CityBuddy
Kiwi Birdlife Park
Best time to visit
Arrive at opening time, 9am, when the animals are most active and the park is still empty. The conservation show with falcons takes place at 11am and 2pm.
Budget tips
Adults pay NZ$49 and children NZ$25. Save money by purchasing the Queenstown Pass, which combines entry with other attractions at a reduced price. Students and seniors get a discount by showing their ID.
Recommended for
Families with children, Wildlife lovers, Nature photographers, First-time visitors to New Zealand
Plan your visit
1.5 to 2 hours
About
Quick facts: More than 30 native species live in this 30-acre urban sanctuary, including the rare kiwi that visitors can see in the nocturnal enclosure. The park has treated and rehabilitated more than 1,500 native birds since its founding.
Highlights: The kiwi nocturnal enclosure uses special lighting that reverses day and night, allowing you to observe these curious birds actively foraging instead of sleeping like in common zoos. You stand centimeters from the glass while the kiwis use their long beaks to dig for insects on the simulated forest floor.
Insider tips
- Do not leave the kiwi enclosure too quickly: your eyes take 30 seconds to adjust to the dim light and see the birds moving.
- Arrive 15 minutes before the falconry show to secure a front-row spot and feel the wind from the falcon's wings passing over your head.
- The takahe lives in the open enclosure near the entrance: look for the blue and green bird with a red beak, one of the rarest in the world with fewer than 400 individuals.
- Bring mosquito repellent in the summer and a light raincoat, as Queenstown is unpredictable and half the trail is outdoors.
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