New Zealand birdwatching holiday
| country: | New Zealand |
| location: | South Island, Kahurangi |
| trip type: | Introductory / moderate walking holidays |
| departures: | This trip can be arranged at a time to suit you for a minimum or 2 people. |
| price: | From NZ $1570 (7 days) excluding flights |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
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introduction to New Zealand birdwatching holiday
New Zealand's natural environment is unique. Once part of the southern super continent of 'Gondwana', it has been isolated for approx. 80 million years, until the first humans arrived a mere 650 years ago (in any numbers). That event made New Zealand the last major land area on earth to receive the brunt of human contact.
What the Polynesians found was a natural environment that has evolved in total isolation. "New Zealand is the closest we can come to studying evolution on another planet." (Jared Diamond - American biologist). There were no mammals apart from 3 small bat species. The bird life had evolved free of predation except for a few birds of prey.
There was a remarkable array of flightless birds, including the giant Moa (now extinct). The Maori (or Polynesians as they were when they arrived), brought the Polynesian rat and dog. Europeans followed with a long list of predators. The effect of these animals on New Zealand's remarkable bird life was devastating.
But in places such as Kahurangi National Park, many species still remain and most are endemic to this country. This trip covers all bird habitats - alpine, sub-alpine, montane & lowland forest, wetlands & sandspit. For the bird lover, our conservation guides can take you into areas where you are most likely to see our rare and endangered species. This is the ultimate trip for you!
What the Polynesians found was a natural environment that has evolved in total isolation. "New Zealand is the closest we can come to studying evolution on another planet." (Jared Diamond - American biologist). There were no mammals apart from 3 small bat species. The bird life had evolved free of predation except for a few birds of prey.
There was a remarkable array of flightless birds, including the giant Moa (now extinct). The Maori (or Polynesians as they were when they arrived), brought the Polynesian rat and dog. Europeans followed with a long list of predators. The effect of these animals on New Zealand's remarkable bird life was devastating.
But in places such as Kahurangi National Park, many species still remain and most are endemic to this country. This trip covers all bird habitats - alpine, sub-alpine, montane & lowland forest, wetlands & sandspit. For the bird lover, our conservation guides can take you into areas where you are most likely to see our rare and endangered species. This is the ultimate trip for you!
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Drive to Flora car park at 945 metres. From here we walk up to Mount Arthur but, 1 1/2 to 2 hours walk, on a well graded track to emerge on the bushline. Above the bush you are awarded magnificent views over Tasman Bay and the interior of Kahurangi National Park. On the way you will be shown the 'Friends of Flora' conservation trapping programme, which was initiated by our company's owners, Maryann and Bill. On returning to the car it is an hours drive to a secluded private cabin (Nick's Cabin), situated on the parks fringe, high on the slopes of Mount Campbell. Once again with those magnificent views over Tasman Bay. The cabin has solar lighting and gas shower facilities. Not to mention the local Kea (mountain parrot) who love to check out the visitors! To watch these clever and endearing birds is a real treat. Bird sightings can include: Kea, Kaka, Robin, Bellbird, Brown Creeper, Blue Duck, Rifleman, Kakariki, Tui. |
| Day 2: | We walk through a lovely beech forest to the open alpine 'tops' of Mount Campbell. This is the northern most end of Kahurangi National Park. From here the day is yours! We will walk as far as the group would like, taking in the 360 degree vistas throughout the day. Returning once again to Nick's Cabin. Bird sightings can include: Kea, Harrier Hawk, Falcon, Bellbird, Tomtit, Kakariki. |
| Day 3: | We leave Nick's Cabin and have a scenic drive over the Takaka Hill, known locally as 'marble mountain'. Fantastic outcrops of weather worn karst limestone and marble formations. We then drive up into the Cobb Valley, which sits at approx. 1,000 metres, to our exclusive cottage accommodation beside the small reservoir. This cottage have electricity and shower facilities. We will spend two nights here. After arriving and settling in, we will spend the afternoon on a walk in the area. |
| Day 4: | On this day in the Cobb area we can choose from a variety of walks, whether it be valley walking, or alpine lakes. Bird sightings for these two days can include: Kaka, Kea, Falcon, Scaup & Paradise ducks, Robin, Grey Warbler. |
| Day 5: | Drive back down to the lowlands and the Takaka Valley and on to Mangarakau on the West Coast - via West Haven inlet. At Mangarakau we will stay in the lodge run by the 'Friends of Mangarakau', which is another conservation project within the surrounding wetlands. We will have exclusive use of this lodge, which sits on a slope over looking a lake, for the next two nights. Electricity and washing facilities available. En route to Mangarakau short walks can be taken into pupu Springs, which bubble up from beneath the bowels of Kahurangi and known scientifically as the clearest water outside of the Antartic. Bird sightings can include: Tui, Pukeko, Kingfisher, Fernbird, Grey duck, Scaup, and the sound of the elusive Bittern may be heard booming after dark. |
| Day 6: | From the lodge there are several options for our free day, including a tidal walk, a walk around the swamp area, or a climb of Knuckle Hill. From here you have amazing vistas of Westhaven Inlet and Farewell Spit (The longest natural sandbar in the world), in the distance. Bird sightings can include: All of the above and also Cormorants, Spoonbills, Herons (including the beautiful white Kotuku) and gulls. |
| Day 7: | We leave We leave for the drive back to Motueka, but en route we call in at Farewell Spit where the Original Farewell Spit Nature Tours will be waiting to take you on a birding trip on to the sandspit. Experience the changing land and seascapes and skies as you journey with them. The manager of the Original Farwell Spit Tours, Paddy Gillooly, has a family history as old as the local settlement of Collingwood. His family set up the transport tours in 1946. You will be taken out to the now automated lighthouse on the spit, with birding interpretations along the way. After your day on the spit we will head back to Motueka. Bird sightings can include: Comorants, Gulls, Dotterels, Oyster Catchers, Godwits, Wrybills. Take note: The Farewell Spit Nature Tour may take place on days five, six or seven, as it is tidal dependant. |
how this holiday makes a difference
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On this trip your conservation minded guides will be telling you the story of New Zealand's isolation and about our 'weird and wonderful' birds. You will be shown two conservation projects set up to protect our native birds.
A donation from every booking on the 'Birders Special' will go to these two volunteer projects - 'Friends of Flora inc' and 'Mangarakau Swamp Restoration Project', to help them continue this valuable work. (The Flora in the society's name is a misnomer, as it is referring to the area called Flora, not floral species). Both of these community based projects have a trapping programme, which involves the trapping of stoats, rats and possums. The operator's owners, Maryann and Bill, set up the Friends of Flora (FOF) project in 2001, in the hope of stopping the destruction of our fauna which haven't evolved to withstand the onslaught from mammalian predators. With only 3 species of bats, New Zealand was a land of birds. Both our bird count data and anecdotal evidence is showing the trapping is making a difference. With not only the smaller of our birds rising in numbers, the exciting thing has been to see both our Kaka parrot and our Weka bush hen rearing young in the Flora catchment for the first time in many years. We work closely with our Department of Conservation, we always report back to them on conservation issues within Kahurangi Park, i.e. the sighting of rare birds. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |
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