The Orokonui Ecosanctuary near Dunedin is home to some of New Zealand’s rarest endangered birds. Here’s how to visit.
Returning to pre-human New Zealand
As tasks go, returning a 307 hectare valley to how it would have looked before humans would have arrived in New Zealand is pretty ambitious. But the Orokonui Ecosanctuary between Oamaru and Dunedin is going even further than that. It has constructed an 8.7km predator-proof fence around its boundaries, the idea being that if mice, rats and stoats are kept out, native birds can live and breed in peace.
Rare native birds at the Orokonui Ecosanctuary
And some of the most endangered native birds are carefully being introduced. Takahe and saddlebacks are amongst the most prized inhabitants, while the beak marks of the Haast tokoeka – the rarest kiwi subspecies – can be found in the earth of prime worm-hunting territory.
Kaka flit freely across the forest, noisily attacking feeding stations and one hundred or so tuatara hide away deep in the woodland away from the walking tracks.
Why a predator-proof fence is needed at the Orokonui Ecosanctuary
Many of these creatures haven’t lived wild in this area for hundreds of years. Humans – and the pests that came with them – have made life impossible for indigenous creatures. Orokonui is part of the reparations. It’s both a huge step and a relatively small one – but if native birds and reptiles can survive here, in the heart of an area thoroughly colonised by humans, it’s a massive leap forwards.
How to visit the Orokonui Ecosanctuary
There are two ways to visits the Orokonui Ecosanctuary – self-guided and on a tour. The self-guided option is available from Thursday to Monday between 9.30am and 4.30pm. It costs $NZ25 and pre-booking is not necessary.
Orokonui Ecosanctuary tour prices
The other way to visit the Orokonui Ecosanctuary is on a guided tour. There are one hour tours costing $NZ50 and two hour tours that go further into the sanctuary, costing $NZ70. Obviously, the guides have a better idea of where to find the birds, so your chances of sightings are improved.
Orokonui Ecosanctuary tours must be booked in advance, however.
There are also occasional night tours available. These depart at nightfall and are guided by torchlight. Somewhat counterintuitively, there’s a better chance of seeing some of the rarer birds on these night tours, as the birds are nocturnal.
More New Zealand South Island travel ideas
Other things to do in Dunedin include Otago Peninsula wildlife tours and a city highlights plus Larnach Castle tour.
If you’ve enjoyed this account of seeing rare native birds at the Orokonui Ecosanctuary near Dunedin, there are plenty more New Zealand South Island articles on Planet Whitley. These include…
– Why you shouldn’t visit Milford Sound from Queenstown.
– The shocking story of Larnach Castle.
– A road trip along the Catlins Coast.
– What to do on the Christchurch to Oamaru drive, before seeing Oamaru’s penguin colony.
– Kayaking around icebergs on Tasman Lake.
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