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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.
Thu 30 Jun
Fri 1 Jul
Sat 2 Jul
Sun 3 Jul
Mon 4 Jul
Tue 5 Jul
Wed 6 Jul
- Adult$40.00 Less than 6 at this price!
- Child$26.00
- Adult$40.00
- Child$26.00
- Adult$40.00 Less than 6 at this price!
- Child$26.00
- Adult$62.00
- Child$26.00
- Adult$40.00 Less than 6 at this price!
- Child$26.00
- Adult$62.00
- Child$26.00
- Adult$40.00 Less than 6 at this price!
- Child$26.00
- Adult$40.00 Less than 6 at this price!
- Child$26.00
- Adult$62.00
- Child$26.00
- Adult$40.00 Less than 6 at this price!
- Child$26.00
- Adult$62.00
- Child$26.00
- Adult$40.00 Less than 6 at this price!
- Child$26.00
- Adult$40.00 Less than 6 at this price!
- Child$26.00
- Adult$62.00
- Child$26.00
- Adult$62.00
- Child$26.00
- Adult$62.00
- Child$26.00
- Adult$62.00
- Child$26.00
- Adult$62.00
- Child$26.00
- Adult$62.00
- Child$26.00
- Adult$62.00
- Child$26.00
- Adult$62.00
- Child$26.00
Authenticated Reviews & PhotosAll of our reviews are from people who have booked and paid for this activity thru Bookme
A Great day out in Franz Josef
skiwi from
NZ
A Great day out in Franz Josef
skiwi from
NZ
A Great day out in Franz Josef
skiwi from
NZ
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 140 authenticated Bookme reviews
sarahbarker from New Zealand wrote on 19 April 2022
Very worthwhile
Having the backstage tour really added to the experience, we gained lots of additional info and would highly recommend it
annem14 from New Zealand wrote on 08 April 2022
A great, informative session.
Such a great session! Lots of information from Karen, who is clearly passionate about our animals!
From Franz Josef - West Coast Wildlife Centre VIP Guided Backstage Pass Tour
Thanks so much for the 5-star review and delighted that you enjoyed your VIP Backstage Pass Tour - will pass on your comments to our passionate team!
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
skiwi from New Zealand wrote on 28 March 2022
A Great day out in Franz Josef
A great time to be hold especially if you get their back stage pass. Will worth the money as it goes to the Kiwi & Tuatara. Once you done the back stage part it easy to spend plenty off time with the rest of the activities . Spend about 1/2 hour trying to see the kiwis, but they are there you just need to be patient and stands still to find them.
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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.