The 3 Wildlife Trips in Auckland That Are Worth the Drive

1.Auckland (Tawharanui): Wild Kiwi Bird Spotting Encounter

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 78 reviews · 2 hours · from $89Our pick

Join guides such as Legend, Chris, Millie, or Lucas for a slow, respectful night walk at Tāwharanui Regional Park. Search for North Island brown kiwi, listen for nocturnal wildlife, and use supplied torches, headlamps, binoculars, or a telescope for stargazing. Transport and glamping can be added.

“Fantastic tour with a very knowledgeable guide. We saw some kiwis and also had a chance to do stargazing.”

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2.Private tour from Auckland – Waitomo Glowworm Caves, Zealong Tea & Kiwi Bird

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 20 reviews · from $619Top rated

Travel privately from Auckland with driver-guide Warren or another professional guide to Waitomo Glowworm Caves, Otorohanga Kiwi House, and Zealong Tea Estate. Your 10-hour day includes transport, lunch, snacks, tea tasting, entry tickets, and a guided cave boat ride.

“We had an amazing private tour from Auckland that included the Waitomo Glowworm Caves, the Kiwi Bird experience, and high tea at Zealong Tea Estate — and every part of it was incredible! Our driver and guide, Warren, truly made the daRead more”

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3.Twilight Wild Kiwi Bird Encounter Private Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · from $589

You’ll travel from Auckland to Matakana for a three-course dinner, then join guides such as Aden, Aiden, Andy, or Peter for a night walk in predator-free Tāwharanui Regional Park. Red-lensed torches, snacks, bubbles, hot chocolate, private transport, and hotel pickup are included.

“Aden was a wonderful guide and really enjoyed our conversations with him. What really stood out was his amazing expertise when it came to the focus of the trip. We saw FOUR kiwis and more. There seemed to be nothing he didn’t know about the NZ natural environment.”

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