Animal Attractions

The Seals at Wharariki Are the Real Thing

If there's one animal experience in this region worth planning your whole day around, it's the seal pups at Wharariki Beach in Golden Bay. Time it for low tide and you'll find them tucked into the rock pools, doing their thing like a live circus. Head left when you arrive rather than right - that's where the pups tend to hang out and most people miss it. Pick a low-wind day if you can, because this place can blow hard enough to make walking properly difficult.

Birds and Wildlife Closer to Town

Brook Waimarama Sanctuary just outside Nelson is genuinely worth a look, especially if you haven't caught up with kiwi yet. It's the South Island's largest fenced wildlife area and they've been adding species steadily. Only 10 minutes from town, so it fits easily into a Nelson stopover without eating your whole day. The Farewell Spit tour out in Golden Bay also gets you close to the gannet colony, which is the only way to actually reach the spit. Book the gannet add-on separately and early in peak season as numbers are limited.