaka.

Day 15: Around Twizel

We spend the day in the Twizel area, a land of rivers, lakes, marshes, and inland deltas. We look for one of the world’s rarest shorebirds—the Black Stilt, as well as the unique Wrybill (the only bird with a bill bent sideways—always to the right!). If we have a clear day, then we should enjoy views of towering Aoraki (Mount Cook)—the highest peak in Australasia. Night in Wanaka.

Day 16: Travel to Te Anau via Mount Aspiring National Park

We leave the Wanaka area and travel through the bustling tourist capital of Queenstown (the “Banff of New Zealand”), nestled along the shores of mighty Lake Wakatipu, the scenery dominated by the aptly named ‘Remarkables’ mountain range. Further north of Queenstown we explore the tiny settlements of Glenorchy and Paradise where we have lunch and a birding stop in scenic Mount Aspiring National Park. Forest birds like Long-tailed Cuckoo, Yellow-crowned Parakeet, and the always sought-after Mohua (Yellowhead) are possible, along with many others. We then drive to Te Anau, the gateway to Fiordland National Park. This is a spectacular park – unrivalled mountain vistas, enormous glaciers, wild rivers, lowland podocarp forests, alpine flora of daisies and buttercups, and superb silver beech forests. We spend two nights in this charming area. Time permitting we could take an optional afternoon walk along start of Kepler track at south end of Lake Te Anau. Night in Te Anau.

Day 17: Fiordland National Park and Milford Sound

We travel the famous Milford Road past superb meadows, forests, and boulder fields through the Upper Hollyford Valley, stopping at Monkey River to look for Blue Duck if we haven’t already found this species, and in high altitude rocky basins for the famous Kea and the rare and declining NZ Rock Wren. We pass through the Homer Tunnel and descend to iconic Milford Sound (technically a fjord). In the afternoon, we board a comfortable vessel where we cruise out to the Tasman Sea, passing mile-high rock walls, spectacular waterfalls, as well as rocks in the ocean which belong to different tectonic plate. We have opportunity for Fiordland Crested Penguin, which can sometimes be seen loafing along the rocky shoreline of the fjord. Night in Te Anau.

Day 18: Ferry to Stewart Island and Kiwi excursion

We drive from Te Anau to Bluff. From here we take the 1 hour Ferry to Oban on Stewart Island for a two-night stay. This Ferry ride is a great opportunity to view large numbers of seabirds including several Albatross species and Diving-Petrels. Upon arrival, the rich native plant and bird life should be evident even around our accommodation in Oban—especially the raucous and inquisitive Kaka (parrot) whose silvery-white crown and flashy pink underparts make it an instant fan-favourite among visitors to Stewart Island. In the evening, we will take a 45 minute boat trip to a remote beach to look for Stewart Island Brown Kiwis (largest of the kiwis) with a chance at hearing or seeing other night birds and critters. This is always a wonderful and memorable experience. Night in Oban/Halfmoon Bay.

Day 19: Ulva Island and Stewart Island Pelagic

We take a water taxi to the small offshore island of Ulva, a predator-free island with numerous endemic birds – Weka, Red-crowned Parakeet, NZ Fantail, Pipipi, Tui, South Island Saddleback, the Stewart Island race of New Zealand Robin, perhaps even the highly endangered Mohua (Yellowhead). After lunch we will take a half-day pelagic cruise out around the muttonbird islands to the east of Stewart Island. This area provides a wonderful feeding ground for a variety of pelagic birds including several species of Albatross, Petrel, Diving-Petrels and Prions. There is also a good chance of finding the much sought after Fiordland Crested Penguin. If we were rained out the previous night, we will reschedule the kiwi exploration for tonight. Night in Oban/Halfmoon Bay.

Day 20: Ferry to Bluff, the Catlins and Dunedin

After breakfast, we take the ferry back to Bluff, and travel the scenic southern route through the Catlins region—famous for its lush beech forests, hidden waterfalls, and wild Pacific coastline - to Dunedin. Night in Dunedin.

*Depending on the weather the previous day, we may reschedule our half-day pelagic after breakfast before taking the ferry back to Bluff.

Day 21: Albatross and Penguins on the Otago Peninsula

Today we travel along the scenic Otago Peninsula to visit the Taiaroa Head—the site of the World’s one and only mainland albatross colony! The Royal Albatross is the second largest albatross in the world, boasting a wingspan of 3 meters! As we watch the colony we should also get great looks at both Stewart Island and Spotted Shags (endemic cormorants). From there we’ll travel a short distance to take a guided hike to the nesting sites of the largest penguin species north of the Subantarctics—the scarce endemic Yellow-eyed Penguin. Here also is the World’s smallest penguin—the aptly named Little Penguin. Night in Dunedin

Day 22: Birding around Dunedin, Flights home

We have the morning free before we catch our mid-afternoon flights from Dunedin to Auckland and on to International destinations. We’ll aim to check out a few local birding spots to round up any species we may have missed. Alternatively we may visit the botanical gardens or carry out some sight-seeing in Dunedin itself. Thus our incredible New Zealand birding tour draws to a close and we head home after such an amazing experience.

What to Expect

The daily travel schedule on our New Zealand birding tour will vary to account for weather, tides, the previous night’s expeditions, bird species and travel times.

You can expect some early morning, pre- breakfast walks, as well as three optional evening forays to look for kiwis and possibly owls. Around noon, we stop for a picnic lunch at a scenic spot or stop for a sit down meal at a local restaurant. In the evening we relax at the hotel restaurant, or at a local dining place. At this time we discuss the day’s activities and review the list of birds and wildlife we have encountered. We will outline the events for the next day, preparing you for another round of excitement and discovery.

The tour will generally involve easy to moderate walking; two of the night-time forays will involve some steep trails, and walks of up to 4 kms. When at higher elevations, we keep our walking to a slow pace, doing most of our observation from the vehicle. In general, we keep all our nature study to a reasonable pace, maximizing the number of things we see and allowing enough time to properly enjoy them.

We have a number of long drives as we travel almost the length of the country, from Stewart Island off the south coast to Dargaville on North Island.

Our itinerary includes one open ocean pelagic trip as well as inshore cruises and a three-hour ferry ride between North and South Islands.

The weather will vary from warm to hot on North Island, to warm to cool on South Island; rain is likely, especially on the west and south coasts of South Island. The pelagic trip is likely to be cool, as are the night-time forays to look for Kiwis. It is best to dress in layers.

Featured Wildlife

While we cannot guarantee sightings of the birds or mammals listed below, we believe that encountering these species is quite likely during this tour.

• Over 60 endemics possible including: (Maori name in parentheses)
• North Island Brown Kiwi
• Okarito Brown Kiwi (Rowi)
• Great Spotted Kiwi (Roroa)
• Royal Albatross (Toroa)
• New Zealand Storm Petrel
• Yellow-eyed Penguin (Hoiho)
• Fiordland Crested Penguin (Tawaki)
• Blue Duck (Whio)
• New Zealand Falcon (Karearea)
• Black Stilt (Kaki)
• Saddleback (Tieke)

Past Tour Checklists

View the list of birds and other wildlife we encountered on our past tours.

• New Zealand species list 2023 (pdf)
• New Zealand species list 2022 (ebird)
• New Zealand species list 2019
• New Zealand species list 2017
• New Zealand species list 2015

Trip Reports & Inspiration

Tour reviews, you might also like.

Australia: Tasmania

Tropical Australia

Eastern Australia

• Conservation
• In the media
• Birding blog
• How to book
• Booking FAQs
• Plan your trip
• Land Tour FAQs
• Insurance FAQ

WHERE WE GO

• Mexico & Central America
• South America
• Australia & New Zealand

• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy

Roadrunner Birding Tours

We hit the ground running!

New Zealand | North, South and Stewart Islands

National bird

We will start in Auckland with travels through the North, South and Stewart Islands. Our tour will conclude in Dunedin.

December 5th – 21st 2024

Number of participants

Maximum of 8, plus one guide.

Description

Our guided tour departs from Auckland and ends in Dunedin and will visit some of New Zealand’s best birding locations, including Tiritiri Matangi, Kaikoura and Stewart Island (to name a few).

New Zealand is loaded with spectacular coastlines, mountains and most importantly for us – unique birds, such as Kiwi, Kea, Stitchbird and Wrybill! We will partake in both land-based and pelagic excursions to maximise our birding opportunities.

What species can be spotted?

New Zealand is home to a very diverse set of birds and some of the species to be encountered on our tours are: NZ grebe, Morepork, Wrybill (only bird worldwide with a laterally curved bill), Saddleback, Tui, Kaka, Kea, Weka, Whitehead, Yellowhead, Takahe, Spotted shag, Whio (blue duck), Paradise shelduck, NZ falcon, Black stilt, NZ plover, Fairy tern, NZ pigeon, Red-crowned kakariki (parakeet), Malherbe’s (Orange-fronted) parakeet, Rifleman, NZ pipit, NZ robin, Kiwi and Bellbird. On ferry crossings and/or pelagic trips you can expect to see an assortment of albatross, shearwaters and petrels.

This is a guide only – our tours can be modified to suit your needs.

Pelagic day trips

Want a top notch birding trip from a New Zealand port? Check out the options below and email us at [email protected] to reserve your place now. As well as being BIRDERS, we really know our marine wildlife and take pride in providing a full service trip, from whales, and dolphins, to sharks and other fish. Note that encounters with other marine wildlife is by chance, and unless the operator we have chartered holds a marine mammal viewing permit (which they often do) we do not seek out such interactions.

See what the pelagic experts have to say about us…

New Zealand has a special place in my heart, having experienced its outrageous wealth of seabirds, truly amazing endemics, and spectacular scenery. I have been down under NZ several times and am champing at the bit to get back there, especially to soak up more of the pelagic birds – albatrosses gliding effortlessly overhead, pterodromas wheeling around the boat, shearwaters scrapping for chum, prions circling the slick, and storm-petrels deftly dancing with waves as they feed nearby. For those of you mulling it over, shall we, shan’t we?, take a piece of advice from me – stop mulling and get booking.  For the very best experience when you get to NZ, I recommend Wrybill Birding Tours, for their itineraries and quality guides. I have birded with Brent Stephenson several times and can with confidence tell you that Brent is passionate for his birds, skilled in his art, and a special person. Brent has a wide knowledge, communicates with birders of all capabilities, is very approachable, and I find him to be great fun.  I hear first hand that the other guides, not surprisingly, are equally talented. I strongly recommend New Zealand and Wrybill Birding Tours.

New Zealand is widely regarded as seabirding Mecca, with its unrivaled variety of albatrosses plus a great assortment of petrels, shearwaters, and storm-petrels, including, of course, the iconic and eponymous New Zealand Storm-Petrel. Besides Kaikoura, on the South Island, which is a must even for the casual seabirder, there are a number of lesser-known pelagic hotspots on the North Island. Wrybill Birding Tours, NZ is the leading pelagic tour operator to these hotspots, and with good reason. They offer good value trips, use the best boats and skippers, and have experienced and passionate leaders who know what they are seeing. I had two great trips with Wrybill on my last visit to NZ, and am looking forward to more next time.”

What we can expect from kiwi seabirders like Brent Stephenson and Sav Saville…: just 10 years ago while doing my own observations on seabirds in New Zealand and its subantarctic islands I met the younger Brent for the first time, and when he asked me “what kind of camera I can recommend him to use and who and where he should do pelagic trips around New Zealand”; well, now I can regard him as no less than the seabird-master of New Zealand, which already achieved to be a co-finder of the ‘extinct’ New Zealand Storm Petrel (with Sav), a truly field ornithologist, conservationist and scientist in seabirds, and above all observer and leader with sharp eye with field experience in New Zealand seabirds that is impossible to match with – after witnessing how he operated pelagic trip few years back off the Northern Island! For me they are the best seabird operators in the region and one of the top in the world – I am highly recommend anyone to join their New Zealand trips…, which soon or later I will be on them too…

I want to thank Brent and Sav for their tremendous hospitality during the New Zealand portion of this venture. They went out of their way to be helpful and graciously facilitated key aspects of this adventure including pelagic day trips to the Mercury Islands and the Huaraki Gulf. Wrybill Birding Tours, NZ has built a strong international reputation for their peerless knowledge of birding in New Zealand. This combined with flawless logistics, and a fun and enthusiastic approach make them the overwhelming first choice for birding tours in New Zealand . Their now extremely popular (and often sold out) “21-day tours” are undoubtedly the best way to see all the (possible) wonderful New Zealand endemics. This comprehensive tour includes a remarkable 4-5 pelagic trips and they regularly find 25-30sp. of tubenoses. If you want to do some fantastic seabirding get in touch with Brent or Sav. They will go out of their way to make your birding experience in New Zealand a success.

Salvin’s albatross, Thalassarche salvini , photographed during a Wrybill Birding Tours, NZ tour around New Zealand in January 2005. A New Zealand pelagic is a real experience, and you’ll soon learn why New Zealand really is the seabird capital of the World!

Pelagic trips out of Houhora and Three Kings

Heading north on a stay aboard trip.

Pelagic trips out of Marsden Cove

Leaving from Marsden Cove and heading out into the Hauraki Gulf to spend the day around the Hen and Chicken Islands.  Please note these trips are organised and operated by us, and we do not operate tours on a minimum numbers basis. The trips are part of our 21-day tour schedule, and so will ONLY be cancelled by bad weather conditions. This trip targets the difficult to find (and identify!) Pycroft’s petrel, but is also likely to see the usual suite of northern New Zealand breeding seabirds, including the New Zealand storm-petrel.  Other highlights we hope to see are Cook’s, black (Parkinson’s), grey-faced (Oct-Dec), and common-diving petrels, white-faced storm-petrel, Buller’s, fluttering, and little shearwaters.

Pelagic trips out of Warkworth

Leaving from Sandspit and heading out into the Hauraki Gulf.  Please note these trips are organised and operated by us, and we do not operate tours on a minimum numbers basis. The trips are part of our 21-day tour schedule, and so will ONLY be cancelled by bad weather conditions. See New Zealand storm-petrel with the team that rediscovered this amazing bird!  Other highlights we hope to see are Cook’s, black (Parkinson’s), grey-faced (Oct-Dec), and common-diving petrels, white-faced storm-petrel, Buller’s, fluttering, and little shearwaters, and grey noddy (mid-late Nov onwards).

Pelagic trips out of Whitianga

Due to changes to our 21-day tour schedule, and issues we have had over the last few seasons with regards to weather and reliability of being able to run this pelagic tour, we have decided to stop running pelagics in this area. If you are interested in a pelagic trip to see Pycroft’s petrel, as well as many of the other northern breeding seabirds, then you should look at our Marsden Cove pelagics as above.

Pelagic trips out of the Chatham Islands

Pelagic trips out of stewart island.

Unless otherwise stated, our trips out of Stewart Island are full day tours. These tours visit spots along the main coast, the Muttonbird Islands and then generally involve chumming for several hours near Wreck Reef.  Depending on weather and sea state, we may adjust plans to find alternative locations for chumming, or shelter to observe coastal species. This pelagic is the best opportunity to see 100s of albatross, and the possibility of mottled petrel, broad-billed prion and storm-petrels. This pelagic is outstanding value and one of the best seabird experiences in New Zealand. Contact us for more information, and if the dates below do not suit your plans.

The Travelling Naturalist

Bird Watching & Wildlife Tours in New Zealand

New Zealand is famed for its patchwork of stunning coastline, forests, mountains and fjords - the variety of endemic wildlife is hard to match. Join us as we roam from land to ocean in search of unique and often endangered flowers, birds and wildlife, including the fascinating flightless kiwi.

New Zealand - Comprehensive - ()

New zealand - comprehensive.

• Dates, Leaders and Pricing
• Trip Reports
• Tour Enquiry

New Zealand - Comprehensive II 2024

22 Oct 2024 - 07 Nov 2024 (17 days)

NZD11,395 - No Spaces Available

Tour Leader: Erik Forsyth

Tour price (Per person): NZD11,395 * USD7,105 * GBP5,376 * EUR6,342 * AUD10,454

Single Supplement: NZD1,550 * USD967 * GBP731 * EUR863 * AUD1,422

Can be linked with: New Zealand - Chatham Islands Extension 2024

New Zealand - Comprehensive III 2024

11 Nov 2024 - 27 Nov 2024 (17 days)

New Zealand - Comprehensive I 2025

07 Jan 2025 - 23 Jan 2025 (17 days)

NZD11,595 - No Spaces Available

Tour price (Per person): NZD11,595 * USD7,230 * GBP5,470 * EUR6,453 * AUD10,637

Single Supplement: NZD1,450 * USD904 * GBP684 * EUR807 * AUD1,330

Can be linked with:

New Zealand - Comprehensive II 2025

16 Oct 2025 - 01 Nov 2025 (17 days)

NZD11,595 - Spaces Available

Enquire Now

Can be linked with: New Zealand - Chatham Islands Extension 2025

New Zealand - Comprehensive III 2025

05 Nov 2025 - 21 Nov 2025 (17 days)

New Zealand - Comprehensive I 2026

06 Jan 2026 - 22 Jan 2026 (17 days)

NZD12,100 - Spaces Available

Pricing notes : *Prices are estimated and dates may change*

Tour price (Per person): NZD12,100 * USD7,545 * GBP5,708 * EUR6,734 * AUD11,100

New Zealand - Comprehensive II 2026

09 Oct 2026 - 25 Oct 2026 (17 days)

New Zealand - Comprehensive III 2026

27 Oct 2026 - 12 Nov 2026 (17 days)

New Zealand supports a host of unusual endemic land birds and a rich assemblage of marine birds and mammals. Our comprehensive tour is designed to seek almost every possible endemic and take full advantage of New Zealand’s oceanic diversity. Beginning in Auckland, we target North Island Brown Kiwi, amongst a multitude of other species that will no doubt be lifers. The first of our several pelagic excursions then takes place in the Hauraki Gulf in search of the recently rediscovered New Zealand Storm Petrel and a myriad of other species. Continuing to the fabled Tiritiri Matangi Island, we will bird this predator-free reserve for the prehistoric South Island Takahe, strange North Island Kokako and Stitchbird, before combing the Miranda shoreline for the bizarre Wrybill and numerous migrant waders. We finish our time on North Island visiting Kapiti Island searching for the endangered Little Spotted Kiwi, migrant Long-tailed Cuckoo and Tomtit.

Crossing onto South Island, our first stop is Blumine Island Bird Sanctuary, where the dazzling South Island Saddleback and New Zealand Robin will no doubt entertain us, before we embark on another pelagic adventure into the fantastic upwelling off Kaikoura, searching for an abundance of albatrosses, shearwaters and petrels. Travelling across South Island, we will seek the endemic flightless rail known as the Weka, as well as the critically endangered Black Stilt, before hiking through pristine Red Beech forest surrounded by breathtaking glacier-lined mountains, where Pipipi (Brown Creeper) and the massive Kea can be found. In Fiordland National Park our targets will include Blue Duck, the cute New Zealand Rockwren and New Zealand Falcon, before catching our ferry to the rugged Stewart Island in search of Southern Brown Kiwi and a variety of other specialities prior to another pelagic outing visiting several nearby islands. Our final destination will be Dunedin, where a visit to a Northern Royal Albatross colony and a Yellow-eyed Penguin breeding site will certainly be amongst the many highlights of this rewarding tour. With excellent lodging and meals, awe-inspiring scenery and fantastically friendly “Kiwis”, this is sure to be a tour of a lifetime!

Southern Brown, North Island Brown & Little Spotted Kiwis; Paradise Shelduck; Blue Duck; Brown Teal; New Zealand Scaup; Yellow-eyed, Fiordland & Little Penguins; New Zealand Storm Petrel; Wandering, Antipodean, Southern Royal, Northern Royal, Campbell, Shy, Salvin's & Buller's Albatrosses; Cook's, Westland & Black Petrels; Buller's & Hutton's Shearwater; New Zealand Grebe; Spotted, Rough-faced, Foveaux, Otago & Spotted Shags; Weka; South Island Takahe; South Island & Variable Oystercatchers; Black Stilt; Wrybill; New Zealand Plover; Black-billed Gull; White-fronted & Black-fronted Terns; New Zealand Pigeon; New Zealand Falcon; Kea; New Zealand Kaka; Yellow-crowned & Malherbe's Parakeets; Rifelman; New Zealand Rockwren; Tui; Grey Gerygone; North Island Kokako; North Island & South Island Saddlebacks; Stitchbird; Yellowhead; Whitehead; Pipipi; Tomtit; New Zealand Robin; New Zealand Fernbird; New Zealand Pipit.

Top Mammals

New Zealand Fur Seal; Hector's & Dusky Dolphins; Killer Whale

Habitats Covered

mudflats, estuary, river, pelagic, wetlands, islands, alpine grasslands, mountain beech forest, temperate rainforest

Expected Climate

subtropical to temperate. the south can get very cold. New Zealand often experiences four seasons in one day, so you should be prepared for sudden changes in weather and temperature.

Max Group Size

8 with 1 Rockjumper leader

Tour Pace & Walking

mostly very relaxed with some longer walks

Accommodation

very comfortable

Ease of Birding

mostly undemanding

Number of Species Expected

Photographic opportunities, what our clients say about us.

RN, New Zealand 2017

The tour was well-planned and Erik Forsyth was an excellent leader. The accommodation, food and transportation were also excellent.

PP, New Zealand 2018

Erik Forsyth is not just totally knowledgeable about the birds, he makes the whole journey effortless and fun.

LP, New Zealand 2017

Erik Forsyth's depth of knowledge of the birds of New Zealand was astounding. He delivered on all the species possible, and some even became good friends with multiple good sightings before the trip was through. He was good-natured and managed our group well throughout the long hours of driving on several days. The accommodations were good, as were the night walks for kiwis, the pelagic tours, and the visits to islands and refuges to see rare, endemic and endangered species. I loved the trip from the beginning to the end. We had good weather, too! Thanks, from the bottom of my heart, for the wonderful experience exploring New Zealand. I fell in love with the birds and the country. Thanks, Erik, for making it happen. Four stars, two thumbs up, all possible positive accolades.

DM & SM, New Zealand

The trip sounded good in the write-up but far exceeded our expectations. The pelagic trips were outstanding. The number of participants was perfect. Erik knew the birds and their calls/sounds and was very effective in getting everyone to see the birds. He called many pelagic IDs well before other people had even spotted the birds. Erik’s skills in managing the participants showed and his sense of humour added to his effectiveness. We thoroughly enjoyed our trip.

SC, New Zealand 2018

Erik Forsyth was excellent, a great guide; professional, knowledgeable, friendly and pleasant to be around. He was also a careful driver who spent many hours driving us around New Zealand. All in all, I was left very satisfied and happy with the tour; and this being my first Rockjumper tour, I was left with a very positive impression of the company and its staff. I would certainly like to use Rockjumper and Erik again!

Grand Pacific Odyssey - New Zealand to Japan 2024 - March 2024

New Zealand - Comprehensive I 2024 - January 2024

New Zealand - South Island Endemics 2023 - December 2023

New Zealand - Comprehensive III 2023 - November 2023

New Zealand - Chatham Islands Extension II 2023 - November 2023

New Zealand - Comprehensive II 2023 - October 2023

Australia & New Zealand - Zhong 2023 - October 2023

Grand Pacific Odyssey - New Zealand to Japan 2023 - March 2023

New Zealand - Chatham Islands Extension I 2023 - January 2023

New Zealand - Comprehensive I 2023 - January 2023

New Zealand - Comprehensive III 2022 - November 2022

New Zealand - Comprehensive II 2022 - October 2022

New Zealand - Comprehensive I 2020 - January 2020

New Zealand - Comprehensive II 2019 - October 2019

New Zealand - Comprehensive III 2018 - November 2018

New Zealand - Comprehensive II 2018 - October 2018

New Zealand - Comprehensive I 2018 - January 2018

New Zealand - Comprehensive III 2017 - November 2017

New Zealand - Comprehensive II 2017 - October 2017

New Zealand - Comprehensive I 2017 - February 2017

Your details

• Title Mr. Mrs. Ms. Dr. Prof. Sir.
• Name * First Last
• Your country Your country Afghanistan Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cape Verde Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Colombia Comoros Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Costa Rica Côte d'Ivoire Croatia Cuba Curaçao Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic East Timor Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Polynesia Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Greece Greenland Grenada Guam Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati North Korea South Korea Kosovo Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macedonia Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Mauritania Mauritius Mexico Micronesia Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pakistan Palau Palestine, State of Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Romania Russia Rwanda Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Sint Maarten Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Sudan, South Suriname Swaziland Sweden Switzerland Syria Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Togo Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Tuvalu Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Vatican City Venezuela Vietnam Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, U.S. Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe
• Hidden Tour of Interest
• Tour of Interest Select Tour of Interest New Zealand - Comprehensive II 2024 New Zealand - Comprehensive III 2024 New Zealand - Comprehensive I 2025 New Zealand - Comprehensive II 2025 New Zealand - Comprehensive III 2025 New Zealand - Comprehensive I 2026 New Zealand - Comprehensive II 2026 New Zealand - Comprehensive III 2026
• Your Enquiry *

Contact permission

We would love to send you Newsletters (twice yearly).via Type a message, Promotions/Discounts (weekly), Blog Articles/Image of the Month (monthly) and other content that we think you would find interesting. If you are happy with this then please select your preferences below. If you would like to unsubscribe from previous subscriptions, or leave our mailing list entirely, then please do so by visiting the Preference Centre link at the bottom of these emails.

• Yes, I would like to receive this content of interest and to better filter the content sent to me, I am a :
• Hardcore (target focussed with a strong desire to see as many species as possible on each trip)
• Middle of the road (target focussed but more relaxed by nature and do not expect to see everything)
• Relaxed (enjoy birds but am happy seeing whatever we see)
• Photographer
• No thanks, I don't want to hear about any of these offers or content
• Comments This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Tour Route Map

Get Special Offers From Rockjumper Birding

Sign up now and get the best deals straight in your inbox!

• Email This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Modal title

Enquire about booking a tour.

• Tell us about your dream tour
• How many people do you expect to be on the tour? (optional)
• What are the date ranges you are looking at for this tour? (optional)
• How many days would you like the tour for? (optional)
• What is your price range for the tour? (optional)

Enquire about booking a tour 5

Your passport.

Add Attachment

Arrival Tour Information

Departure tour information.

New Zealand

When you take a New Zealand nature tour with Naturalist Journeys, you can expect an incredible trip ... from nature to culture to food, our New Zealand tours tick all the boxes. Just picture New Zealand's stunning landscapes: soaring snowy peaks, turquoise mountain lakes, white sandy beaches, and lush mountain valleys. And while scenery is a true highlight, New Zealand’s wildlife is sure to awe birders and nature enthusiasts, alike. Contact us with questions about our New Zealand birding tours and other Australasian nature tours .

Guided Group Tours

Group travel is rewarding and fun! With more eyes you see more species. Travel Planners of Naturalist Journeys have been creating memorable journeys for 40+ years. We offer you small-group birding and nature tours, limited to just 8-13 persons led by expert guides. Learn and explore with like-minded people, enjoy local food and culture, and immerse yourself in birding and nature.

Conservation Corner

We value conservation – it is at the heart of our work. All Naturalist Journeys’ tours support local conservation projects. Browse the links below to learn more about positive local work to save and conserve the wildlife and landscapes we visit.

Department of Conservation The North and South Islands of New Zealand contain unique native species of birds, fish, insects, and amphibians, evolved in isolation to create amazing biodiversity. The Department of Conservation monitors threats to wildlife populations. Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society However, introduced mammals and other pests threaten species who evolved without such predators. Forestry , hydro-electric development, mining, wetland destruction, and over-fishing are other human-induced threats to the survival of native species. The Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand works to address these concerns. New Zealand Whale and Dolphin Trust The New Zealand Whale and Dolphin Trust watchdogs nine species of dolphins that can be seen off New Zealand’s coast, including Hector’s dolphin and closely related Maui’s dolphin, which are easily identified by their very small size and rounded dorsal fin. While both are endangered species, with fewer than 50 Maui’s dolphins remaining, they continue to be threatened by entanglement in fishing nets through commercial and recreational fishing.

Like what we do?

Sign up for our weekly enews to stay up to date, get to know our favorite destinations each week. we promise no spam..

Helpful tips

Here's a few useful links to help with planning your trip to Aotearoa New Zealand.

• Best things to do in the North Island
• Best things to do in the South Island
• Other Islands
• Best ways to travel around
• Calculate travel times and distances

Looking for deals

The huge workups of Buller's Shearwater feeding on krill are one of the highlights of The Petrel Station's tours, and are a regular sight on the spring and summer trips.

The scarce New Zealand Storm Petrel. The Petrel Station's tours regularly see the largest number of these delightful tiny seabirds out on any location in New Zealand (and the world).

Chatham Mollymawk / Albatross coming in for landing. Rarely seen off New Zealand's mainland we are lucky to get to see these stunners occasionally on our spring tours.

Grey Noddy / Ternlet only visit three mainland locations in New Zealand, all of which are offshore rock stack islands, and the ones on The Petrel Station tours are the easiest place to visit.

With one of the largest wingspan of any bird in the world, the massive New Zealand Wandering Albatross are always incredible to see soaring around the boat.

Pycroft's Petrel – This tricky-to-ID seabird species only breed on a few offshore islands in northern New Zealand and we regularly see them over spring and summer out on The Petrel Station tours.

A White-faced Storm Petrel bouncing across the surface of the ocean.

Grey-faced Petrel, Black-winged Petrel and White-naped Petrel are some of the petrel seabird species that we see on The Petrel Station's seabird tours, during different seasons of the year.

A big Salvin’s Mollymawk / Albatross with its massive 2.5 metre wingspan, soaring alongside a tiny New Zealand Storm Petrel whose wingspan is but a mere 40cm.

Buller's Shearwater soaring against the sunrise at the start of a pelagic seabird tour.

The Petrel Station Pelagic Seabird Tours

Tutukaka Marina , Tutukaka , New Zealand .

One of the world's best full day seabird tours. Known for an incredible diversity of stunning seabirds (68 species so far) these pelagic birding tours offer a very unique and memorable New Zealand birdwatching experience. Departs Tutukaka, Northland.

Pricing and Conditions

In general the seabird tours are suitable for most people, but you must be stable on your feet and able to move around the boat unassisted, and have good general fitness. These tours are an open ocean adventure activity (approx 40km offshore) and there are some exceptions of who can come onboard so please check out the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page on our website for details www.thepetrelstation.nz/faqs

Please check our website for 'Cancellation' details. www.thepetrelstation.nz/costs-booking

Be it a huge Albatross soaring overhead, or a tiny Storm Petrel on the surface, seabirds are in their element on the ocean & the best way to experience them is out in their world. The Petrel Station sea bird tours offer exceptional up close views and photo opportunities & with 9–10 hours on the water you get lots of time to enjoy the stunning seabirds. Why the tours are so good: World's best tour to see New Zealand Storm Petrel. Specialty local seabirds (Pycroft's, Cook's, Grey Noddy & more), 24 species breed locally plus migrating, scarce vagrant, tropical & southern seabirds. Huge workups of thousands of Buller’s Shearwater & Fairy Prion. Tours go year round in all seasons, & are part of our long-term seabird sightings research project.

Opening times

Open in larger map

• Share on Facebook
• Share by email

Find similar things to do in the Northland & Bay of Islands region

Find a place to stay in the northland & bay of islands region.

The content on this page was created by The Petrel Station Pelagic Seabird Tours

This website helps visitors connect with providers of great New Zealand tourism experiences. It is not intended to give any assurance that any particular provider meets certain quality standards or legal obligations. Please contact this business for more information. See also: newzealand.com terms of use (opens in new window) .

New Zealand forced into prop change for S Africa tour

• Medium Text

Sign up here.

Reporting by Nick Said, editing by Ed Osmond

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tab

Super-sub Trossard proves his worth to lift Arsenal

If Arsenal are going to end their 20-year wait for a Premier League title, they are going to need contributions from every squad member this season and Leandro Trossard again proved his worth off the bench in Saturday's win at Aston Villa.