a

Zealandia

Wellington  >  New Zealand

A great way to experience New Zealands native birds and wildlife, just a stone's throw from Downtown Wellington.

Adicionado* por Lothar Katz
Ultima atualização 22 dezembro 2025

Descrição

New Zealand's native birds and wildlife evolved without mammalian predators on land (the only native land mammals are bats). This left many species vulnerable to introduced predators such as rats, stoats, and feral cats, which have had devastating impacts on native populations. To protect threatened species, New Zealand has established predator-controlled sanctuaries, with Zealandia being one of them. These fenced reserves are combined with intensive trapping programs to create pest-free or pest-controlled environments. These sanctuaries are birds' and birders' heavens and offer plenty of opportunities to see species that are rare or absent in unmanaged areas.

Zealandia is such a wildlife sanctuary. What makes it special, in addition to being home to a large number of endemic species, is that it is wedged into a valley between different neighborhoods within Wellington, New Zealand’s capital. As such, it offers one of the simplest ways to encounter plenty of interesting and rare wildlife in the country.

Bird species you might encounter here include the Rifleman, North Island Saddleback, Whitehead, New Zealand Kaka, Red-crowned Parakeet, North Island Robin, Hihi (Stitchbird) as well as South Island Takahe.

Little Spotted Kiwi have been successfully reintroduced to Zealandia. Night tours can be booked for the best chance of seeing them, though some visitors patrol along the perimeter fences at dusk hoping to catch a glimpse of kiwi venturing near the boundaries.

The wetlands and lake are homte to waterfowl including New Zealand Scaup and New Zealand Dabchick, while the forest canopy rings with birdsong throughout the day. With over 32 kilometers of tracks, visitors can spend several hours exploring different habitats.

Detalhes

Acesso

Getting to Zealandia is a cakewalk: you can get here by car or take one of several bus lines from downtown Wellington. Press P on the map for directions to the parking lot.

Zealandia is open daily (closed Christmas Day), typically from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with extended hours in summer. Entry requires a ticket, which can be purchased online or at the visitor center. Night tours for kiwi spotting must be booked far in advance.

The 225 hectare sanctuary features paved tracks, parts of which are wheelchair accessible, as well as more challenging hiking tracks that include steep elevation changes. There are lakes and wetlands, a suspension bridge, a café and several other places of interest on the property. You can easily spend a whole day here.

Terreno e Habitat

Floresta , Lago , Pequeno lago , Vale , Cidade/Vila , Montanha

Condições

Plano , Montanhoso

Caminho circular

Sim

é útil um telescópio?

Pode ser útil

Boa temporada de observação de aves

Durante todo o ano

Melhor hora para visitar

Primavera , Verão , Outono

Rota

Estrada pavimentada , Estrada não pavimentada , Caminho estreito

Caminho dificil

Fácil

Acessível por

Pé , Cadeira de rodas

Abrigo/plataforma deobservação de aves

Sim

Ligações

Veja outros pontos de observação de aves na área publicados em Birdingplaces

Mapa

5 Melhores Aves

Outras aves que pode ver aqui

Mostrar mais aves Mostrar menos aves
Mostrar mais fotos Mostrar menos fotos

Comentários

Enviar comentário, dica ou observação de aves
Avalie esta área
Adicionar aos meus favoritos
Remover dos meus favoritos