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Experience the amazing West Coast Wildlife Centre, home of the rare kiwi, complete with a guided backstage tour and fascinating Tuatara Encounter!
The VIP Guided Backstage Pass Tour is a combo ticket including West Coast Wildlife Centre entry PLUS a guided 30-45 minute informative tour with one of our Kiwi Rangers through the incubation and chick rearing facility. You'll also enjoy a fascinating Tuatara encounter where you can view up-close the prehistoric tuatara that is endemic only to New Zealand.
The Backstage Pass is hugely popular – especially during the summer months - and is classed as a ‘Top Pick’ by Lonely Planet Travel Guides.
Visitors will see where and how eggs are processed when they first arrive at the West Coast Wildlife Centre. They will learn about incubation procedures and take a look at the room where the eggs are cared for. Finally, visitors will get a chance to view the Brooder Room where the kiwi chicks are housed and reared during their time with us.
The West Coast Wildlife Centre is an all-weather visitor attraction located in Franz Josef. The centre is the sole provider of the BNZ Operation Nest Egg TM incubation and captive rearing programme for New Zealand's rarest Kiwi, the Rowi and Haast tokoeka. Since opening in 2010 the West Coast Wildlife Centre has successfully raised and released over 240 Kiwi Chicks.
West Coast Wildlife Centre entry gives visitors the very special chance to view juvenile Rowi in a natural walk through Nocturnal House setting. This self-guided attraction also includes educational and interactive displays and wildlife films offering an opportunity to learn about the Glacier and the unique West Coast region.
Wed 19 Jan
Thu 20 Jan
Fri 21 Jan
Sat 22 Jan
Sun 23 Jan
Mon 24 Jan
Tue 25 Jan
- Adult$57.00
- Child$28.00
- Adult$57.00
- Child$28.00
Authenticated Reviews & PhotosAll of our reviews are from people who have booked and paid for this activity thru Bookme
Rewarding visit
Amy from
NZ
Mr
alexk12 from
NZ
Really special experience
Alwyn Bakker from
NZ
Amazing experience
Melanie from
NZ
Very educational!
louisem16 from
United Kingdom
Very educational!
louisem16 from
United Kingdom
Very educational!
louisem16 from
United Kingdom
Great Staff
kelvinh1 from
NZ
Great Staff
kelvinh1 from
NZ
Great Staff
kelvinh1 from
NZ
Great viewing of kiwis and tuataras
Megan from
NZ
Great viewing of kiwis and tuataras
Megan from
NZ
Disappointing
amandal1 from
NZ
Disappointing
amandal1 from
NZ
Authenticated Reviews & PhotosAll of our reviews are from people who have booked and paid for this activity thru Bookme
Showing all 132 authenticated Bookme reviews
Sarika from New Zealand wrote on 07 January 2022
Totally worth the time
I found this activity to be amazing and very informative. To get up close to our Tuatara and the chance to see Kiwi chick's. I found it relaxing and humbling.
natalief from New Zealand wrote on 30 December 2021
Great for a rainy day
My partner and I have lived in NZ for a few years but this tour taught us a lot about kiwi and tuatara. Informative and interesting. The cafe was great too. Definitely recommend.
Nicole Lee from Australia wrote on 05 May 2018
No kiwis
There were no kiwis and you couldn't see the 2 that were there it was too dark and no photos allowed
From Franz Josef - West Coast Wildlife Centre VIP Guided Backstage Pass Tour
Kia ora Nicole Thanks for the review but i think you must have visited a different facility as we guarantee that you will see a kiwi and we usually have 1-2 rowi kiwi in our nocturnal house. The Department of Conservation do not allow photography ( it is illegal in NZ ) in a nocturnal house and the infa red light is designed so that after a few minutes your eyes will usually adjust nicely to the darker environment. Our team however do have an infa red torch available and will walk with you back into our natural nocturnal house and help you as required. Because all our kiwi go back to live in the wild we have a very natural environment and our attraction best suits the guests who is prepared to invest their time time to stop, look,engage,listen and learn. Thanks for visiting. Regards Richard Owner
Amy from New Zealand wrote on 18 December 2021
Rewarding visit
Great deal through bookme! Wonderful spot to learn about kiwis and tuatara, my guide was well-informed and we got to see where the kiwis are incubated/reared, as well as a closeup view of a tuatara. The exhibit was well laid out and managed to see some very active kiwis. Good place to bring kids, or when the weather is not optimal. For the centre - it could be an idea to extend the opening hours to night-time (given there are not many night-time activities in the area) & this is when kiwis are active.
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10:00 a.m.Thursday 13 July
Spaces Left
Adult
Child 5 - 15 years
*This option must be made together with another price
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Carla from Australia wrote on 06 December 2018
Good experience
The backstage tour was informative and good value. I loved getting to hear loads about these critically endangered little animals. I was expecting to see lots of kiwis, but there was only 4 at the sanctuary. Despite this I would definitely recommend going to check this place out as part of any NZ trip.