Zealandia Ecosanctuary

Zealandia occupies a steep valley in the hills behind central Wellington, a former water catchment now enclosed by a fence built to keep out rats, stoats, possums and cats. Inside, the regrowing forest holds birds that have largely vanished from the mainland: kaka that mob the feeders, saddleback and hihi in the canopy, takahe on the lower ground, and tuatara basking on rocks beside the path. Tracks follow two reservoirs and climb the valley sides, past dams and old valve towers left from the water supply days. Numbers have grown enough that species from inside the fence have spread across the city, which is why Wellington's suburbs carry more birdsong than most New Zealand towns.

What you actually see

• Kaka at close range - the large forest parrots around the feeding stations.
• Takahe - the heavy flightless rail on the open ground near the lower lake.
• Tuatara - the reptiles basking on rocks along the valley paths.
• The predator fence - the barrier that makes all of it possible, visible at the entrance.

When to go

Open all year; birds are most active in the first and last hours of daylight, and spring brings nesting and the noisiest behaviour. Evening guided walks, run after dark with torches, are the way to look for kiwi and are why many people come, but group sizes are limited and booking is needed. Allow three hours for the daytime tracks.

Honest expectations

This is a managed sanctuary rather than wilderness, and the fence and graded paths make that plain. Entry is charged and the night tour costs considerably more. The valley is steep, so the longer loops involve real climbing. The animals are wild and nothing is guaranteed; kiwi are heard far more often than seen. Wellington rain can turn a visit into a slog.

Nearby

The city centre is fifteen minutes away, with the botanic garden and cable car on the same ridge.