Birding locations around Wellington
These tables identify good locations for birding around the greater Wellington region.
Wellington region
| Location | Directions | Birds |
| Karori Wildlife Sanctuary | A few minutes from the centre of Wellington, but a great spot for native NZ bush birds and some wetland species. Entry fee is charged. Also do night tours to hear (and possibly see) Little Spotted Kiwi | Brown Teal, Stitchbird, Saddleback, Whitehead, Kaka, Robin, Little Spotted Kiwi, Shining Cuckoo, Tuatara |
| Otari / Wilton bush | Carpark off Wilton Bush Road (or Wilton Road near Warwick Street). Many nice bush walks, picnic area, 800 year old Rimu tree. Tracks join up with the Skyline walkway on the hills behind Wilton, but are steep! | NZ Pigeon (often perch on telephone wires above the road) |
| Karori Cemetery | Access via Seaforth Terrace, or walk in from Otari/Wilton bush. | Eastern Rosella |
| Green Point | This is reached by driving through Elsdon near Titahi Bay. There is a sealed road leading down to the water treatment works off Pikarere Street (do not attempt to use the private inland road as this goes through private property). A walking track heads off onto the beach near the sewerage station, and Green Point is about 30 minutes walk south along the beach - quite a wild and desolate spot. | Variable Oystercatcher, Shags, Reef Heron, Spotted Shag occasionally, Shore Plover at times (Shore Plover breeding program underway on nearby Mana Island) |
| Pauatahanui inlet | There are good walkways and viewing hides in the wildlife reserve, but I've never seen much there. Best spot is around Motukaraka Point. It is also worth checking Titahi Bay side from Paremata Station (park in station carpark). | Pied Stilt, ducks, Pukeko, Black Swans, Spoonbills (winter) |
| Battle Hill Farm | Some nice walks, picnic area, developing wetland. | Pukeko, Sulphur Crested Cockatoo (Dell area) |
| Pencarrow Head | Best accesed by cycling from Eastbourne. It is also worth going up the Lake Kohangatera track to Shag Rock, though it can get wet underfoot after rain. | Banded Dotterel (around Lake Kohangapiripiri), Shags, California Quail, Dabchick (both lakes), Shoveler |
| Somes Island | Ferries run from Queens Wharf to Somes Island at weekends. The walk around the island should take no more than an hour. | Red Crowned Parakeet (~ 250 birds), Spotted Shag, Robin, Tuatara. NZ Falcon has occasionally been seen there recently. |
| Taputeranga Island | About 200 metres off the south coast from Island Bay esplanade. | Reef Heron (a few only - Reef Heron may also be seen near the Interislander ferry terminal near the outlet of Kaiwharawhara stream) |
| Belmont Regional Park | In summer there is a good spot for Shining Cuckoo, approx. 50 metres from the car park right at the end of Stratton Street past the Rangers house near the start of the stream walkway. | Shining Cuckoo, Redpoll, California Quail |
| Grenada North | Along the (steep) walkway from the end of Caribbean Drive to Horokiwi Road, is a good spot for Redpoll. The start of the track is a wide 4WD road, but about half way turns in to a steep climb through overgrown gorse bushes up to Horokiwi Road. | Redpoll, Eastern Rosella |
| Cook Strait | Good viewing of ocean seabirds on a ferry crossing, or sometimes visible from the south coast (eg Island Bay or Red Rocks area) with binoculars or a telescope. | Petrels, Shearwaters, Albatross/Mollymawk. I have seen White Capped, Black Browed and Bullers Mollymawk during crossings, plus Cape Pigeon and Westland Black Petrel. |
| Catchpool | Follow the Coast Road south of Wainuiomata, and look for the signpost to the recreation area on the left. | North Island Brown Kiwi (northern end Sunny Grove entrance), and a small population of Sulpher Crested Cockatoo. |
Wairarapa
| Location | Directions | Birds |
| Mt Bruce | North of Masterton. Large cages, Kiwi house, displays and a bush walk to a lookout on the nearby hill. | Takahe, Rifleman, Tit, Robin, Kokako, Stitchbird, Yellow Crowned Parakeet, Kaka, NZ Pigeon |
| Kiriwhakapapa | There is a camping ground at the end of Kiriwhakapapa Road about 10 km south of Mt Bruce, and access to the Tararua National Park. There is a relatively flat walking track from here to Mikimiki Road (about 2 hours each way), but there are plenty of native birds on the track a few minutes from the carpark at the end of Kiriwhakapapa Road. | Tomtit, Rifleman, NZ Pigeon, Kaka, Red Crowned Parakeet. |
| Lake Wairarapa | Lots of water birds, better on northern and eastern sides. Black Fronted Dotterel can be found on lakeside domain on northern side near Featherston. Access to eastern side of lake from Parera Road. There is also a stopbank walk between Matthews lagoon and Boggy Pond 2 km down Parera Road off Kahutara Road - just avoid being there in duck shooting season. | Black Swan, ducks, Black Fronted Dotterel, Banded Dotterel, Sharp-Tailed Sandpiper and Bar-Tailed Godwit in summer and Royal Spoonbill on the eastern shore |
Kapiti Coast
| Location | Directions | Birds |
| Waikanae Estuary | I've found more birds on the Waikanae side of the river mouth, but it is worth checking out both sides (south side access from Otaihanga), plus the Waimanu and Waimeha lagoons. | Dabchick, Shags, Brown Teal, Scaup, Shoveler, Spoonbill, Caspian and White Fronted Tern, Shore Plover in winter, Banded Dotterel |
| Nga Manu Sanctuary | Wetland ponds and bush areas. Entry fee charged. | Scaup, Pukeko, Bellbird |
| Mana Island | A regenerating island free of pests, but difficult to get to the island (no regular boat service). | Takahe, Shore Plover |
| Kapiti Island | Island free of pests, this island is a haven for birds. A DOC permit is required. Once you have a permit there is a good ferry service. | NZ Pigeon, Saddleback, Weka, Stitchbird, Whitehead, Takahe, Bellbird, Tui |
| Otaki oxidation ponds | ("Pond" on the map) - view through the wire fence from the road. It is next to the rubbish dump so isn't that pleasant to watch birds, though the birds don't mind. | Dabchick (20+ in winter), Shoveler, Grey Teal, a few Black Fronted Dotterel all year round and other water birds |
Wanganui Region
| Location | Directions | Birds |
| Lake Papaitonga | Near Levin. Good walkway, but it isn't possible to closely approach the lake, only distant viewing. Nice walk but if you are in a hurry to see birds give this spot a miss. | Apparently Fernbird, Bittern and Spotless Crake in the marshes (I haven't seen any) |
| Manawatu Estuary | One of the best places in NZ for wading birds and other seabirds. Swan Geese and Muscovy Duck (semi-domesticated) on a pond at the back of the town at the start of Palmer Road. | Godwit, Knot, Turnstone, Wrybill, Terns, waterfowl in winter (Shoveler, Teal). Cattle Egret in winter on Wylie Road. |
| Pukepuke Lagoon | A DOC permit is required from Palmerston North DOC office (no charge). Lagoon is fairly small, but good birdlife. Also used for duck hunting so avoid visiting during duck hunting season. | Pukeko, waterfowl, Bittern |
| Owlcatraz | Native bird and wildlife park at Shannon. There is an entry fee. | Morepork, Little Owl, Weka, Dabchick |
| Turakina Beach | About 20 km from Wanganui. Recent storms have changed the layout of the estuary so you may get your feet wet if you wish to walk up the river. | Banded Dotterel, Black Fronted Dotterel |
| Turakina Valley | Supposed to be a good spot for flocks of Sulphur Crested Cockatoo (I haven't seen any myself). Wild Turkey and Peafowl can be spotted from the roads in Turakina and Whangaehu valleys. Sutherland's Bush and McPherson's Bush reserve areas are signposted down Turakina Valley Road. Sutherland's Bush is 33 km from the turn-off on SH3 near Turakina. A good walking track through native bush, a little rough in places, about 1 hour round trip, abounding with common native birds. | Sulphur Crested Cockatoo, Wild Turkey, Peafowl |
| Bushy Park | Native bird sanctuary with rare native species. There is an entry fee. Good walking tracks round the bush. | Saddleback, Robin, NZ Pigeon |
| Virginia Lake Reserve | Good spot for ducks and water birds in the middle of Wanganui. | Mute Swan, Coot, Black Swan and other ducks |
| Lake Westmere | A few kilometres north up SH 3 from Virginia Lake. There is a nice flat walk around the lake (about 1 hour) with reasonable visibility in places to the lake. | Paradise Duck, shags |
| Whanganui River region | Can drive up the eastern side of the river from Wanganui. Scenic drive with some historical sites. | Peafowl at southern end, Nankeen Night Heron (you need specific directions to find these nocturnal birds) |
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