nanoboy
Well-Known Member
Sweet pics. Cheers!
We are still doing our feasibility study. The $1,400 Valentine's DSLR gift put a dent into the disposable income, so we'll see how it goes.
New Zealand Zoo Tour - advice
- Thread starter nanoboy
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Sweet pics. Cheers!
We are still doing our feasibility study. The $1,400 Valentine's DSLR gift put a dent into the disposable income, so we'll see how it goes.
There are certainly a lot flying around Wellington. They can be seen flying from Zealandia to the Botanical Gardens and they are often seen at the zoo too
for North Island kaka the easiest options are Zealandia (Karori Wildlife Sanctuary) in Wellington (as Arvicola says, they have spread from there out into the city, and I've seen them several times in the Botanic Gardens) and Mt Bruce where there is a large wild population descended from reintroduced birds (see some excellent photos by Hix in the Mt Bruce gallery: http://www.zoochat.com/gallery/pukaha-mt-bruce-wildlife-centre).
For South Island kaka, which are much more brightly coloured than the dull North Island subspecies, the best place by far is Stewart Island and Ulva Island (just a ten minute boat ride from Stewart Island's only town, Oban). They are very common all over this area. Also look in the NZ Wildlife Gallery for a photo I put in there last month, taken at the Orokonui Eco-Sanctuary outside Dunedin: http://www.zoochat.com/680/south-island-kaka-nestor-meridionalis-meridionalis-257598/.
For South Island kaka, which are much more brightly coloured than the dull North Island subspecies, the best place by far is Stewart Island and Ulva Island (just a ten minute boat ride from Stewart Island's only town, Oban). They are very common all over this area. Also look in the NZ Wildlife Gallery for a photo I put in there last month, taken at the Orokonui Eco-Sanctuary outside Dunedin: http://www.zoochat.com/680/south-island-kaka-nestor-meridionalis-meridionalis-257598/.
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you will easily see them in Wellington if you visit Zealandia (don't bet on seeing them elsewhere in the city though - you may see them or you may not, visit Zealandia to be sure). Also of course at Zealandia you will see saddleback, takahe, etc as well.
For Dunedin, note that Orokonui is only recently-established so it can take a bit more time to see the birds there than at Zealandia.
For Dunedin, note that Orokonui is only recently-established so it can take a bit more time to see the birds there than at Zealandia.
the TranzAlpine passes through Arthur's Pass (I'm not sure what map you're looking at!!). It makes a brief stop at the Village but I'm not sure for how long, probably only five or ten minutes. You may see kea with this stop but with such a short time there you may be out of luck. At Fox Glacier kea are usually reliable in the car parking area, so in that case make Fox your priority for a sighting.
nanoboy
Well-Known Member
Map? What map? The TranzAlpine website does not even have a map!!
A non-wildlife related question here: is it feasible to self-drive up the west coast from Queenstown to Greymouth? (i.e. rent in Queenstown and return in Greymouth) Are there sufficient petrol stations, restaurants, and good-quality accommodation so that we can drive ourselves over a few days?
(Kiwis, this isn't a private convo between Chlidonias and I - else we would be discussing it in private messages. So feel free to add your comments. Chlidonias, your prompt, informative comments are, of course, always appreciated, so no offence is meant.)
The drive, at least, is perfectly feasible but I don't know if you can hire a car in Queenstown and drop off in Greymouth. However I don't use hire cars so don't take that as any kind of a firm answer! If you are driving that route you can stop in, e.g., Haast, Fox, Franz Josef and Hokitika. (If you stop in Franz Josef you can then do the kiwi tour at Okarito that night; there is also limited accommodation in Okarito itself). There's nothing in Greymouth really, so better to stop overnight in Hokitika; Greymouth is only 40 minutes north of here.nanoboy said:
If going by bus Atomic Shuttles goes between Queenstown and Hokitika as a day run. Atomic and Intercity go between Hokitika and Greymouth. But of course bus travel takes more time and you can't just stop where-ever you want.
Where do you think you are going? This isn't the Australian outback - restaurants, petrol, accomodation are in all the towns and the driving isn't a problem. My family did it in 1981 and it was like driving in country Victoria, only nicer.
Hix
Where do you think you are going? This isn't the Australian outback - restaurants, petrol, accomodation are in all the towns and the driving isn't a problem. My family did it in 1981 and it was like driving in country Victoria, only nicer.
Hix
Steph, Maddi and I have just done a 2 week NZ tour following some great advice from Chlidonias as to attractions to see.
Hix is right - very much like Victoria. Weather was perfect. Roadhouses, petrol stations, cafes everywhere but many close early and, most noticeably, the standard of service was quite slack - even in the touristy areas.
We hired a camper van and I would recommend doing so. We didn't have to worry about a timetable and there are camps everywhere of a high standard. Many of the motels in rural and regional areas were full by about 5pm so the van gave us independence. Compared with the cost of car hire, motel charges and higher food costs [you can prepare your own food in the van] the camper van was a cost effective option. The roads are good and well signed and driving anywhere was a breeze.
Highlights of the trip, apart from the warm welcomes everywhere from our colleagues, were: big, bold beautiful Takahe and Weka at Willowbank, free Giraffe and Rhino feeding at Orana Park, swimming with the tiny [you won't believe how small they are until you do it] Hector's dolphins at Akaroa, the wonderful improvements at Wellington Zoo [30 years since I was last there], a relaxed, prolonged view [as opposed to a glimpse!] of a Kiwi at Wellington Zoo, Pouakai Zoo's progressive march forward, Hamilton Zoo, more Weka here - this zoo is a gem, Auckland's Te Wao Nui and Ti Point Reptile Park - a must for reptile enthusiasts.
Disappointments - not many. We missed getting to Queenstown because our plane broke down in Brisbane, resulting in an eventual trip to Auckland before going on a day later to Christchurch to start the tour. The resulting loss of time also meant that we had to prioritise our objectives so some of the indigenous fauna attractions were dropped from the itinerary. We also missed the Albatross trip because of storms on the Kaikoura Coast.
We spent two very full weeks over there and could have easily spent another one. If you are a bit concerned about 'quakes in Christchurch I should mention that, on one of our nights there, the city experienced a 4.8 shock. In the campervan we didn't even feel it!
nanoboy
Well-Known Member
Hey folks, cheers for the advice.
Hix, I thought that I would have to carry a case of sardines and coloured beads to trade with the locals. My wife has seen one too many slasher movies, and is a bit scared that our car breaks down in the middle of nowhere. (rolls eyes) I assume that the west coast main road would be quite busy during the day though....
Steve, cheers for the advice. A campervan sounds like a great idea. I have never used one before, so I must ask: how do you get rid of toilet waste? And how does one get to feed the giraffe and rhino for free?
Funny you mentioned Christchurch, because we will not be staying the night there because of earthquakes.
From the descriptions I read online, they made the west coast seem to be a deserted wilderness, so I was concerned that I would run out of petrol before getting to the next petrol station.
The albatross trip that everyone mentions, it's just to see albatrosses? No whales, seals, or penguins?
Hix, I thought that I would have to carry a case of sardines and coloured beads to trade with the locals.
My wife has seen one too many slasher movies, and is a bit scared that our car breaks down in the middle of nowhere. (rolls eyes) I assume that the west coast main road would be quite busy during the day though....Steve, cheers for the advice. A campervan sounds like a great idea. I have never used one before, so I must ask: how do you get rid of toilet waste? And how does one get to feed the giraffe and rhino for free?
Funny you mentioned Christchurch, because we will not be staying the night there because of earthquakes.
From the descriptions I read online, they made the west coast seem to be a deserted wilderness, so I was concerned that I would run out of petrol before getting to the next petrol station.
The albatross trip that everyone mentions, it's just to see albatrosses? No whales, seals, or penguins?
it sounds like you'll be flying into Queenstown and leaving from Wellington, yes? If so, I recommend (if you have the time) going to Milford Sound from Queenstown before heading north (you have to go back through Queenstown again though, because there's only one road really). At Te Anau, halfway between the two, there's the Te Anau Wildlife Centre with takahe etc. There are also the glow-worm caves (there's a smaller glow-worm dell in Hokitika too if you miss that one). At Milford Sound there are boat trips to see Fiordland crested penguin, bottlenose dolphins and magnificent scenery (there's also an intermediate egret hanging round the wharf too if you're into birding).
With regards to above questions: the locals don't like sardines or coloured beads. Try beer and sheep for trading. And I think your wife should be more concerned about travelling in Australia -- I've seen Wolf Creek!!
At Orana the giraffe feeds are free for all (check their website for feeding times of all animals - you can spend the entire day just following feeds around the park). The rhino feed is behind a low fence and visitors watch (unless they've changed it?), although the visitors are very close and the rhinos are VERY big!
Don't worry about earthquakes in Chch. You'll almost certainly get some but that's part of the fun.
For the boat trips in Kaikoura harken back to page one of this thread: there is a whale watch boat (largely for sperm whales but random other cetaceans are also seen quite often), there is a dolphin boat (watching or swimming, your choice), there is a seal-swim boat, and there is an albatross boat. You can sometimes see dolphins and whales from the albatross boat (I've seen both at times) but only from a distance: the albatross boat is not in any circumstances allowed to approach whales or dolphins. And as Steve hinted, the boat trips are dependant on weather, especially the months in and around winter.
Good to hear Steve enjoyed his trip. And although that's not how I travel, I do second his advice about hiring a campervan. And with regards to your planned ten days for the whole country nanoboy, also heed Steve's "We spent two very full weeks over there and could have easily spent another one."
With regards to above questions: the locals don't like sardines or coloured beads. Try beer and sheep for trading. And I think your wife should be more concerned about travelling in Australia -- I've seen Wolf Creek!!
At Orana the giraffe feeds are free for all (check their website for feeding times of all animals - you can spend the entire day just following feeds around the park). The rhino feed is behind a low fence and visitors watch (unless they've changed it?), although the visitors are very close and the rhinos are VERY big!
Don't worry about earthquakes in Chch. You'll almost certainly get some but that's part of the fun.
For the boat trips in Kaikoura harken back to page one of this thread: there is a whale watch boat (largely for sperm whales but random other cetaceans are also seen quite often), there is a dolphin boat (watching or swimming, your choice), there is a seal-swim boat, and there is an albatross boat. You can sometimes see dolphins and whales from the albatross boat (I've seen both at times) but only from a distance: the albatross boat is not in any circumstances allowed to approach whales or dolphins. And as Steve hinted, the boat trips are dependant on weather, especially the months in and around winter.
Good to hear Steve enjoyed his trip. And although that's not how I travel, I do second his advice about hiring a campervan. And with regards to your planned ten days for the whole country nanoboy, also heed Steve's "We spent two very full weeks over there and could have easily spent another one."
I should also add, you might want to get this book for when you're here: Hand Guide to the Birds of New Zealand : Barrie Heather, Hugh Robertson : 9780198508311
Toilet and grey water waste is so easy to get rid of - there are dump stations everywhere and most are marked on even the most basic touring maps. The toilet waste is containerised in your camper and you only have to slide out the container, unscrew the lid and pour the contents into the dump station.
Orana Park conducts free giraffe and rhino feeding for the public pretty much every afternoon. Orana's lion truck experience is also very cheap but you don't get to feed the lions yourself.
Hamilton Zoo also has very cheap [by Australian standards] interactive experiences on different days - see website for details of what is on offer and when.
You'd be flat out running out of petrol in NZ - the distances aren't that great. I did more ks in two days back home going to a reptile job than I did in 2 weeks over there! You will, however, pay in excess of $2.20 per litre for the stuff.
We decided on the Albatross trip on the advice of Chlidonias. Primarily because we wanted to learn more about pelagic birds, secondly because it is apparently the least popular of the trips offered by this particular company and there would be less humans on board and thirdly, because you often get to see other species as a bonus. Be warned though that these trips operate at the mercy of the weather. Just south of Kaikoura [and accessed through the town] is a small seal colony. You can get very close photos of basking seals - close enough for you to be in the photo with them. You can also get a delicious whitebait fritter meal from a roadside vendor on the way out to the colony.
Another point about the camper - you can do one way hires no problem. We hired in Christchurch, the company picked us up from the airport, arranged the inter-island ferry booking for us, we dropped the camper off in Auckland and the company took us to the airport. All done and paid for on-line before we left home and no stuff ups whatsoever.
Orana Park conducts free giraffe and rhino feeding for the public pretty much every afternoon. Orana's lion truck experience is also very cheap but you don't get to feed the lions yourself.
Hamilton Zoo also has very cheap [by Australian standards] interactive experiences on different days - see website for details of what is on offer and when.
You'd be flat out running out of petrol in NZ - the distances aren't that great. I did more ks in two days back home going to a reptile job than I did in 2 weeks over there! You will, however, pay in excess of $2.20 per litre for the stuff.
We decided on the Albatross trip on the advice of Chlidonias. Primarily because we wanted to learn more about pelagic birds, secondly because it is apparently the least popular of the trips offered by this particular company and there would be less humans on board and thirdly, because you often get to see other species as a bonus. Be warned though that these trips operate at the mercy of the weather. Just south of Kaikoura [and accessed through the town] is a small seal colony. You can get very close photos of basking seals - close enough for you to be in the photo with them. You can also get a delicious whitebait fritter meal from a roadside vendor on the way out to the colony.
Another point about the camper - you can do one way hires no problem. We hired in Christchurch, the company picked us up from the airport, arranged the inter-island ferry booking for us, we dropped the camper off in Auckland and the company took us to the airport. All done and paid for on-line before we left home and no stuff ups whatsoever.
I believe the locals prefer to call that being "laid-back"; it sounds better than "lazy"Steve Robinson said:
In which case some of them have fallen flat on their back!!! lol
We did have a slightly hairy time driving from Rotorua to Napier and underestimating the amount of petrol needed. The last stretch, when we kept going through places that we hoped would have petrol and didn't, was a bit tense. I drove that whole way seeing about 6 other cars which after the crowded roads of England was bliss but probably not unusual to you folk from less crowded place!
If you have ever seen whales and are choosing between the albatross and whale trips I would go albatrosses every time, sperm whales (trying not to diss them) are not the most exciting whales to spot (although they do announce their departure making for good photo ops), unless they are your one and only whale opportunity. The albatrosses are spectacular, we also saw dolphins, seals and a penguin on the albatross trip.
We stayed a few days in Kaikoura as it was our last stop and we were ready for a break and because everyone I spoke to beforehand said "we went there but never got out on the whale trip because of the weather". We used to enjoy going to see the seals and also south of Kaikoura watching the dolphins performing amazing acrobatics, they were out at sea so binoculars needed. Wish now I'd done the seal swim.
It must be a VERY unreliable business running those whale boats, the day we arrived (late January) was the first day they'd gone for a week, they went for 3 days and then couldn't again.
I have to put a word in for the cheese scones - I love them but NZ has taken them to a whole other level (Taiaroa Head!)
If you have ever seen whales and are choosing between the albatross and whale trips I would go albatrosses every time, sperm whales (trying not to diss them) are not the most exciting whales to spot (although they do announce their departure making for good photo ops), unless they are your one and only whale opportunity. The albatrosses are spectacular, we also saw dolphins, seals and a penguin on the albatross trip.
We stayed a few days in Kaikoura as it was our last stop and we were ready for a break and because everyone I spoke to beforehand said "we went there but never got out on the whale trip because of the weather". We used to enjoy going to see the seals and also south of Kaikoura watching the dolphins performing amazing acrobatics, they were out at sea so binoculars needed. Wish now I'd done the seal swim.
It must be a VERY unreliable business running those whale boats, the day we arrived (late January) was the first day they'd gone for a week, they went for 3 days and then couldn't again.
I have to put a word in for the cheese scones - I love them but NZ has taken them to a whole other level (Taiaroa Head!)