See Kiwi in the wild – right here at our holiday park, when you stay with us!
Our holiday park is one of the few places in New Zealand to see kiwi in the wild. As night falls, you’ll hear their distinctive calls echo through the native bush—and with a rise in recent guest sightings, you might even spot a kiwi in its natural habitat.
While our Kiwi Trail winds through the bush at the rear of the park, sightings often happen closer than you’d expect—right around the firepit or along the bushline at the edge of the park.
Kiwi encounters are exclusive to guests staying at the park.
Here are some of our top tips to help you increase your chances of a wild kiwi encounter:
Listen carefully.
They’re shy but you may hear them rustling through the leaves.
Walk slowly & keep quiet.
The less noise you make the more likely they’ll stay nearby. You’ll need to patient!
Use Red Light.
Kiwi are sensitive to white torchlight.
Look where they forage.
Near the bush edges, around the fire pit & on the kiwi trail. We can let you know the best spots & we have placed tables near these areas for you to sit and wait quietly.
Go out at night, kiwi are nocturnal!
We recommend from 9-10pm when they become active.
What to wear.
Avoid noisy fabrics like nylon to minimise sound. Closed footwear – essential for safe wandering in the dark and through the bush.
North Island Brown Kiwi
Apteryx mantelli or Apteryx australis
The kiwi is the national bird of New Zealand. It has dark brown spiky feather tinged with red brown and black and a long pointy beak. It is a flightless and nocturnal bird – often heard at night but hardly seen. Our park is one of the few places in New Zealand where you can see kiwi in the wild. On average only five percent of kiwi chicks survive to adulthood. However, in areas under active pest management, survival rates for North Island brown kiwi can be far higher.
Kiwi caught on camera!
Kiwi encounters at the park captured by our guests.