Birding West Coast Itineraries

• One-day Options
  
• Two-day Options
  
• Three-day Options

One-day Options:

For those on the go!  You can still see and do a lot even if you have limited time.  A morning or afternoon will afford you time for one of these activities, or combine two for a full day exploring the waterways, beaches and tidal lagoons of this remarkable area.

Morning:

Option A: Okarito Nature Tours

Explore Okarito Lagoon by kayak.  Okarito Nature Tours offers freedom kayak rentals or guided kayak options (minimum 2

people). Trips are available from 2 hours or longer.  Take the opportunity to explore the lagoon on your own, or with an experienced guide.  Mornings are the best time to kayak on the lagoon with generally calm waters, but always check ahead for tides and conditions. Bookings are available from 8 AM. Full safety and informative briefing is included (please allow an extra 30 minutes).

Option B: Okarito Boat Tours

Explore the Okarito Lagoon by guided boat tour with Okarito Boat Tours.  Morning trips are available at 9 and 11:30 AM for 2 hour Nature Tours taking you up the tidal waters of the lagoon and into the Okarito River and rainforest waterways. A break for morning refreshments along the riverbank allows opportunities for sighting some of the more elusive forest birds such as the New Zealand fernbird as well as interaction with your guide.

For early starters, Okarito Boat Tours can also arrange special one hour trips from 7:30-8:30 AM.

Afternoon: 

White Heron Sanctuary Tours:

Just 20 minutes away from Okarito is Whataroa - your starting point for a special trip to see the “Kotuku” – Great white herons, in their nesting sites.  White Heron Sanctuary Tours run the only available tours to see these birds on their nests.  It is the only nesting colony in New Zealand and is also a breeding area for Royal Spoonbills and little shags. Allow 2.5 – 3 hours for these afternoon trips departing at 1 PM & 3 PM.

Two-day Options:

Day 1:

9 - 11 AM: Okarito Boat Tours

Explore the Okarito Lagoon by guided boat tour with Okarito Boat Tours.  Morning trips are available at 9 and 11:30 AM for 2 hour Nature Tours taking you up the tidal waters of the lagoon and into the Okarito River and rainforest waterways. A break for morning refreshments along the riverbank allows opportunities for sighting some of the more elusive forest birds such as the New Zealand fernbird as well as interaction with your guide.

 Have a picnic lunch on the Okarito Beach or at the local campground – watch for banded dotterals on the beach and NZ brown falcons at the campground.

1 – 3:30 PM: White Heron Sanctuary Tours

Just 20 minutes away from Okarito is Whataroa - your starting point for a special trip to see the “Kotuku” – Great white herons, in their nesting sites.  White Heron Sanctuary Tours run the only available tours to see these birds on their nests.  It is the only nesting colony in New Zealand and is also a breeding area for Royal Spoonbills and little shags.  Allow 2.5 to 3 hours for these tours departing at 1 & 3 PM. 

7:30 PM – 10:30 PM: Okarito Kiwi Tours

Enter the Okarito Forest for a nocturnal experience like no other!  The Okarito Kiwi Tour takes you on a walk at dusk into secluded National Forest to listen and watch for New Zealand’s rarest of Kiwis – the “Rowi” or Okarito Brown Kiwi.  On the way, watch for fernbirds, listen to calls of the Tui’s and possibly Kea as well.  Moreporks will serenade you throughout the evening.  This specially guided tour rewards its participants with over 85% success rate of viewing kiwi in the wild, in their natural habitat.

Day 2:

8 AM – Noon: Okarito Nature Tours Freedom rental

Having seen much of the Okarito Lagoon, you may now feel confident to taking yourself out in a kayak for an exclusive adventure on your own – taking the time to see the birds you might still want to look for or photograph on your own time.  A three-hour or half-day freedom kayak rental from Okarito Nature Tours is just the ticket!

1 PM – 4 PM: Self-guided walk to Three Mile Lagoon

Still feeling full of energy?  Take a self-guided walk to Three Mile Lagoon – beginning in Okarito village a historic pack track takes you through headlands to this Lagoon, followed by a beach walk to complete the circle back to Okarito.  This area is home to little blue penguins – watch for their tracks!

Three-day options:

Day 1:

9 - 11:30 PM-White Heron Sanctuary Tour

Whataroa is your starting point for a special trip to see the “Kotuku” – Great white herons, in their nesting sites.  White Heron Sanctuary Tours run the only available tours to see these birds on their nests.  It is the only nesting colony in New Zealand and is also a breeding area for royal spoonbills and little shags.

Okarito is just 20 minutes away where you can next have a picnic lunch on the Okarito Beach or at the local campground – watch for banded dotterals on the beach and NZ brown falcons at the campground.  Fernbirds can often be spotted around the village.

 2 – 4 PM: Okarito Boat Tours

Take a one-hour sightseeing cruise on the lagoon to now see the White Herons and spoonbills in their feeding grounds.  You may also see Eastern Bar-tailed Godwits, oyster catchers, white faced herons, pied stilts and terns. Or you may choose the two-hour trip which takes you into the rainforest as well and breaks for afternoon tea.  Here you may spend some extra time looking for fernbirds, native wood pigeon, tuis, bellbirds and other forest birds.

4 - 5:30 PM:  Okarito Trig Walk

Stretch your legs on this invigorating climb to one of the area's most scenic lookout points.  This 1.5 hour return hike takes you from within Okarito village up through native forest to a trig point, where on a clear day, you can see nearby Franz Josef Glacier and the Southern Alps, Okarito Lagoon and the Tasman Sea.  Watch for may forest birds along the way.  Keas, the alpine parrots, have recently been nesting and frequenting  the area.

Day 2:

9 – 2 PM:  Hari Hari self-guided Coastal Walk

A scenic one-hour drive north will take you to the start of this beautiful coastal walk.  This is a protected area for the sooty shearwater population and blue penguins.  Allow 3 hours for your walk – lunch is available at the Pukeko tearooms in Hari Hari. 

7:30 PM – 10:30 PM: Okarito Kiwi Tours

Enter the Okarito Forest for a nocturnal experience like no other!  The Okarito Kiwi Tour takes you on a walk at dusk into secluded National Forest to listen and watch for New Zealand’s rarest of Kiwis – the “rowi” or Okarito brown kiwi.  On the way, watch for fernbirds, listen to calls of the Tui’s and possibly Kea as well.  Moreporks will serenade you throughout the evening.  This specially guided tour rewards its participants with over 85% success rate of viewing kiwi in the wild, in their natural habitat.

Day 3:

8 AM- Noon: Okarito Nature Tours

Explore Okarito Lagoon by kayak.  Okarito Nature Tours offers freedom kayak rentals or guided kayak options (minimum 2 people). Trips are available from 2 hours or longer.  Take the opportunity to explore the lagoon on your own, or with an experienced guide.  Mornings are the best time to kayak on the lagoon with generally calm waters, but always check ahead for tides and conditions. Bookings are available from 8 AM. Full safety and informative briefing is included (please allow an extra 30 minutes).

Afternoon/Evening

Head into nearby Franz Josef to experience the world of ice in the rainforest!  Take a scenic flight over the glaciers, or a walk to the terminal face.  There are many guided and self-guided options available.  Information is available from the Department of Conservation centre in town.  Watch for Kea’s in the village and at the parking lot of the glacier. 

TOUR BOOKINGS

 If you are interested in booking a birding tour please complete the contact us form.