Zealandia: Exclusive 2-Hr Native Wildlife Eco-Immersion

Despite the 2 hours of pouring rain, we saw many many birds. Our guide was very informative about the history of Zeelandia and the plant and birds we saw. There is a free shuttle from the city center or cable car

Emily was so interesting, funny, and has a great depth of knowledge. She’s clearly a lifelong learner. Everyone felt included, with explanations at different levels for different ages.

Very informative- saw birds we wanted to see , good commentary on plants etc. On time pickup from behind info centre although this is a long walk from Cruise terminal. Great to hear and see the Zealandia objective to preserve wildlife.

I think your guide makes a big difference on this tour. Having witnessed at least 4 guides in action, we were very thankful that we had Gill. No ranting or raving or a loud over-bearing voice. She was very knowledgeable & well suited to a tour of this kind.

We took the cable car up the the top then caught a free shuttle to Zealandia. We had an excellent tour guide but we did not see more than a couple of birds because of the canopy. It was an amazing experience nonetheless! The crowds were not large, but I suggest you take the tour and then go hike on your own. The tour guide goes rather slowly to explain everything. We absolutely loved her. She explained not only the importance of the Zealandia cause, but also the history of the Maori and the significance of their culture. If only the US did the same with its indigenous peoples!

The guide we had was very knowledgable, friendly and allowed us all the time needed for pictures and discussion.

Zealandia was a hidden gem. We learned so much about this incredible organization with their mission of saving the indigenous and endangered bird population of New Zealand through habitat restoration and community education. We went on a 2-hour guided walk through beautiful dense and verdant terrain while learning about and looking for the birds, plants & insects who call it home. We would highly recommend a visit to Zealandia. They also have a wonderful cafe and gift shop.

Zealandia is the name of an amazing wildlife refuge in Wellington, NZ. It is a fully fenced sanctuary for many of Aotearoa New Zealand’s rarest species of birds, fish, plants, and insects. The only way to understand the scope of this amazing place is to go see it and listen to the guide as you tour it. We did a short day time tour. A twilight or night tour would be incredible. Maybe next time. Our guide, Gill, was excellent. She explained how this wonderful place was created, and helped us find and see many of the creatures in residence there. If you care about ecosystems and wildlife, this is not to be missed.

See my Tripadvisor review! I am still on a high after seeing so many tuatara! And even if we were not graced with those I would still feel pleasantly surprised to garner such an appreciation for various birds; this brown parrot is a wonder of conservation restoration. The free shuttle from/to top of the cable car is super helpful. The chocolate in the shoppe is lovely (I bought two types and have tasted one thus far), and the cafe has a good beer selection. The two negatives include bad wifi for Zealandia guests (minor) and a massive devotion to evolutionary theory (major). It continues to astound me— an Ivy league graduate living in NYC and a born again Christian— as to why places of conservation and restoration cannot embrace the possibility that the Judeo Christian God of the Bible is real and created + so loved the world. I do not understand how a country can kow tow (now, finally) to Maori people who have a rich genealogy that is remarkably shorter than a couple thousand years and flat out deny that there could have been a global flood or that the earth could be less than 6000 to 8000 years old, that each of us come from Shem, Ham, or Japeth. A presentation of maybe evolution maybe creation would enhance the entire vibe of Zealandia.

I am still on a high after seeing so many tuatara! And even if we were not graced with those I would still feel pleasantly surprised to garner such an appreciation for various birds; this brown parrot is a wonder of conservation restoration. The free shuttle from/to top of the cable car is super helpful. The chocolate in the shoppe is lovely (I bought two types and have tasted one thus far), and the cafe has a good beer selection. The two negatives include bad wifi for Zealandia guests (minor) and a massive devotion to evolutionary theory (major). It continues to astound me— an Ivy league graduate living in NYC and a born again Christian— as to why places of conservation and restoration cannot embrace the possibility that the Judeo Christian God of the Bible is real and created + so loved the world. I do not understand how a country can kow tow (now, finally) to Maori people who have a rich genealogy that is remarkably shorter than a couple thousand years and flat out deny that there could have been a global flood or that the earth could be less than 6000 to 8000 years old, that each of us come from Shem, Ham, or Japeth. A presentation of maybe evolution maybe creation would enhance the entire vibe of Zealandia.