New Zealand Backpacker Travel - Adventure off the beaten track

NEW ZEALAND BACKPACKER ADVENTURE TRAVEL

NZ Wildlife

New Zealand has some amazing wildlife – 90% of New Zealand’s insects, 80% of trees, 25% of birds and 100% of reptiles (lizards and frogsas well as they tuatara which is 225 million years old and a throwback to the dinosaurs), are only found in NZ. Almost half of the world’s marine mammals visit or live in New Zealand’s waters. We try and get you to view and see as much of these animals as possible as we can without compromising their or your own safety.

Whangarei
We visit the Native Bird Recovery Centre in Whangarei, which is a privately run centre that looks after hurt and sick wild birds. It is the best opportunity to get up close to a real Kiwi bird.

Stewart Island
There is amazing birdlife on this island and the neighbouring Ulva island which is a native bird sanctuary free of all predators. There are birds here that you won’t be able to see anywhere else in the world. There is also great fishing – and some real wildlife at the local pub!

Catlins
We drive through the Catlins wilderness area and take in the petrified forest and heaps of wildlife including seals, sea lions, yellow eyed penguins, hector dolphins large seabirds (sometimes huge albatross with 6 foot wingspans!)

Otago Peninsula
This is a forty minute drive out of central Dunedin and is well worth visiting for its stunning scenery and amazing wildlife particularly NZ seals, Hooker sea lions, Hector dolphins and colonies of Royal Albatross and yellow eyed penguins.

Kaikoura
Kaikoura is a marine wildlife mecca! You can head out seal spotting, dolphin swimming or whale watching and you can check out sperm whales, humpback whales, orcas, denby dolphins, hector dolphins, crayfish, seals, albatross – pretty much the whole food chain!

Abel Tasman National Park
We stay at Old MacDonald’s farm so with a name like that you can imagine there are a few animals around - our favourites are the llamas! While you’re out on the water sailing or kayaking you can also often spot dolphins and seals as you glide by (cool eh!)

Auckland
In Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf there are 23 different varieties of marine mammals – you can check them out on the Auckland Dolphin and Whale Safari day trip as it cruises from the Auckland harbour through all the islands. You can visit Rangitoto Island or Tiritiri Matangi which is a bird sanctuary free of predators.