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The 1 Largest Wildlife Sanctuary in Wellington, New Zealand

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Syarif Muhamad

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Amidst the mesmerizing natural beauty of Wellington, New Zealand, there lies a haven for wildlife, a sanctuary dedicated to preserving the country’s unique flora and fauna. This extraordinary Wildlife Sanctuary is a haven of tranquility and biodiversity, where visitors can immerse themselves in the wonders of New Zealand’s rich ecosystem and encounter the beauty of its iconic species.

Step into this sanctuary and embark on an unforgettable journey through diverse habitats, from lush forests and sparkling streams to rugged coastlines and towering mountains. Discover a symphony of life unfolding before your eyes as you witness native birds soaring through the skies, playful marine mammals frolicking in the waves, and endangered species thriving under the watchful care of dedicated conservationists.

Top Wildlife Sanctuary in Wellington, New Zealand

Zealandia, formerly known as the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary, is a protected natural area in Wellington, New Zealand, the first urban completely fenced ecosanctuary, where the biodiversity of 225 ha (just under a square mile) of forest is being restored. The sanctuary was previously part of the water catchment area for Wellington, between Wrights Hill (bordering Karori) and the Brooklyn wind turbine on Polhill. Most of New Zealand's ecosystems have been severely modified by the introduction of land mammals that were not present during the evolution of its ecosystems, and have had a devastating impact on both native flora and fauna. The sanctuary, surrounded by a pest-exclusion fence, is a good example of an ecological island, which allows the original natural ecosystems to recover by minimising the impact of introduced flora and fauna. The sanctuary has become a significant tourist attraction in Wellington and is responsible for the greatly increased number of sightings of species such as tūī and kākā in city's suburbs. Sometimes described as the world's first mainland island sanctuary in an urban environment, the sanctuary has inspired many similar projects throughout New Zealand, with predator-proof fences now protecting the biodiversity of many other areas of forest. Examples include the 7.7-hectare (19-acre) lowland podocarp forest remnant of Riccarton bush/Putaringamotu, the 98-hectare (240-acre) Bushy Park, and the 3,500-hectare (8,600-acre) Maungatautari Restoration Project enclosing an entire mountain.

Top Wildlife Sanctuary in Wellington, New Zealand

Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne

  • Address: 53 Waiapu Road, Karori, Wellington 6012, New Zealand
  • Map: Click here
  • Rating: 4.7 (4867)
  • Phone: +64 4 920 9213
  • Website:
  • Opening hours:
    Monday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
    Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
    Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
    Thursday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
    Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
    Saturday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
    Sunday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

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Embark on a thrilling journey through the diverse array of Wildlife Sanctuary in cities like Auckland, Wodonga and Gladstone across the Oceania continents, revealing hidden gems waiting to be discovered. Whether you’re a local business or a multinational company, these cities proudly display a rich tapestry of profesional services designed to cater to a wide array of preferences.

The Best Wildlife Sanctuary near Wellington, New Zealand

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Comments

5 responses to “The 1 Largest Wildlife Sanctuary in Wellington, New Zealand”

  1. Hürrem Aktaş Avatar
    Hürrem Aktaş

    Visited here as a shore excursion on 19.11.2023 when i was doing a 10 night cruise to New Zealand. All I can say is that i wish i had travelled by plane and that i was staying at a hotel nearby so that i could spend from open of business til close of business of Zealandia Te Mara a Tane! The place was amazing, lush, clean and beautiful with so much bird life (wild bird life that could come and go as they pleased!) I really loved this place and i ended up spending a fair bit in the souvenir shop at the end. It was very educational and we had a private tour guide, who was very knowledgeable and very welcoming. I would highly recommend this place to visit and i can’t wait to go back here again!

    Reply
  2. MB Avatar
    MB

    This is bird heaven. I was so happy here. It’s a literal oasis in the middle of the city that surrounds you with so much nature you forget where you are.

    I could have spent the entire day here and wish I was local to become a member. It’s truly magical. I mean what’s better than being surrounded by bird song and beautiful foliage?

    I will say I don’t know how little kid friendly this place is, and by little kid I mean under 3 or 4. Apart from walking around and looking at everything, there isn’t much for the little ones. School aged kids, especially if they’re into birds and nature, will love it, but might be a bit boring for the wee ones after the initial bird spotting.

    The walking trails are all very well maintained, played out by difficulty which was very helpful, and we had no problems spotting all kinds of wildlife.

    Reply
  3. Casey White Avatar
    Casey White

    We did the day tour at Zealandia and had the best time! We saw some amazing birds and our guide was fantastic. I would highly recommend booking the day tour and the night tour. We only booked the day tour and wished we did the night tour as well. The night tour books out in advance. So plan ahead so you don’t miss out!! I was told there are about 150 kiwi at Zealandia. It would have been amazing to see/hear them at the night tour.

    Reply
  4. Andrew Avatar
    Andrew

    A real highlight of our trip to New Zealand and so cool to see wildlife in a predator free environment on the mainland that doesn’t involve them being in cages. We went on the guided tour and the guide was excellent. If you’re doing a night tour to see the Kiwi I would definitely recommend doing a day tour too.

    Reply
  5. Rakshan Rao Avatar
    Rakshan Rao

    If you love nature and birds, then you’re in for a treat. Zealandia is the place to go for a day trip.
    The main path is an easy(flat) walking path(wheelchair accessible) that leads to a larger open area for sitting by the benches and hearing birds call out to each other, if an easy day is on the list.
    If you are more into hiking, then there are steeper paths that take you to more scenic spots throughout the sanctuary up and over the hills, across the suspension bridge and the dam.
    I haven’t heard as many varying bird calls as I have whilst visiting Zealandia. It almost felt like how nature feels in fantasy films. Even if you aren’t a big outdoorsy person, this hidden gem is worth the visit.
    The cafe is just above admissions. Private function times vary.

    Reply

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