Learn about the new zealand native bird, the kiwi, with admission to the franz josef wildlife center. At west coast wildlife centre we routinely health check our kiwi. This is a hatching facility for 2 of the rarest species of kiwi, and there is an nocturnal exhibit where you can see these birds roaming around in a habitat. Visit west coast wildlife centre on your trip to franz josef. Haast tokoeka rare kiwi, 101st chick hatched scoop news. West coast wildlife centre new zealand buy tickets. West coast wilderness railway great australian secret. This is the largest kiwi hatching facility in the south island and the must see indoor all weather attraction in franz josef home to the official hatching facility for the worlds 2. We chose to do both the kiwi backstage pass tour and. Franz josef wildlife center adm with optional backstage.
West coast wildlife centre franz josef 2020 all you. Book your tickets online for west coast wildlife centre, franz josef. West coast wildlife centre gives you the opportunity to meet and discover new zealands rarest kiwi. Tour the largest kiwi hatching facility on the south island and opt to include a backstage pass tour, where youll get 30 minutes of access behind the scenes. Health checks involve weighing the kiwi to see if they are gaining or losing weight as well as giving them a visual inspection.
Mar 29, 2020 lonely planet voted the west coast wildlife centre in the heart of franz josef as one of the 12 must see things to visit in new zealand. The west coast wildlife centre is in franz josef, a small settlement famous for the glacier of the same name. New zealand south island 8 days fodors travel talk forums. The west coast wildlife centre is open from 8am daily and offers the most amazing. Visit both the west coast wildlife centre and the glacier hot pools in franz josef glacier, book. Visitors can see the work firsthand on a kiwi backstage. Backstage pass wild kiwi west coast wildlife centre. West coast wildlife centre the west coast wildlife centre is a unique and interactive experience that brings together nature, conservation and wildlife all under one roof. Franz josef west coast wildlife centre backstage pass. If booking a backstage pass tour on the day of departure, please contact us beforehand to check availability and avoid disappointment as your tour cannot be. Mar 08, 2006 it would be impossible to keep a book like this 100% current but anyone preparing to hike the west coast trail needs to be aware of changes.
We loved our visit to the west coast wildlife centre. Do note that the event coordinator has to bring in own generators for the supply of electricity. The west coast wildlife centre welcomes haast tokoeka chick. West coast wildlife centre franz josef, new zealand. West coast wildlife centre franz josef 2020 what to. Voted oneof the 12 mustsee things to visit in new zealand by lonely planet, the west coast wildlife centre is the largest kiwi hatching facility in the south islandand the foremost indoor, allweather attraction in franz josef.
We have 6 tuatara living in a brand new tuatara encounter,a glacier attraction,lots of. The behind the scenes tuatara encounter at the west coast wildlife centre in franz josef, west coast of new zealand, is a fascinating exclusive tour. West coast wildlife centre franz josef, south island. Kaha hatched here at west coast wildlife centre last breeding season on the 2nd of february 2019 whilst waitangi came to us as a rescued 4 day old chick on waitangi day 6th february 2019. Firstly we were told that there was no record of our booking despite having a voucher that verified we had paid and we were there on the correct. Bookings are recommended to avoid disappointment, as demand is high at certain times of the year. Places are limited to 8 people per tour so book ahead to avoid disappointment. West coast wildlife centre in franz josef glacier is one the best tourist destinations. You are guaranteed to see live kiwi during the day inside our nocturnal house, including the worlds rarest kiwis. Here you can view upclose the prehistoric tuatara that is endemic only to new zealand.
Stroll through the nocturnal house to see our juvenile rowi kiwi or book a backstage tour where you can learn all about our incubation and hatching facility and experience a rare opportunity to see a kiwi chick asleep in its burrow. West coast wildlife centre is the home of the official breeding programme for the worlds rarest kiwi called the rowi and now the haast kiwi. The west coast wildlife exhibition focuses on the nuances and diversity our provinces majestic and accessible wildlife population, said steve. Lonely planet voted the west coast wildlife centre in the heart of franz josef as one of the 12 must see things to visit in new zealand. West coast wildlife centre, franz josef, new zealand.
Thankfully, there are nationwide programs in place to help protect new zealands iconic kiwi, and you can learn exactly what is being done at the west coast wildlife centre in franz josef. Get the kiwi backstage pass for a fully guided tour through the incubation and rearing facility, where you can see chicks from october to march. West coast wildlife centre, franz josef glacier, new zealand. Go behind the scenes to see the hatching programme. Were excited to share these latest illustration works, especially to celebrate our provinces abundance of natural wildlife, said sandy. The west coast wildlife centre is helping save the critically endangered rowi and haast tokoeka kiwis from extinction. Found only in the okarito forest, near franz josef, the rowi is new zealands rarest kiwi.
For best results, use the customized trip planning widget for west coast wildlife centre on your website. Nestled at the centre of the west coast park, the grand lawn is an ideal location for large scale schoolcorporate events ranging from marathons to family days and carnivals. The west coast wildlife exhibition focuses on the nuances and diversity our provinces majestic and accessible wildlife population, said. Backstage pass west coast wildlife centre franz josef. One adult entry to the west coast wildlife centre options for child pass or. This is the official home to the breeding and incubation program of the rowi kiwi. The west coast wildlife centre has been a highlight of my stay in the west coast. Very first kiwi chick to hatch this kiwi breeding season. See all 0 west coast wildlife centre tickets and tours on viator. This is the largest kiwi hatching facility in the south island. Chicks will be available to view on the backstage pass tour from october to march subject to change and breeding season. Franz josef west coast wildlife centre backstage pass epic. Eggs at risk of predation are removed, the chicks hatched in captivity, raised in a natural predatorfree environment until old enough to fend for themselves, and then returned to the wild.
The west coast wildlife centre is a unique and interactive experience that brings together nature, conservation and wildlife all under one roof. Lonely planet judged the west coast wildlife centre in franz josef as one of the. The backstage pass into the incubating and rearing area is a rare opportunity to learn how a species can be brought back from the. If you book with viator, you can cancel at least 24 hours before the start date of your tour for a full refund. This is the largest kiwi hatching facility in the south island and must see all weather attraction. The west coast wildlife centre is an all weather visitor attraction located in franz josef,and this is your backstage pass to see rare kiwi. Nov 03, 2016 the west coast wildlife centre also has a fantastic interactive glacier display, quenching any thirst for knowledge you may have about the area and the magnificent ice form. All the staff i interacted with were friendly and helpful.
Take a wildlife tour at west coast wildlife centre, new zealand. Visit both the west coast wildlife centre and lake matheson,book online,and save. It has all the advantages mentioned above, plus users to your site can conveniently access it directly on your site. The west coast wildlife centre, new zealand, is a brand new all weather attraction located in the centre of franz josef. Kim bryanwalker, kiwi ranger at the wildlife centre, says, having the birds hatching at the centre now is very exciting. The west coast wildlife centre is one of the largest kiwi captive rearing facilities in new zealand and is helping save the critically endangered rowi and haast tokoeka kiwi from extinction. The west coast wildlife centre is the south islands largest kiwi hatching facility and open to the general public from 8am daily.
West coast wildlife centre tickets franz josef 2020. Sep 04, 2017 the west coast wildlife centre welcomes the very first kiwi chick to hatch this kiwi breeding season. The backstage pass is a combo ticket including west coast wildlife centre entry plus a guided 3045 minute informative tour with one of our kiwi rangers. Franz josef, south westland sept 4th 2017 the west coast wildlife centre welcomes the very first kiwi chick to hatch this kiwi breeding season. Our all weather attraction offers an interactive experience with a self guided tour where the rowi kiwi can be viewed in a natural setting and a backstage pass where you can take a look. West coast wildlife centre franz josef 2020 all you need. Visitors can see the work first hand on a kiwi backstage pass tour which operates four. All weather attractions is fun for all ages to explore and take place against the stunning back drop of the franz josef glacier. Else opt for backstage pass tour where you get the glimpse of the backstage scene about hatching and. The amount of information provided about the kiwi, the glaciers and the tuatara was so great. Perhaps you missed the brand new tuatara encounter or the backstage pass tours or our glacier attraction or west coast storytelling areas or wildlife interactives and films. The kiwi backstage pass is a combo ticket combining the all day 24 hour.
The west coast wildlife centre also rekindles the cultural aspect of the region, bringing to life stories of the west coast s original inhabitants that range from the distant past evolution of franz josef glacier through to more modern times with the inception of hunting and goldmining. This all indoor attraction is open every day of the year and the backstage pass is a combo ticket combining the all day 24 hour unlimited pass. I almost wish id taken a backstage tour of franz josefs west coast wildlife centre or hokitikas national kiwi centre instead. Everything you need to know about upper south island and the west coast from our travel experts. West coast wildlife centre new zealand attractions. We were a group of four adults who all love nature. All weather and indoor wildlife attraction with glacier and west coast storytelling areas. Good news, we will still have chicks on display on our backstage kiwi tours for another two days. It is the official home to the incubation and captive rearing programme for new zealands rarest kiwi the rowi and haast tokoeka. Discounts west coast nz activities specials greymouth isite. Gaze from the window of your comfortable carriage and experience an unforgettable combination of tasmanian history, wilderness and railway engineering the west coast wilderness railway is an awardwinning railway and wilderness experience located on the. The west coast wildlife centre is the official home to the breeding and incubation programme of the rowi kiwi.
These two spent the next 5 weeks growing rapidly in our brooder rooms before heading to. Lonely planet jusged the west coast wildlife centre in franz josef as one of the 12 must see things to visit in new zealand. Visitors to your site will appreciate you offering them help with planning their vacation. Franz josef wildlife center ticket with optional backstage pass. The backstage pass into the incubating and rearing area is a rare opportunity to learn how a species can be brought back from the brink of extinction. Lonely planet judged the west coast wildlife centre in franz josef as one of the 12 must see things to visit in new zealand.
Jul 11, 2019 you can also visit the glacier area, the wild west coast storytelling hut and if you purchase a vip pass, you can see the incubation and hatching area too. Candling eggs that have just arrived in from the forest. The attraction is open 9am to 7pm daily throughout our summer months. West coast wildlife centre west coast, new zealand. Bookme is the home of the epic deals and last minute discounts on all holiday adventures. West coast wildlife centre wildlife parks activeactivities. West coast wildlife centre franz josef all you need to. Visit both the west coast wildlife centre and lake matheson, book online,and save. Last year we hatched over 80 of the rowi kiwi the worlds rarest kiwi. We want to check the condition of their feathers, skin, eyes, ears, bill, mouth, legs, feet and body condition. Chicks will be available to view on the backstage pass tour from october to march subject to. West coast new zealand activities activities in west. Top 7 things to do in franz josef franz josef glacier guides.
West coast wildlife centre, franz josef glacier ticket. Should i book west coast wildlife centre tickets in advance. The worlds rarest kiwi first hatch west coast, new. The gold pass is certainly the best way to go as it includes both the kiwi and the tuatara backstage pass tours. West coast wildlife centre new zealand attractions lonely.
Franz josef wildlife center adm with optional backstage pass. Your ticket also includes access to the west coast storytelling areas. I opted for the backstage pass and it was definitely worth it. Jul 22, 2015 high in the mountains on tasmanias west coast, a priceless piece of steam history carefully carries guests along a rugged railway track. Found only in the okarito forest near franz josef, the rowi is the worlds rarest kiwi with just over 375 years of surviving.
West coast wildlife centre west coast wildlife centre. This all indoor attraction is open every day of the year and the backstage pass is a combo ticket. Do yourself a favour and grab a backstage pass its well worth it to experience these birds closer than most ever have. Voted one of the 12 mustsee things to visit in new zealand by lonely planet, the west coast wildlife centre is the largest kiwi hatching facility in the south island and the foremost indoor, allweather attraction in franz josef. Expensive, but worth doing west coast wildlife centre. Visit to west coast wildlife centre during our recent trip to south island, we had booked the franz joseph tour with optional backstage pass at the wildlife centre. The west coast wildlife centre in franz josef village operates a conservation programme as part of operation nest egg.