Mike & Kirsty Wilmott
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South Island ▷ West Coast ▷ Okarito ▷
Okarito Kiwi Tours
5.0/5
We came over from the UK for a month to see some of the geographical features and wildlife that NZ is famous for and were recommended this trip by a group of birdwatchers we met on an Elm Wildlife Tour
of the Otago Peninsula, Dunedin.
My wife is not a keen birdwatcher, but this trip was one of our highlights. Ian clearly has the welfare of the Kiwi at the heart of this operation and gives a good briefing before setting out. This is not a 'twitch' but a patient search, aided by Ian's equipment that can detect where the birds are by transmitters attached to them (not done to help birdwatchers but to build up more knowledge of the movements and habits of this endangered bird - and it is currently working, with numbers increasing - ask Ian). We were able to see three birds, appreciating their size, gait and appearance. We were also able to hear them crashing through the bush close to our position on the trackway, smell them and hear their calls - as well as listen in to a noisy territorial scrap between two of them.
The walk back to the cars with the NZ night sky overhead was fantastic, and as a bonus we got to hear several Morepork and see one.
Both my wife and myself loved this trip, and Ian's approach is one that should be at the heart of nature tours - not a tick list but a genuine trip of discovery. You will need patience, teamwork and have to put up with buzzy mossies (Ian provides the protective clothing to prevent you being bitten), but the rewards are immense. Don't miss out on this trip if you have any interest in Kiwis at all - my wife reated it higher than whale watching at Kaikoura.
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South Island ▷ West Coast ▷ Okarito ▷
Okarito Boat Tours
4.5/5
This is a really good way to see many of New Zealand's special birds close-up.
We got very good views of Caspian Tern, Royal Spoonbill, White Heron and Australasian Bittern (Classic beak upwards upright stance - rarely seen in UK), as well as many others. It is also a good introduction to some of the plant and tree species around, and Swade will tailor his guiding to what is out and can be seen at the time. Worth thinking of combining a trip with one of the Okarito Kiwi Tours in the evening and perhaps a walk to the Trig point in the afternoon. My wife is not a regular birdwatcher but enjoyed this trip a lot.