New Zealand is a bird watcher’s – a twitcher’s – paradise.

Thanks to the geographical isolation of the country, New Zealand has an incredibly diverse and exciting bird population. 

One of the reasons the birdlife here is so special is because of the number of flightless birds gracing our forests and shores. This peculiarity is due largely to the fact that historically, there were no mammals present to prey on flightless 
birds or their eggs. Stoats, possums, and rats were later introduced, but ongoing efforts in conservation help ensure many of New Zealand’s native and endemic species survive in the wild. 
Habitat Tours offers guided visits to a number of areas around Auckland, each one more spectacular than the last, and each one doubling as a bird watching tour with all the rare and beautiful bird species in every spot. 

Tawharanui Regional Park bird watching tours

Tawharanui is an open sanctuary just over an hour north of Auckland city. It is one of New Zealand’s best examples of conservation efforts as it has almost completely been eradicated of predators. In 2004, a 2.5 kilometre predator-proof fence was built across the peninsular, leaving the area inside a safe haven for many threatened and endangered bird species. 

Just some of the wildlife you might see on a tour of the regional park include the; 

  • North Island brown kiwi, 
  • North Island robin, 
  • Takahe 
  • Pateke (brown teal, which is the fourth rarest waterfowl in the world), 
  • Kakariki (red crowned parakeet), 
  • Tieke (saddleback), 
  • Bellbird, 
  • Oi (grey faced petrel), 
  • Kaka. 
In total, there are approximately 90 different bird species to be seen and heard around Tawharanui. 

Habitat Tours runs two excursions to the Tawharanui Regional Park:
  • A full-day tour that includes a picnic lunch, a guided coastal forest walk, stops at Matakana and visit to see the ancient kauri trees.
  • A day-night tour on which we share a picnic dinner, guided day and night coastal forest walk with the opportunities to see Morepork (New Zealand owl), weta and kiwi.  Please be aware that the North Island brown kiwi is not held in captivity; we therefore cannot guarantee their sightings or behaviour on any given night.

Waitakere Ranges Bird Watching Tours

The Waitakere Ranges are just a 40 minute drive from Auckland central, but feel as though they are deep in New Zealand’s wilderness. 

This regional parkland is home to more than 16,000 hectares of native forest and coastline, and has more than 250 kilometres of walking tracks, complete with beaches, waterfalls, cliffs, and unforgettable views.

Bird watching tours from Auckland to the ‘Waitaks’ are a great way to potentially see some of the fantastic varieties that live in this area. These include the kingfisher, Tomtit, shining cuckoo, tui, kereru, and pied stilt. 

Habitat Tours offers two excursions to the Waitakere Ranges:
  • A half-day tour that visits Cascade Kauri Park, Bethells Beach and Lake Wainamu.
  • A full-day tour that includes stops at Cascade Kauri Park, Bethells Beach, Lake Wainamu and Muriwai, as well as a very special visit to one of only three mainland New Zealand ganet colonies. 

Customised Bird Watching Tours in Auckland

For a truly personalised experience, we can also organise a custom tour to ensure you get exactly what you are looking for from your birding experience in New Zealand. 

All birding tours are operated by keen naturalists Tristan or Harry who know the ins and outs of New Zealand natural history, preferred habitats of native birds and everything in between.