Zealandia - Twilight Guided Eco Wildlife Tour

Knowledgeable guide. Small groups. Easy walk. Be prepared to not expect kiwi bird viewing Nice herbal tea

Our Guide was incredibly knowledgeable about the local flora and fauna. Zealandia is a credit to the people who built and maintain it to such a high standard

Really fun and unique experience in Wellington. Amazing how close to the city it is

I took my daughter on this tour and found it to be very informative. It was very clear that the staff love talking about the local animals and have so much knowledge about them.

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 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.

Every trip to Wellington should include a trip to Zelandia. It’s an amazing experience in our guides Matt and Chris were fabulous and so knowledgeable. It was so exciting to see the Kiwi up close. We also saw tons of other birds and frogs in the wild. And the walk through the bush was amazing.!!

Action packed and fascinating. We saw heaps of NZ wildlife big and small including a very accommodating kiwi within 2 metres, many reptiles, unique ancient frog, Morpork Owl, NZ rarest duck and giant wetas. The conversation stories are heart warming and encouraging! The guides were amazing… If you want some good news in the natural world for once, this is the place!

Over the years. I have been to a fair few twilight tours but this one was by far the best. We saw such a variety of wildlife including tui, kereru, smooth stick insect, rare brown teal and culminating with 5 sightings of the little spotted kiwi which was in incredible as you don't normally see them on a twilight tour because they are nocturnal. With a later tour you also get a free day pass for Zealandia to see day wildlife witch is totally different to the nocturnal creatures. If you get chance I would highly recommend booking a tour as you learn so much from the guide and see stuff you wouldn't normally see. Over all a fantastic experience and would 100% do again. Thanks so much and keep protecting the unique wildlife that New Zealand has to offer.

We went on the twilight tour. The site was magnificent and the guides were exceptionally knowledgeable. Bug spray not necessary for this excursion in nature. Wear comfortable closed shoes.

Twilight tour was outstanding. We saw lots of birds and lizards. Sara and Lind were very good at spotting the different birds and sounds. They even found Kiwi birds for us. The reserve is a wonderful endeavor.

Took the twilight tour with Oliver and a lovely female guide whose name I completely have forgotten (sorry). Both were so wonderful, amazingly knowledgeable, and passionate. We did not see any kiwis (but heard them); however, there is so much more to this amazing place. Highly recommend this... it truly is magical.

The audio system was effective so that we could hear the guide easily. The guide was knowledgeable. I enjoyed hearing the evening bird song within the valley. We were not lucky enough to see a kiwi during our experience. The tour felt quite crowded with 12 people in the dark of the evening, so that if you were near the back you couldn’t always follow what the guide was talking about. At the end of the tour, the guide asked each of us individually what the best bit of the tour had been: this felt awkward and several people were clearly uncomfortable at being put on the spot like this, with at least one declining to answer. Overall, my view of the experience is that I was happy to donate money to a good cause through purchasing the tour, but I did not feel it was the best use of my limited time in the area.

Great experience with knowledgeable guides. Presentation excellent, nice walk with lots to hear and see. Great preservation of our native species.

This was a AMAZING experience with incredibly knowledgeable guides. What they are doing at Zealandia is very interesting not just for New Zealand, but for a world with increasing climate challenges. I highly recommend this for anyone who cares about the planet

We took the Zealandia After Dark tour. This is an amazing experience and well worth the time and cost. Our guide Rebecca and scout Glynnis did a fantastic job of finding and educating us about the many species of wildlife that inhabit the preserve. If you visit Wellington, you must visit Zealandia!

The group we were in was small and the guide was really knowledgeable. We didn’t get to see a Kiwi but did manage to see various birds, a Gecko and a frog on our walk around the sanctuary. We would highly recommend just on the off chance you do get to see a Kiwi 😀

Don’t miss it! The nightlife tour was way beyond our expectations. A remarkable place run by remarkable guides. Fabulous

Very interesting tour. The guide told a lot of stories about birds, sancuary and its history. The purpose of this sanctuary is amazing

A nature lovers dream. Seeing this protected land flourish with native wildlife was such a highlight. The twilight tour was perfectly timed to witness both the daytime bird activity and nocturnal bird calls and a few sightings. Seeing a wild tuatara was thrilling, and so fun to watch the dozens of kaka enjoying feeding stations along the walk. Each experience will be different of course, with no guarantee of what you’ll see. Our guide was friendly, incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about this land and its wildlife.

Wow what an experience with our guide Bre! A wonderful evening and we saw our first Kiwi!! Great value for money

Loved every minute of the tour. But really loved the fact that it included free day entry to the park the next day to see it all at our own pace included in the tour price

Wealt good shoes and bring proper clothes for changeable Wellington weather. If you can, plan for extra time in the reserve; you get free entry before the evening tours or the following day. There is a free shuttle from the top of the cable car station. A couple of public buses have a stop nearby. The #2 bus runs to/from downtown and Zealandia.

Interesting tour with information about zealandia. They are obviously very passionate about their work. Didn’t see a kiwi but obviously nothing is guaranteed with wildlife. Did see some rarities but overall not that much wildlife. Think there could have been more information to keep us all engaged though when we asked questions more info was forthcoming. The main issue for us was that the flora and fauna names used were all Māori names. Whilst this is understandable, to our English tourist ears it was difficult to remember the names. An additional ‘also known as’ in English or even the official Latin name might have helped. I came away remembering the visuals but not the names. As we were told, our entrance fees keep this place going so it’s important the guides put themselves in the tourists shoes and not just give out their own messaging.

Definitely try to do this tour. We took the evening walk - timed to maximize the chance to enjoy the sunset, see kiwis, and hear the songbirds. An easy and non-demanding walk, with a team of guides who provided a wealth of information. For a first-time visitor to New Zealand, the level of the country's attention to its environment is stunning. Taking this tour with first-hand exposure puts it in context - a project with a meticulous long-term commitment.

Be patient. Our guide was a wonderful, articulate, knowledgeable, passionate about the environment, and full of information.

It's a nice easy walk. Guides are very knowledgeable and helpful. They are ready to answer your questions.

Firstly, what an amazing setup and organisation. They really care about the environment and wildlife, and taught me so much in such a short space of time. I started this tour a little envious of the people going out on the night tour, as kiwi are more often seen later on, alas there were no spaces left. Firstly, our guide Oliver introduced himself and fellow guide Heather, who would trek out ahead of us and act as a wildlife spotter. Next we were treated to a film explaining the ethos of the Zealandia organisation and the ambitious 500 year plan upon which they have embarked. Then we ventured out into the forest - or “bush” - and instantly saw / heard various birds which were pointed out to us and their habits / conservation plans explained. This is where Oliver came alive: his passion for the flora and fauna was unparalleled and infectious. Both plants and wildlife were pointed out and enthused about so vividly that you couldn’t help feeling the same about them. Heather did an excellent job of spotting wildlife up ahead, including a rare frog which Oliver revealed was only his third sighting! As the sun set we were encouraged to turn on our red light torches to help us spot wildlife and stay safe on the path, which (for me at least) added a sort of intrepid aura to the experience. Suddenly Oliver bade us gather around and revealed in the undergrowth a kiwi foraging for food. This bird stayed around for over 5 minutes, apparently unperturbed by our presence, before we moved on so as not to disturb. Next we saw a giant Wētā, again a rare sighting, then, astonishingly Heather spotted a second kiwi! This one soon disappeared into the forest, but as a group we felt so lucky to have experienced two sightings that we all left on quite a high. I cannot recommend this experience highly enough.

Such a cool experience! Matt and Rosemary were so knowledgeable about the ecosanctuary and all of the birds contained within. It didn't feel like we were anywhere near Wellington - it's so quiet and peaceful. We were so lucky to be able to see a kiwi off the trail with our red light torches at the very end of our tour. If you have mobility issues, be mindful because though there are clearly marked paths, there are also exposed roots and uneven terrain. Plus this was a tour at night and it was pitch black without the red light torches.

Beautiful landscapes full of native birds and tuatara. During the twilight tour you get to see the day active birds as well as an opportunity to see kiwi. We had a very passionate and knowledgeable guide!

We thoroughly enjoyed our twilight tour of Zealandia...definitely worth the time and money. We learned a lot on the tour and thanks to our expert guides, Allison and Autumn, we even got to see a Kiwi in the wild. Kiwis are nocturnal, and it was amazing that Allison and Autumn were able to detect one and point it out to us using their special red "night flashlights so as not to disturb the Kiwi. They made sure that everyone in our small group was able to see this elusive bird when we were fortunate to come across one. Not every tour is so lucky.

If you have any interest in wildlife or conservation this experience is a must-do! Party of four adults on a Thursday evening. Mat was our guide with Anthony assisting - both were fabulous. Saw some very diverse wildlife including Kiwi, More Pork and Tuatara. But coolest part was the ambitious, ingenious and dedicated nature of the conservation taking place there. Really awesome and highly recommended

Very nice and interesting walk on the sanctuary with insects and birds and animals. Very unusual for regular folk like us

Excellent tour through the wildlife sanctuary led by an expert in conservation. We saw lots of birds and other endangered critters and learned about the efforts Zealandia has taken to protect them. The twilight tour was a valuable experience.

The twilight tour was really great. We did see nice birds of the day and also some nocturnal ones like the kiwi when it got dark. The tourguides truly were amazing and the tour was good organized. A great organization to give your money to. One thing, which was not so good was, that we didnt know that the park closes at 5pm and so we had to wait 1,5 hours before the tour started. So start to spend your day early in the park its big!! (day park entry is included in the tour price).

A lovely walk through the woods. We saw some really unique Birds and critters. While we weren't lucky enough to spot a kiwi, we did hear the mating calls. Definitely recommended to anyone visiting Wellington.

Truly a highlight of our trip! Two guides and the two of us walking Zealandia for 2.5 hours. What a tremendous undertaking Zealandia is, and what a success it seems to be. Starting at dusk, we first got to witness the birds, many of which were endangered, coming back to the preserve to roost. Nico led the way, accompanied by Ruth, and identified species by appearance, flight patterns and call. At dark the adventure truly started. Aided by infrared lighting Nico showed us birds, lizards, insects and, best of all, 5(!) separate kiwi sightings! We can’t recommend this highly enough and the private tour added to the experience.

Our guide, Amanda, and volunteer scout Anthony made sure we had the most amazing visit. Amanda was very knowledgeable and Anthony scouted ahead so that we were able to have encounters with the wonderful wildlife. We were fortunate to see three Kiwi - sigh! Zealandia is a fabulous place and we were glad to be able to visit and support the protection of the various species that reside there. Going at twilight was extra special - I'm so glad we chose this tour.

We did the nighttime tour with knowledgable guide (Alan) and scout volunteer (also called Alan) and very much enjoyed our trip. Walking round the sanctuary at night is a very different experience and although we didn’t get to see the elusive kiwi, we did get to see the tuatara (lizard type creatures), the takahe (bird), the kereru (bird) glowworms, weta, ducks, fish and a variety of other birds. You’re given red torches so you can try and spot wildlife and earphones so you can hear the guide easily. It was interesting to hear how New Zealand’s flora and fauna had evolved since the arrival of man, and their plans to return the area to indigenous flora and fauna. Your evening tour ticket also lets you return first free the following day during daylight so you can see the sanctuary from both perspectives.

It was an amazing experience!!! We saw most endemic birds, including two Lesser Spotted Kiwis, very close plus Tuatara, Glow Worms, Weta..... Manoela and Glenda were extremely nice and helped us to fit a late arrical due toa delayed flight. It us a myst visit place for nature lovers and a great example of hands on conservation. Zillion Stars!

The guides were very knowledgeable and easy to understand. The construction and management of the fencing was interesting. This tour would be more suitable for bird enthusiasts as it would be a walk down a dusky path. All in all it is of my bucket list.

We took the twilight tour (the night tour was booked) and were glad we did. We saw lots of birds before dark and particularly enjoyed hearing their songs. Then after dark we were lucky enough to spot a kiwi. Guide (Alan) was terrific as was his sidekick (Ava). Gift shop is unusually interesting. Remarkable that the city and citizenry created this oasis.

Great experience. Very knowledgeable staff and volunteers. Easy hike and thoughtful conversation. Really enjoyed the twilight hike and we were lucky enough to spot a kiwi. Animal sightings can vary depending on what they’re up to but the staff try hard to search for them.