Off the Beaten Path: Top 6 New Zealand Animal Encounters
Ever since The Lord of the Rings unveiled New Zealand’s wondrous splendor to the world, it’s been a mainstay bucket list location. When we finally got the chance to go, it didn’t disappoint. These two large islands have it all; lively city mecca’s, pervasive native Maori culture, remarkable natural landscapes, and some of the most unique animal encounter opportunities you will ever find. In this post, I’m curating the captivating creatures we enjoyed the company of while trekking New Zealand and sharing the “secrets” so you can enjoy these encounters too.
Steve the Sheep
On a little farmstead outside of Auckland lives Steve the Sheep. We stayed here our very first night in New Zealand. When I booked this stay on Airbnb, my husband was not enamored. He was wondering what the heck I was getting us into in a far off land. I told him nothing would be better on our first night in New Zealand, the world capitol of sheep, than to stay on a sheep farm and be greeted by Steve.
Steve did not disappoint…
2. The Tui
On our first morning, I was awakened by the most beautiful bird song I had ever heard. It was the first sound to chime in over the crickets in the early morning before the sunrise. One melody gave way to many until it sounded like multiple panflutes were coaxing the sun to emerge as an absolute chorus of tweets and chirps began joining in. As we toured the North Island over the next three days, I kept hearing this lovely flute song. I couldn’t figure out which bird was making this delightful melody. In Rotorua on our tour of the geyser, our Maori guide finally illuminated the mystery—it was the Tui bird. And as it turns out, it wasn’t just his song that’s unique, his whole look was one of a kind too. I captured the magnificent Tui in a watercolor when we got back. Below the picture, I’ve included a sound bite of his song.
Tui bird found only in New Zealand. Watercolor by Shelley Noeldechen.
3. The Kiwi
Yes, he’s the most famous bird from New Zealand. And there is a good reason. These flightless, nocturnal little critters are the most wacky, funky, cracked out crazy birds. They are endangered, highly territorial and only live one per something like 30 square meters. Unless you visit a Kiwi house, they’re nearly impossible to spot. They are also quite shy. So even if you visit a Kiwi house, if there’s a crowd and noise, they will hide from viewing. The key is to find a house off the beaten track and go in the middle of a weekday so you can have the place to yourself (or nearly) and spend some time there, just hanging out.
We got lucky and found the Otorohanga Kiwi House in the middle of nowhere on the road to the Waitomo Caves. Stopping here was one of the BEST decisions we made on our trip. We were the only ones in the Kiwi house for most of the visit and we got some seriously good Kiwi viewing in. I don’t know if it’s normal behavior but the day we were there one of the Kiwis was running back and forth into the little leafy patch on the side of the enclosure, then coming back out, dancing around, and running back in. Then he’d jump up and down nipping at low hanging leaves, and run in a circle again. What amazed me was how very fast they are. And though you see pictures of their strange little bodies, long beaks and big claw feet, the utter strangeness of it all is amplified in real life. The video below is from the Kiwi house we visited. Their YouTube channel has a number of fun clips.
4. The Sperm Whale
New Zealand’s wildlife splendor centers around the birds and the ocean life. If you’re planning a trip, I highly recommend working in a whale watching cruise out of Kaikoura. The deep drop off the coast attracts multiple species of dolphin and whale including Orca and the majestic Sperm Whale. The time of year you visit will dictate what you can see whale-wise. No one will tell you you’re guaranteed a whale spotting, but the level of sophistication used to spot and track the whales is amazing. All the tour operators work together using a combination of plane and boat to deliver an unforgettable experience. We went out with Whale Watch Kaikoura on one of their large and rather luxurious catamarans (book ahead!!). While out on the water for 2.5 hours, we saw multiple pods of Bottlenosed, Hector’s dolphins and Pilot Whales (actually dolphins), multiple species of Albatross, including the enormous Great Northern, and yes, we saw a Sperm Whale. He actually hung out with us over 10 minutes, which blew the guides mind because she said the spottings are usually very quick as they surface then dive back under for another 45 minutes. I guess this fella liked us.
View of the South Island Kaikoura coast from the boat by Shelley Noeldechen
5. Yellow-Eyed Penguin
It may be surprising to know how common it is to find penguins on the subtropical South Island shores. New Zealand has a number of penguin species, but the yellow-eyed are the most common and easy to spot if you know where to look. Waddles of penguins can be seen from the coastal train as it makes it’s way from Picton to Christchurch. Seals, cormorants, albatross and many other birds are easily spotted along the coastline as well.
Photo credit BBC
6. Cheeky Kea
Kea are the largest alpine parrot species in the world and… you guessed it… they only exist in New Zealand. Though a small group of them do live in the Wellington’s Mount Victoria Park, they’re best known for their cheeky antics at the Otira viaduct lookout where they have a long history of stealing food, candy wrappers, and even shoelaces and buttons from tourists who stop to take in the view. These cuties can get a bit aggressive when food is involved though, so the local authorities encourage you to not encourage them.
Photo credit First Light Travel
Want to travel to New Zealand and meet the critters highlighted in this post?
My 12-day trip guide can take you there:
Immerse in the wildlife, natural beauty and native culture of the islands at the end of the world. This trip is all about enjoying the forests, mountains, fields, people and unique critters that call New Zealand home.
SUGGESTED LENGTH: 12+ days
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS: Maori Traditions, Birds of Every Feather, Whale Watching, Geysers, The Southern Alps
This trip book comes as a beautifully designed, flexible itinerary in downloadable PDF format that includes:
The perfect mix of cities, sites and experiences to immerse you in the culture you’re visiting
Suggested lengths of stay to guide your planning
A range of carefully curated restaurant and hotel recommendations for all tastes and budgets
Thoughtfully planned routes and travel times to maximize every moment
