Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne
Zealandia
The world's first urban ecosanctuary. An 8.6-kilometer predator-proof fence encloses 225 hectares of valley where kākā, takahē, tuatara, and other native birds have been reintroduced, and night tours can show you wild little spotted kiwi.
Zealandia is in Karori Valley, 2 kilometers west of the city center. In 1999 it became the world's first ecosanctuary protected by a predator-proof fence, 8.6 kilometers long, which keeps out rats, weasels, possums, and cats. The fence turned the 225-hectare former reservoir valley back into the kind of New Zealand forest that existed 500 years ago, before mammalian predators arrived. The goal is a “500-year plan.” More than 40 native species have been reintroduced inside the fence. They include kākā, which fly down to feeding stations and interact with visitors; takahē, a flightless bird with only a few hundred left in the world, which you can spot on the lawn near the lower reservoir; tūī; bellbirds; saddlebacks; tuatara, living fossils from the age of the dinosaurs, which sun themselves on rocks during the day; and wild little spotted kiwi (about 150 birds), which come out only at night.
Daytime options include 32 kilometers of walking tracks, from the main 1-hour loop to longer routes up to the hilltop. The visitor center has exhibits on New Zealand's extinction history and conservation work. Daytime guided tours last about 2 hours and cost about NZ$70, and they're a good way to see more birds. The most popular option is the night tour, Zealandia by Night. It lasts about 2.5 hours, costs about NZ$100, and runs after sunset. Guides use red-light torches to look for kiwi, glowworms, and tuatara. Your chances of seeing kiwi are high. Book in advance. A day pass costs about NZ$26. The café on site is called Rātā.
Getting there: free shuttle buses run from the top of the cable car every 20–30 minutes. Alternatively, take Bus 3 from the city center, which takes about 15 minutes to Karori Road, then walk. You can also walk from the botanic garden along the Karori track.
Tips: Security bags are checked at entrance to make sure you're not bringing in rats. Wear closed shoes and a waterproof jacket. For night tours, wear dark clothing and don't use regular flashlights or flash photography. Do not feed the animals.
Opening hours
09:00–17:00 (last entry 16:00); night tours timed to sunset
Nearby sights
- Wellington Cable Car & Botanic Garden
- Cuba Street
- Pukeahu National War Memorial Park
- City Gallery Wellington
- Ōtari-Wilton's Bush
- Wellington Museum
- Wellington Waterfront & Oriental Bay
- The Beehive & Parliament Buildings