Zealandia - Twilight Guided Eco Wildlife Tour

Great to see the place with no crowds. Peaceful. Saw some birds. No kiwis seen. Pricey for for what we saw.

Different times of day will significantly impact birds seen/heard. Twilight hours tour yielded great variety. Guide was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic to share her knowledge. Wish we'd had more time in our schedule to go through Zealandia and read more of the info on the signs.

This was a unique experience to learn about the history of moslty the fauna but also some flora on the island. Their efforts to preserve native species is to be supported. Our guide was very enthusiastic and had a well of knowledge on the topic. Walking through the sanctuary at night was gorgeous. It had rained earlier so the smell was also a bonus as I love the smell of wet plants. We were able to find most of the birds but did not see any kiwi. The group that started after us did. They are nocturnal so pick the later group for a better chance of a sighting.

Very informative. The guide with broad knowledge of birds and plants. Gets a bit dark at the end after sundown

There are places in the world you get lucky to visit & will always hold dear in your heart- and Zealandia was it for me!! A absolute MUST visit while in Wellington hands down. ABSOLUTE must. You will never forget it. A place where nature & humans live together in peace. This eco sanctuary is so cherished & special to NZ. It is a fully enclosed eco system letting New Zealand nature heal & flourish. Your ticket entry grants you two day visit. We went the first day which much anticipation & loved it so much we came for the second day AND bought the Twilight night tour after our second day pass ended. Upon entering the sanctuary, you are whisked away from the hustle of Wellington & enter beautiful forest. Lots of trails of varying levels or you can stay on the paved walkway. Stunning nature, endless bird calls, & you get to see so many native New Zealand birds. We loved the parrot feeders area because it was so peaceful to just watch the parrots feed in front of you in the wild. We enjoyed multiple trails & each section had endless beauty to witness. The sanctuary was peaceful & felt untouched by humanity. We loved it so much we snagged a last minute opening for their night tour. Our tour guide was so knowledgeable & passionate for the Zealandia by Twilight tour. We learned all about Zealandia’s mission to restore Wellington’s native wildlife & bring native species back to the region. The tour started at dusk as the birds flew around & sung before the night began. We ventured around learning so much from the guide as the night got darker. A highlight was enjoying a cup of delicious kawakawa tea in the dark of the Forrest. It was out of this world experience! Zealandia is so unique & worth visiting. From the passion of everyone working there, to the stunning untouched nature. Beautiful trails. Endless birds to see. Endless peaceful nature & love for the Earth here: You really don’t feel like you are in such a large city in this enclosed sanctuary. Nature & protecting native wildlife is so important to New Zealand’s culture- and you can witness it in person at Zealandia. 🦜🌿

The eco tour was amazing. very quite and peaceful, very little noise and light pollution. The tour guide was very knowledgeable about local wildlife and flora. We got to see a few kiwi birds, what an experience

A magical evening in Zealandia! Just walking through this beautiful refuge at twilight was incredibly memorable! On top of that, we saw several rare birds and other species in their habitat! Incredible! Highly recommend!

The Twilight Tour in Zealandia is one of the best guided tours we have had the pleasure of experiencing on our travels. In groups of max. Twelve people are guided by competent guides to this unique sanctuary for native animals. Much is well explained, questions answered in detail and you can feel the personal commitment of the guides.

The Zealandia Twilight Tour was a refreshing and truly unique experience. As a city dweller, it felt rare and special to step into the wild and get up close to creatures at night. The guides were not only knowledgeable but also engaging, offering intriguing explanations about the animals’ behavior and pointing out what to watch for in the dark. Their insights added so much depth to the adventure, making it both educational and exciting. What I loved most was the sense of unpredictability—there’s no guarantee of what you’ll see, and that makes every moment feel like a real adventure. The thrill of discovery, combined with the peaceful atmosphere of the sanctuary at night, is something I will remember fondly for a long time.

If you like birds and want to know more about them and their origins and some trees originating in New Zealand, this is a nice excursion. All the staff are very friendly and passionate about birds. On the walk we saw quite a few birds (Tui, Karuhiruhi, Kereru, Papango, Kaka...) and some difficult to see (like Hihi and Kakariki) and tried to see Kiwis but it was still early to see them. We also saw Tuataras and insects (Putangatangas jumpers, spiders, worms...). Very entertaining! I went at the end of December and as the sun fell you could see the cold. Tip: wear binoculars because the birds when they are loose are quite far away and if not they can not be observed well