Kiwi birds are an icon and taonga (treasure) of Aotearoa New Zealand. The word ‘Kiwi’ is also fondly used as a name to identify a New Zealander. To see kiwi birds in real life is a treat and there is nothing more special than seeing one in the wild, in their natural habitat. However, it is not that easy unless you know where to go and how to find them. There are many breeding programmes around Aotearoa New Zealand that allow the general public to get up close and view these native birds. There are also many places you can go exploring at night in the hope that you may come across kiwi birds. I have been fortunate to see many kiwi birds in many different environments so I can share some great advice about where to go and what to do to see these special creatures. But first you need to know the story of how the Kiwi became Aotearoa New Zealand’s most beloved bird.
HOW THE KIWI LOST ITS WINGS
KIWI SPECIES
There are five different species of kiwi birds found throughout Aotearoa New Zealand.
BROWN KIWI are our most common kiwi
GREAT SPOTTED KIWI/ROROA are our largest kiwi
LITTLE SPOTTED KIWI are our smallest kiwi
ROWI KIWI are our rarest kiwi
TOKOEKA KIWI are our most southern kiwi
SEE KIWI BIRDS IN AN ENCLOSURE
There are Kiwi enclosures all over Aotearoa New Zealand so the opportunity to see Kiwi is numerous. Something to be aware of with enclosures is that it is not always guaranteed you will see Kiwi. Because kiwi are nocturnal, enclosures are dark but slightly lit with red lights which are not noticed by kiwi. If they are not feeding they can be hiding and not always visible. The easiest way to spot them is to wait for your eyes to adjust to the low light and look out for movement.
I remember the first time I saw a kiwi, as a child, it was in Rotorua at Rainbow and Fairy Springs. The attraction has reinvented itself many times since then and is now known as Rainbow Springs Nature Park. The park is home to the National Kiwi Hatchery having hatched over 2000 kiwi chicks. You can take a guided tour through the hatchery from Thursday to Sunday. Well worth checking out if you are in Rotorua.
I have been to a number of other Kiwi enclosures but my favourite would have to be Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre near Masterton. This is where I was fortunate enough to see Manukura the white kiwi. Unfortunately, Manukura passed away in 2020 at the age of nine. She was a real icon of the wildlife centre but fortunately is survived by white siblings who live out in the park’s forests. You can purchase a beautiful children’s book written about her by the well known New Zealand author Joy Cowley.
To see our rarest kiwi, the Rowi, you will need to head to Franz Joseph on the South Island’s West Coast. I was fortunate to visit the West Coast Wildlife Centre in 2019 and only because the weather wasn’t good enough for me to go to the nearby glacier. To see the kiwi here is quite an intimate experience. I was surprised not to have a glass wall between myself and the kiwi as you normally do in enclosures. In this enclosure, there is only a waist-high see-through barrier. One kiwi was running back and forth along the barrier, so close I could have reached over and touched it. It was special experience to get so close.
SEE KIWI BIRDS IN A WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
There are a number of wildlife sanctuaries around Aotearoa New Zealand. Many are on islands as it is easier to eliminate predators and keep our native wildlife safe from harm. Some of these islands are not accessible by the public but a few special places are.
Tiritiri Matangi Island is by far the best place I have been to see kiwi birds living as close to their natural habitat as possible. When I visited late in 2020 it was home to about 100 Little Spotted Kiwi, our smallest kiwi birds. The island, previously farmland, was re-planted with natives in the late eighties and early nineties to create the incredible native wildlife habitat that it is today. Getting to the island is easy on the Fullers Ferry from downtown Auckland or Gulf Harbour. To see the kiwi birds requires an overnight stay in the Department of Conservation Bunkhouse. Very affordable at just $40 a night and a very well equipped for a comfortable stay. Once the sun goes down you can head out with a red torch (cover with red cellophane) and follow the paths around the island. You may hear the kiwi before you see them but no doubt you will cross paths with a few. I was fortunate enough to see four on my visit and one called right beside me! Take a listen…
SEE KIWI BIRDS ON A GUIDED TOUR
I have experienced a few guided tours and like any kiwi spotting adventure, nothing is guaranteed. However, a guided tour does guarantee that you get the best experience possible with a knowledgeable guide.
My first ever tour was in Tauwharanui Regional Park just north of Tamaki Makaurau Auckland. This park is a predator-free sanctuary with a predator-proof fence to keep the predators out of the peninsular. Anyone is welcome to visit the park and entry is free. It is a very popular summer location for enjoying the sun, surf and sand. I was so surprised when I first visited this park that I hadn’t really heard about it. It is one of the Auckland region’s best-kept secrets! The night tour I took was with Habitat Tours and it was awesome. We got there a few hours before dark so there was time to explore some of the park. Then we had something to eat, a lovely selection of snacks laid out as a picnic by our guide. Then as the sun went down we headed out to find kiwi and we sure did find them! Our guide carried thermal binoculars which made it easy for him to spot kiwi in the bush, such a great tool for finding these birds.
Another guided tour I have done is the night tour at Zealandia. It is an amazing experience to visit this eco-sanctuary in the our capital city, Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington. I arrived mid-afternoon to explore the sanctuary before the sun went down, it was a great way to get my bearings and make sure I got to see all the other awesome native species that live there. However, I saw many more cool creatures in the evening including tuatara and weta. But no kiwi birds! Our guide was fantastic and she did say that it was quite unusual not to see a kiwi on a night tour but that night was just not our night.
SEE KIWI BIRDS IN THE WILD
There is only one place that I can truly say I have seen a kiwi in the wild and that is on Rakiura Stewart Island. The Southern Tokoeka, more commonly called the Stewart Island Brown Kiwi is not hard to find with an estimated 20,000 living there. Many people head up to the rugby field in Oban to try their luck or head over to the predator free Ulva Island. Rakiura Stewart Island is known for seeing kiwi in the day time, especially in the summer months when the day light hours are longer than anywhere else in Aotearoa New Zealand. However, my encounter took place in the middle of the night when I was staying at the Port William Hut. I was tramping the Rakiura Track over three days and this hut was my first nights stop. I woke about 1am and thought I would head out with my red torch to try my luck. It took about 15 minutes and four possums before I came across a kiwi, such a treat! I got to watch it for a few minutes before it wandered off under some bush but I managed to capture a short clip first.
ATTEND A KIWI BIRD RELEASE
Public kiwi releases are becoming more common and if you every get the chance make sure you go. My first kiwi release experience was in Whangarei where 12 young kiwi were released into Pukenui Forest on the edge of the city. Two of the kiwi were brought out at a public gathering in a local primary school. Although we were not allowed to touch or hold the kiwi we were able to get very close to them as they were being held by their handlers. After the meet and greet we were invited to follow the troops out to Pukenui Forest and follow one of the kiwi with a hander into the bush. It was quite a special experience to see a kiwi be released into the wild. I have been back to Pukenui Forest for a night time adventure hoping to see kiwi and although I wasn’t that lucky to see one I sure did hear them.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Heading out after dark to find kiwi requires a bit of preparation and knowledge. Remember kiwi are nocturnal, they come out at night and will spend most of that time feeding. The last thing they need is to be disturbed! They do not have good eyesight but are sensitive to sound. If you take your time, walk slow and soft without a sound you will have a better chance of seeing them. Even better stop often and listen. They will sometimes call not long after dusk and this is the most obvious giveaway to where they are. But the other sound to listen out for is rustling on the ground, in my experience this has been how I have spotted most kiwi that I have seen. It is also important that you DO NOT use a bright light. Kiwi are not sensitive to red light so buy some red cellophane and use it to cover a normal torch. And remember, you may NEVER touch or handle a kiwi. Always enjoy being in their company giving them plenty of space.
For more information on our national taonga (treasure) check out this fantastic booklet on How to Save Kiwi
Other articles that may interest you:
TIRITIRI MATANGI ISLAND
RAKIURA STEWART ISLAND
ZEALANDIA ECO-SANCTUARY, WELLINGTON
ABOUT THE WRITER – Karllie is a solo budget traveller with a passion for inspiring others to explore her homeland of Aotearoa New Zealand and beyond. Having travelled to many places around the world she still believes there is nowhere more amazing and beautiful as home. In her 40s, Karllie has a background in education and enjoys the outdoors, especially hiking. Find out more about Karllie…
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