New Zealand supports a host of unusual endemic land birds and a rich assemblage of marine birds and mammals. We start our tour in the beautiful grasslands of the Mackenzie region of the South Island where we will take in the beauty of the Southern Alpine range, while looking for the critically endangered Black Stilt, before hiking through pristine Red Beech forest surrounded by breathtaking glacier-lined mountains, where the massive Kea (an Alpine parrot) can be found. In Fiordland National Park, our targets will include Blue Duck, the cute New Zealand Rockwren and New Zealand Falcon, before catching our ferry to the rugged Stewart Island in search of Southern Brown Kiwi, Yellow-eyed and Fiordland Crested Penguins and a pelagic outing visiting several nearby islands in search of a variety of seabirds including 8 species of albatross! Our final destination will be Dunedin, where a visit to a Northern Royal Albatross colony will certainly be amongst the many highlights of this rewarding tour. With excellent lodging and meals, awe-inspiring scenery and fantastically friendly “Kiwis”, this is sure to be a tour of a lifetime!
Southern Brown Kiwi, Black Stilt, South Island Saddleback, Yellowhead, Rifleman, Black-fronted Tern, Kea, Wrybill and Blue Duck
forest, beach, estuary and pelagic at sea
subtropical with chances for occasional rain
8 with 1 Rockjumper Leader and local leaders where necessary
easy pace with undemanding walks. Most walks are on trails in reserves. Trails tend to be flat with reasonable space, but can be a little slippery when wet.
good hotels, roads, facilities and wifi throughout etc
most species are easily seen in open habitat. Kiwi are found at night and are wary of sound and light, so a fair amount of luck is needed
+-100
Mt Cook scenery and glaciers, Southern Alpine Mountain Range, Mitre Peak Milford Sound, island life Stewart Island, picturesque city of Dunedin
good to excellent
Erik Forsyth did a fine job of managing the group. He is a constitutionally positive person and conveyed a healthy sense of humour that was appreciated by the entire group. He clearly endeavoured to spend time with all of the members of the group which brought about good group cohesion. He met each person, regardless of their birding ability, and facilitated their birding experience.
We thoroughly enjoyed this trip. Erik Forsyth is an excellent guide. He managed a one-man show as bird guide, van driver and ground agent all the while maintaining a wonderful sense of humor.
We thoroughly enjoyed the tour, which covered a wonderfully varied range of environments, scenery, birds, etc., and was a great introduction to New Zealand. Erik Forsyth did a good job of rearranging times and/or dates for two of the pelagics, which were ultimately successful--even given substantial rain and wind.
Beautiful country, good birding sites, good group of travelers. Eric Forsyth was an excellent guide, handling all situations very well, including weather-related activity cancellations that were beyond his control.
The trip sounded good in the write-up but far exceeded our expectations. The pelagic trips were outstanding. The number of participants was perfect. Erik knew the birds and their calls/sounds and was very effective in getting everyone to see the birds. He called many pelagic IDs well before other people had even spotted the birds. Erik’s skills in managing the participants showed and his sense of humour added to his effectiveness. We thoroughly enjoyed our trip.
30 Nov 2024 - 09 Dec 2024 (10 days)
NZD6,695 - Spaces Available
Tour Leader: Erik Forsyth
Tour price (Per person): NZD6,695 * USD4,005 * GBP3,170 * EUR3,708 * AUD6,139
Single Supplement: NZD850 * USD508 * GBP402 * EUR471 * AUD779
Can be linked with: New Zealand - North Island Endemics 2024
24 Jan 2025 - 02 Feb 2025 (10 days)
NZD6,795 - Spaces Available
Tour Leader: Rockjumper Tour Leader TBC
Tour price (Per person): NZD6,795 * USD4,064 * GBP3,218 * EUR3,763 * AUD6,230
Single Supplement: NZD920 * USD550 * GBP436 * EUR509 * AUD844
Can be linked with: New Zealand - North Island Endemics 2025
New Zealand - Comprehensive I 2024 - January 2024
New Zealand - South Island Endemics 2023 - December 2023
New Zealand - Comprehensive III 2023 - November 2023
New Zealand - Chatham Islands Extension II 2023 - November 2023
New Zealand - Comprehensive II 2023 - October 2023
Australia & New Zealand - Zhong 2023 - October 2023
Grand Pacific Odyssey - New Zealand to Japan 2023 - March 2023
New Zealand - Chatham Islands Extension I 2023 - January 2023
New Zealand - Comprehensive I 2023 - January 2023
New Zealand - Comprehensive III 2022 - November 2022
New Zealand - Comprehensive II 2022 - October 2022
New Zealand - Comprehensive I 2020 - January 2020
New Zealand - Comprehensive II 2019 - October 2019
New Zealand - Comprehensive III 2018 - November 2018
New Zealand - Comprehensive II 2018 - October 2018
New Zealand - Comprehensive I 2018 - January 2018
New Zealand - Comprehensive III 2017 - November 2017
New Zealand - Comprehensive II 2017 - October 2017
New Zealand - Comprehensive I 2017 - February 2017
ABA New Zealand - Subantarctic Island Cruise 2017 - January 2017