Zealandia wildlife sanctuary in Wellington

The world’s first fully fenced ecosanctuary, Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne is an incredible slice of wilderness. You wouldn’t expect to find 225 hectares of regenerating forest and birdlife only a few minutes’ drive from a city, but you will in Wellington.

Named by Time magazine as one of the 100 greatest places in the world, the Zealandia urban ecosanctuary is a must-visit. It has reintroduced 23 native species into the region, some of which were absent from mainland New Zealand for more than 100 years.

Across the city, the sound of native birds is now common. Zealandia’s vision to restore the valley to the way it was in pre-human times has led to a large population bump in native birdlife. Its 8.6km fence keeps out introduced mammalian predators so birds such as the tūī, kākā, and kererū, once extremely rare, are now common around central Wellington. Rarer birds like the hihi and tīeke are thriving within Zealandia’s perimeter.

An adult and two kids walk along the top of a fenced damn at Zealandia on a sunny day.

The best way to explore Zealandia is on a tour. You can soak up the scenery while knowledgeable guides track down some of the rarest wildlife. You could spot prehistoric reptiles the tuatara, giant wētā, or kererū, the chunky native pigeon whose flapping wings sound like a helicopter in flight. Alongside day and night tours Zealandia offers special dawn, twilight, photography, and child-oriented tours.

There are also night tours that leave around dusk. You can explore the sanctuary by torchlight and spot creatures that only come out at night like cave wētā, ruru, and glowworms. If you’re lucky, you may find a rare little spotted kiwi. Zealandia is home to New Zealand’s second largest population of the bird. Roughly the size of a small chicken, there are an estimated 200 little spotted kiwi living within the sanctuary.

Two kids inspect a leafy branch while exploring Zealandia.

The Karori Reservoir historic gothic-style water outlet control tower at Zealandia Karori Sanctuary, Karori, Wellington.

Four people and a Zelandia staff member stand beside one another looking up at the beautiful nature that surrounds them.

If you’d rather explore Zealandia by yourself, general admission is available during the day. Grab a visitor map and explore the 32km of intersecting tracks. You’ll encounter bridges and an old dam as well. If you're keen to spot some native birds, remember to take it slowly and keep your eyes and ears open. Zealandia staff and volunteers are usually out and about and can offer help to spy wildlife. Sometimes it takes patience or wandering further into the valley. General admission also includes access to the indoor exhibition and gallery space, and the onsite café. You can refuel before or after your visit.

What Zealandia has achieved shows that cities don’t have to be places devoid of native wildlife. The pest-proof ‘urban island’ is a special experience that will transport you a world away from the city.

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