Top Wellington Nature and Wildlife Tours

Zealandia is the world’s first fully fenced urban eco-sanctuary and home to some of New Zealand’s most extraordinary wildlife. This 2-hour guided walking tour will introduce you to native birds such as kakariki, tui, and bellbirds; rare species like takahē; and unique reptiles including green gecko and tuatara. Entrance fees are included.

Combine award-winning wine and gorgeous scenery on a full-day tour from Wellington to Martinborough that also explores Hutt Valley, the Rimutaka Ranges, the Wairarapa coast, and Lake Onoke. You'll visit Martinborough wineries for cellar tours and tastings, pause for lunch in a vineyard restaurant, then eat dinner at the edge of Lake Onoke after a short shoreline hike. This Martinborough wine tour includes meals and a wine tasting, and it's limited to 11 people to ensure personalized service.

Just off the Kapiti Coast is Kapiti Island, a bird and nature sanctuary free of predators and pests. This overnight experience offers the one-of-a-kind opportunity to stay overnight on the otherwise uninhabited island. Try one of the island’s many walking tracks and spot native birds in the canopy. Later, enjoy a chef-prepared meal in your luxury accommodation and then head out with your guide to look for New Zealand’s endangered, nocturnal national icon - the kiwi.

The deserted beaches and wildlife reserves of Kapiti Island lie off the southwest coast of New Zealand’s North Island. On this tour, set sail from Paraparaumu Beach, explore the island on a guided walk, and enjoy free time to stroll along the sandy beaches or take a swim. Along the way, look out for wildlife including whales, possums, and a number of rare birds including kaka and takahe.

Gain entry to Zealandia at night and take a guided tour of Zealandia: The Exhibition, which showcases New Zealand’s natural history. Interact with a life-size model moa and Haast’s eagle — both extinct — and learn about the country’s conservation efforts to preserve other native species. Located just minutes from central Wellington, Zealandia includes a night tour of Sanctuary Valley, a fenced eco-sanctuary and safe haven for endemic animal and bird species such as the nocturnal little spotted kiwi.

Whether it’s your first time in Wellington or you just want to see as much as possible during your time in port, this half-day sightseeing tour offers a great introduction to the city and a diverse range of sights. Visit the iconic Weta Cave and the historic Old St. Paul’s Cathedral, ride the Wellington cable car to the top of the city, and enjoy panoramic views from the top of Mount Victoria.

Book a shared arrival transfer from Wellington Airport to your hotel doorstep, and enjoy a stress-free start to your trip. It’s a simple, cost-effective option that takes all the hassle out of arranging transportation after you land. Transport is by climate-controlled shuttle.

Enjoy a hassle-free end to your time in Wellington with this shared departure transfer to Wellington Airport. You will be picked up from your accommodation doorstep and transferred by comfortable shuttle to the airport. It’s a budget-friendly alternative to the pricey private taxi rides.

An hour or so north of Wellington, Martinborough is fast making a name for itself as one of the Southern Hemisphere’s leading wine regions. Each weekend, Wellingtonians make the trek over the Remutakas to escape to this European-style wine village. This small group tour is a convenient way to visit Martinborough. There’s no need to stress about driving on country backroads, and no need to plan the day’s itinerary - leaving you to focus on the wine and the iconic scenery.

Sip your way around Martinborough — a once sleepy colonial town that’s now a prominent wine village at the heart of the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail — on this private day trip from Wellington. Following hotel or port pickup and a scenic drive through the Wairarapa, you’ll visit three of Martinborough’s renowned wineries. Enjoy a guided wine tasting at each and a lunch platter with wine at Poppies Martinborough. Then, choose to continue hopping around Martinborough’s wineries or travel to nearby Greytown, whose pretty streets are thronged with cafes and antique stores.

Across the Cook Strait is the Marlborough Sounds, a cluster of picturesque bays, inlets and islands. Set in one of these bays is the Bay of Many Coves Resort, a luxury hotel that can only be accessed by boat or helicopter. Your helicopter will leave the Wellington waterfront and fly you over the Cook Strait to the Resort. Once there, you’ll be treated to a three-course lunch at the resort’s gourmet restaurant The Foredeck.

Wellington, long-celebrated for its bohemian liberal arts and cafe culture, is fast-becoming renowned as New Zealand’s capitol of craft beer. Visit four Wellington and Hutt Valley breweries, tasting a range of tasty local beers at each establishment on this small group day tour designed for lovers of ales, stouts, lagers and everything hoppy in-between.

Experience the wildlife of New Zealand in the early evening with a guided 2,5-hour tour of Zealandia, a wildlife sanctuary located on the outskirts of Wellington. This after-hours tour takes place during the most active period for many resident animals, when they transition from daytime to nighttime activity. You may observe birds returning to their nests, hear nocturnal birds waking up, and learn how the sanctuary restores native habitat.

This tour is all about you. We travel in luxury to the Kapiti region just north of Wellington and can customize the tour to suit your needs.

A one-day off-road photography tour. On this tour, you’ll have the chance to observe the wildlife, practising macros and long exposure shots, and capturing stunning coastal sunsets while exploring the wild beaches of Kapiti Coast and the Foxton area. The tour is designed to offer you a unique experience, giving you the chance to access isolated places, revealing the native wild landscapes to your camera. The tour starts in Wellington heading north on SH1 to Kapiti Coast. The first touch of the sand will be at Peka Peka Beach. We'll then drive up to the very end of Te Horo Beach. On the way will take a moment to shoot scenic views unfolded all around. An incredible diversity of subjects are waiting for us at the place where the Otaki River spreads into the sea. Foxton Beach is the start of a new segment of our adventure. This time we are splashing the water of two streams on the way to Tangimoana Beach.

These tours are meant to be perfectly adapted to the available time you have and the purpose of you visiting Wellington. Maybe you love cityscapes, birdwatching, seascapes, no matter what, you'll encounter inspirational experiences at every turn. You can find all sorts of adventures at the bottom of the North Island, regardless of what season you travel. Your itinerary is entirely flexible and can be customized to your preferences. We will be in touch with you before you book to estimate the time you intend to spend and the landmarks you are interested in. The track is not set in stone, and you are free to change it during the trip. The driven distance is not limited, so no stress! Also, it is treated as a private tour: you decide who comes with you up to four mates. All you have to pay is the time spent from pickup to dropoff. The start time and pick up point will be confirmed with you. The number of participants is between 1 to 4. This tour is a private event.

This spectacular overnight tour is perfect for travelers who want to take their time and explore the best food, wine, and sights near Wairarapa Coast. The tour gives you the flexibility to choose from different tiered packages that include multiple meals or accommodation. Enjoy the convenience of round-trip transport and guide narration along the way. You’ll see a lot in a short space of time, including Kaitoke Regional Park, Matakitaki-au-Kupe seal colony, Cape Palliser Lighthouse, Castlepoint, and wineries in Martinborough.

The trip is an excellent opportunity to catch a magnificent sunrise over the foggy Wellington Harbour or sunset to the South Island, over the Cook Straight. Along the shore, there are plenty of challenging subjects to shoot: Oriental Bay with its iconic Carter Memorial Fountain, the sculptures disseminated from the entrance to the Miramar peninsula up to Taputeranga Marine Reserve. Shelly Bay is a must-visit point. A chocolate fish and a delectable coffee will complete the day. If we are lucky enough, it’s possible to watch some dolphins or orcas playing around. One of the most photographed beacons is Halswell Lighthouse, marking the entrance in Wellington Harbour. Between Karaka Bay and Breaker Bay, some photogenic piers leave the shore suspended over the sea. It's a good idea also to take some photos of fishers and their catches. Going forward, Breaker Bay and Moa Point are perfect to see Interislander and Blue Bridge ferries crossing Cook Strait.

You’ll see native wildlife and farm animals throughout New Zealand, but at Staglands Wildlife Reserve get up close with some of the country’s remarkable fauna. Catch a glimpse of native birds flitting between native forest stands or meet some of New Zealand’s unique aquatic life. You’ll also meet some of New Zealand’s cuddlier inhabitants such as the country’s kune kune pig breed.