---

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrival and Otago Peninsula
Plan to arrive in Dunedin about noon. After checking into our hotel, we start our tour by traveling to the Otago Peninsula east of town, and drive to Taiaroa Head about 35 km away. We visit the Royal Albatross Centre and view the colony of N Royal Albatrosses that are nesting at this time of year; this is the only mainland colony of Royal Albatrosses anywhere. We have supper here, and then visit Penguin Place to view Yellow-eyed Penguins and Little Blue Penguins at their nesting sites. Yellow-eyed Penguin is the world’s rarest penguin. Other notable birds in this area include Royal Spoonbill, Stewart Island Shag, Little Cormorant, Paradise Shelduck and Pukeko. Night in Dunedin.

Day 2 - Travel to Stewart Island and Kiwi excursion
We travel south from Dunedin to Invercargill on the south shore of South Island. On the way we stop at a few localities; Sinclair Wetlands for New Zealand Fernbird, Gray Gerygone and waterbirds, Kaka and Nugget Point where we could find Spotted Shag and White-capped Albatross, perhaps Roaring Bay or Cannibal Bay. Stands of native forest occur along the picturesque coastline of the Catlins, along with endemic plant species found on coastal cliffs.

Arriving in Invercargill, we take the 20 minute flight to Oban on Stewart Island for a two-night stay. After settling into our accommodation, we become acquainted with the flora and fauna of the Oban area, perhaps New Zealand Pigeon, Kaka (a parrot) and Bellbird. Stewart Island flora is unique, with a fine array of daisy shrubs, orchids, rimu, miro and totara.

In the evening, we take a 45 minute boat trip to a remote beach to look for Stewart Island Brown Kiwi – a memorable and exciting adventure. Night in Oban/Half-moon Bay.

Day 3 - Island of Ulva
We take a water taxi to the small offshore island of Ulva, a predator-free island with numerous endemic birds – Weka, Red-crowned Parakeet, Grey Fantail, Brown Creeper, Tui, South Island Saddleback, the Stewart Island race of New Zealand Robin, perhaps even the highly endangered Yellowhead. If we were rained out the previous night, we will reschedule the kiwi exploration for tonight. Night in Oban/Halfmoon Bay.

Day 4 – Stewart Island Pelagic and to Fjordlands National Park
In the morning we have a pelagic cruise along the coastal waters of Stewart Island, looking especially for Fjordland Crested, Yellow-eyed and Little Blue Penguins. Broad-billed Prion and Mottled Petrel are possible. We then fly back to Invercargill and drive to Te Anau, the gateway to Fjordlands National Park. This is a spectacular park – unrivalled mountain scapes, enormous glaciers, wild rivers, lowland podocarp forests, alpine flora of daisies and buttercups, and superb subantarctic rich beech forests. We spend one night at the charming lakeside resort of Te Anau.

Day 5 - Fjordlands National Park and Milford Sound
We travel the famous Milford Road through superb areas of herbfields and boulderfields through the Upper Hollyfield Valley, stopping at Monkey River to look for Blue Duck and in high altitude rocky basins for Kea and Rock Wren. We pass through the Homer Tunnel and descend to glacier-ringed Milford Sound. In the late afternoon, we board a comfortable vessel where we take an afternoon cruise out to the Tasman Sea, passing mile-high rock walls, spectacular waterfalls, as well as rocks in the ocean which belong to different tectonic plate. We have another opportunity for Fjordland Crested Penguin, which we hope to find at the mouth of the sound. New Zealand Falcons occur here and we watch for this elusive raptor. We spend the night aboard our vessel in sheltered waters.

Day 6 - Travel through the mountains to Queenstown
We reluctantly leave this amazing park, and head inland, passing scenic lakes, mountains and attractive towns, arriving at Queenstown on Lake Wakatipi. We drive through fantastic scenery to Glenorchy and Mount Aspiring National Park where we walk among giant beech trees. With luck we could find Long-tailed Cuckoo, Yellow-crowned Parakeet and Yellowhead. Overnight in the Queenstown area.

Day 7 - Around Twizel
We spend the day in the Twizel area, a land of rivers, lakes and marshes, and inland deltas. We look for the world’s rarest shorebird, the Black Stilt, here as well as Wrybill and Double-banded Dotterel. If we have a clear day, then we should enjoy views of towering Mount Cook. Overnight in the Queenstown area.

Day 8 - Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers and the west coast
Today we travel through the beautiful forests of Haast Pass and out along the coast of the Tasman Sea, where we have another chance for Fjordland Crested Penguin. We stop for walks at the swamp forest at Ship Creek and at the Fox Glacier and its awesome scenery, perhaps under epiphytic rata and Kamahi trees covered with ferns and mosses. We then drive to our overnight accommodation at Franz Josef Glacier. We will schedule an optional evening outing to Okarito to try to find the rarest of the kiwis, the Okarito Brown Kiwi.

Day 9 - Punakaika and Paparoa National Park
We travel further along the west coast and its marvelous seascapes, to the town of Punakaika, arriving in early afternoon and in time for a little relaxation. This area is renowned for geologic oddities known as Pancake Rocks and blowholes, in Paparoa National Park. In the lowland forests we could find native flora such as horopito and lancewood.

In the evening we will watch for Westland Black Petrels flying inland from the ocean to their breeding grounds in the Paparoa Range. Great Spotted Kiwis occur in this area, and if we hear of recent sightings we will take an evening excursion to search for this elusive species. There is a glow-worm grotto close to our motel. Night at Punakaika.

Day 10 - Across the Alps to Kaikoura
Today we travel across the Southern Alps, passing through famed Arthur’s Pass where, time permitting, we stop and explore the headwaters of the Otira Valley and the alpine flora in bloom in this, the New Zealand spring. We then continue on to the charming coastal town of Kaikoura. Night in Kaikoura.

Day 11 - Pelagic birding
Today we have a pelagic trip into one of the richest areas on the planet. We could encounter several species of albatrosses, several petrels including Great-winged, Cape and Grey-faced Petrels, Hutton’s Shearwater, Fairy Prion, and Sperm Whales and Hector’s and Dusky Dolphins. We then drive north to Picton, stopping at Lake Elterwater and other localities. Overnight in Picton.

Day 12 - Marlborough Sounds and on to the North Island
We take a morning cruise through the magnificent Marlborough Sounds, looking for Fluttering and Sooty Shearwaters, White-fronted Terns and especially New Zealand King Shag, a highly endangered species. Hector’s Dolphins occur here also. We stop at Motuara Island and bird the ancient woodlands there for South Island Saddleback, New Zealand Robin and Bellbirds. We then catch the Interisland Ferry from Picton to Wellington on North Island during which we are likely to see another fine array of seabirds and perhaps whales and dolphins. Overnight in Palmerston North area.

Day 13 - Tongariro and Lake Taupo
We travel north to Tongariro National Park, with its spectacular series of snow-capped Mountains. We stop at rivers to look for Blue Duck, and also check for subalpine shrubs and alpine herbs. Overnight Lake Taupo area.

Day 14 - Podocarp forests of Pureora
Today we visit the “dinosaur” podocarp forests of Mapara and Pureora. The list of trees here is impressive - Rimu, Totara, Matai, Kahikatea- plus tree ferns and more. We will be on the lookout for the amazing Kokako, as well as Whitehead and Long-tailed Cuckoo. Fernbirds occur at a marshy area at the south end of Lake Taupo. Overnight in Lake Taupo area.

Day 15 - Lake Taupo, Miranda and Auckland
In the morning we visit the boiling mud pools and volcanic activities at Lake Rotorua then we head north to the coastal mudflats of Miranda, arriving for the afternoon high tide. In the saltmarsh and on the tidal flats, we scan the shorebirds for Bar-tailed Godwit, Red Knot, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Red-necked Stint, Wrybill, New Zealand Dotterel, Banded Rail, Pied Oystercatcher, White-fronted Tern among others. We then head to Auckland.

Day 16 - Tiri Tiri Matanga Island
Today we take the boat ride to Tiri Tiri Matanga Island, where many endemics still occur such as Tui, Bellbird, Stitchbird, Kokako, North Island Saddleback, Red-crowned Parakeet, Whitehead, and the highly endangered Takahe. Night near Auckland.

Day 17 – Hauraki Gulf pelagic and Kauri forests around Auckland
Today, weather permitting, we have a tour of Hauraki Gulf by boat, for another superb encounter with pelagic species, including the recently re-discovered New Zealand Storm-Petrel. We also become acquainted with the Kauri forests and their unique understory of native plants such as the orange-green Kauri grass, and maybe the red blooming Metrosideros trees. Night near Auckland.

Day 18 - Departure
Our tour concludes after a final breakfast on this amazing adventure. Our flights do not usually depart until the late afternoon, therefore we will schedule an activity for the morning and early afternoon, perhaps Mangere Lagoons or Ayrlies Garden.

---

What to Expect

Our daily travel schedule will vary to account for weather, tides, the previous night’s expeditions, bird species and travel times. You can expect some early morning, pre- breakfast walks, as well as an evening foray to look for kiwis and possibly owls: evening ventures are optional. We have a number of long drives as we travel almost the length of the country, from Stewart Island off the south coast to Auckland on North Island. The tour will generally involve easy to moderate walking. Our itinerary includes two open ocean pelagic trip as well as inshore cruises and a three-hour ferry ride between North and South Islands. When at higher elevations, we keep our walking to a slow pace, doing most of our observation from the vehicle. In general, we keep all our nature study to a reasonable pace, maximizing the number of things we see and allowing enough time to properly enjoy them.

Around noon, we stop for a box lunch at a scenic spot or stop for a sit down meal at a local restaurant. The weather will vary from warm to hot on North Island, to warm to cool on South Island; rain is likely, especially on the west and south coasts of South Island. The pelagic trips are likely to be cool, as is the night-time foray to look for Kiwis. It is best to dress in layers. In the evening we relax at the hotel restaurant, or a local place selected for its good food and fine local charm. At this time we discuss the day’s activities and review the list of birds and wildlife we have encountered. We will outline the events for the next day, preparing you for another round of excitement and discovery.