Zealandia - Twilight Guided Eco Wildlife Tour

Discover Zealandia at twilight. Join a 2.5-hour guided tour to witness native birds’ dusk chorus and the sanctuary’s evening transformation.

Duration: 2 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • ZEALANDIA Ecosanctuary - These exclusive tours start 2 hours before sunset, when the last of the daytime visitors have gone. You will begin your tour with the highlights of Zealandia’s interactive exhibition where you will uncover the unique natural history of New Zealand and hear about the 500-year vision of the sanctuary. Your guide will then…
What's Included
  • Tea and coffee
  • Guided walking tour of Zealandia: The Exhibition and Sanctuary Valley
  • Entry to Zealandia as a general admission visitor on the day of or day after your tour
What's Not Included
  • Food and drinks
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
Additional Information

Discover Zealandia as it transitions from day to night in this unique 2.5-hour guided tour. Enjoy the enchanting dusk chorus performed by a variety of native New Zealand birds. Observe birds as they return to the sanctuary to nest, and be captivated by the evening sky while listening to the evolving sounds of birds from day to night. This fully-fenced,…

Location
53 Waiapu Road
Waiapu Road
Departure Point: Zealandia Visitors Centre Address: End of Waiapu Road, Karori, Wellington Directions: To get to ZEALANDIA at night we recommend you book a taxi or uber. You can call Wellington Combined Taxis Dates: See Availability
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.8
(72 Ratings)
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Ekadkins859yahoocom
Mar 15, 2026
You won't be disappointed! - Different times of day will significantly impact birds seen/heard. Twilight hours tour yielded great variety. Guide was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic to share her knowledge. Wish we'd had more time in our schedule to go through Zealandia and read more of the info on the signs.
Review provided by Viator
Jennifer_l
Mar 10, 2026
Put this on your list to see. - This was a unique experience to learn about the history of moslty the fauna but also some flora on the island. Their efforts to preserve native species is to be supported. Our guide was very enthusiastic and had a well of knowledge on the topic. Walking through the sanctuary at night was gorgeous. It had rained earlier so the smell was also a bonus as I love the smell of wet plants. We were able to find most of the birds but did not see any kiwi. The group that started after us did. They are nocturnal so pick the later group for a better chance of a sighting.
Review provided by Viator
Aysha_r
Mar 9, 2026
Very informative. The... - Very informative. The guide with broad knowledge of birds and plants. Gets a bit dark at the end after sundown
Review provided by Viator
Hgtravl
Mar 1, 2026
Nature - There are places in the world you get lucky to visit & will always hold dear in your heart- and Zealandia was it for me!! A absolute MUST visit while in Wellington hands down. ABSOLUTE must. You will never forget it. A place where nature & humans live together in peace. This eco sanctuary is so cherished & special to NZ. It is a fully enclosed eco system letting New Zealand nature heal & flourish. Your ticket entry grants you two day visit. We went the first day which much anticipation & loved it so much we came for the second day AND bought the Twilight night tour after our second day pass ended. Upon entering the sanctuary, you are whisked away from the hustle of Wellington & enter beautiful forest. Lots of trails of varying levels or you can stay on the paved walkway. Stunning nature, endless bird calls, & you get to see so many native New Zealand birds. We loved the parrot feeders area because it was so peaceful to just watch the parrots feed in front of you in the wild. We enjoyed multiple trails & each section had endless beauty to witness. The sanctuary was peaceful & felt untouched by humanity. We loved it so much we snagged a last minute opening for their night tour. Our tour guide was so knowledgeable & passionate for the Zealandia by Twilight tour. We learned all about Zealandia’s mission to restore Wellington’s native wildlife & bring native species back to the region. The tour started at dusk as the birds flew around & sung before the night began. We ventured around learning so much from the guide as the night got darker. A highlight was enjoying a cup of delicious kawakawa tea in the dark of the Forrest. It was out of this world experience! Zealandia is so unique & worth visiting. From the passion of everyone working there, to the stunning untouched nature. Beautiful trails. Endless birds to see. Endless peaceful nature & love for the Earth here: You really don’t feel like you are in such a large city in this enclosed sanctuary. Nature & protecting native wildlife is so important to New Zealand’s culture- and you can witness it in person at Zealandia. 🦜🌿
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jamie_b
Feb 19, 2026
The eco tour was amazing.... - The eco tour was amazing. very quite and peaceful, very little noise and light pollution. The tour guide was very knowledgeable about local wildlife and flora. We got to see a few kiwi birds, what an experience
Review provided by Viator
Elvaellen_k
Feb 10, 2026
Wonderful early evening at Zealandia - A magical evening in Zealandia! Just walking through this beautiful refuge at twilight was incredibly memorable! On top of that, we saw several rare birds and other species in their habitat! Incredible! Highly recommend!
Review provided by Viator
Ruedi
Feb 7, 2026
Don't miss it - The Twilight Tour in Zealandia is one of the best guided tours we have had the pleasure of experiencing on our travels. In groups of max. Twelve people are guided by competent guides to this unique sanctuary for native animals. Much is well explained, questions answered in detail and you can feel the personal commitment of the guides.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Joy2026
Feb 2, 2026
Into the Wild After Dark - The Zealandia Twilight Tour was a refreshing and truly unique experience. As a city dweller, it felt rare and special to step into the wild and get up close to creatures at night. The guides were not only knowledgeable but also engaging, offering intriguing explanations about the animals’ behavior and pointing out what to watch for in the dark. Their insights added so much depth to the adventure, making it both educational and exciting. What I loved most was the sense of unpredictability—there’s no guarantee of what you’ll see, and that makes every moment feel like a real adventure. The thrill of discovery, combined with the peaceful atmosphere of the sanctuary at night, is something I will remember fondly for a long time.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Montserrat_s
Jan 30, 2026
Unique experience - If you like birds and want to know more about them and their origins and some trees originating in New Zealand, this is a nice excursion. All the staff are very friendly and passionate about birds. On the walk we saw quite a few birds (Tui, Karuhiruhi, Kereru, Papango, Kaka...) and some difficult to see (like Hihi and Kakariki) and tried to see Kiwis but it was still early to see them. We also saw Tuataras and insects (Putangatangas jumpers, spiders, worms...). Very entertaining! I went at the end of December and as the sun fell you could see the cold. Tip: wear binoculars because the birds when they are loose are quite far away and if not they can not be observed well
Review provided by Viator
Jennifer_s
Jan 22, 2026
We saw so many birds and Kiwis!!! - Every trip to Wellington should include a trip to Zelandia. It’s an amazing experience in our guides Matt and Chris were fabulous and so knowledgeable. It was so exciting to see the Kiwi up close. We also saw tons of other birds and frogs in the wild. And the walk through the bush was amazing.!!
Review provided by Viator