We paid $26 each to walk around a park! We saw a few ducks and 2 other bird species. We see far more birds in our own garden! This was a very disappointing experience and I would suggest a walk around a local park would expose you to more birds than we saw at Zealandia. Don't waste your money.

We heard about Zealandia while we were in Wellington and decided to visit. In short, it is amazing!! For those new to this, Zealandia is an eco sanctuary which is entirely enclosed and pest free. The sanctuary is designed to protect species that were at risk in Aotearoea including Tui, Takahe, Tuatara and Kiwi. Zealandia runs 2 electric shuttles which are free but you can also donate to them using the box within the shuttles. The shuttles pick up from opposite the Anora hotel near iSite (where Weta and other day trips also do pick ups and drop offs) and also from the top of the cable cars. Both gave their own timetables which I can pick up either from iSite, Zealandia or the cable cars. Visitors have the option of entry alone or various different guided tours in the day, evening or night. We opted for entry and were amazed at how beautiful and stunning the sanctuary is. Visitors will have to conduct bio security checks on their clothing/bags prior to entry but once inside there are various different paths to view the sanctuary and wildlife. Visitors can travel to a heritage area with viewing tower for some great views. Along the way, there are feeding stations where you can see Kaka and another enclosure where tuatara lie waiting for sunlight. At weekends there is a boat which runs and also relies on donations. You are guaranteed to see and hear the vast array of wildlife at Zealandia and we would recommend visiting to learn more about why New Zealand’s wildlife needs protecting.

A most worthy place to visit in Wellington. Definitely recommend touring with a guide - ours was so well-informed and helpful.

This ecoreserve is spectacular and our guide Oliver, was extremely knowledgeable. My only regret was that I would have loved to be there longer. As a birder I really appreciated Olivers expertise in helping me identify birds that were new to me. We also learned about the reserves effort to weed out invasive flora and fauna. The reserve is home scores of the endangered Kiwis , which burrow into the ground to makes nest. This is a very special place. Don't miss it !

Wish we had more time to wander this sanctuary. We would have loved to take a tour but the timing didn't work. We very much enjoyed walking on the paths and finding the birds and lizards. We encountered staff who were most helpful pointing out the different species. You could tell the staff loved their jobs. One woman was super excited to show us an albino tui. We had a light lunch at the sanctuary which was good. We really appreciated the free shuttle which picked us up and dropped us off from the top of the cable car. It wasn't clear to me how often the shuttle ran. I was also concerned because it only seats nine. I had made a back up plan (the Number 4 bus) in case the shuttle did not work but the shuttle was great. The shuttle was waiting at the cable stop when we arrived and took us immediately to Zealandia. When I asked how often the shuttle ran, the driver said "Frequently." He clarified that to be about every 20 - 30 minutes or so. Would definitely recommend the sanctuary if you want a peaceful walk amongst trees and birds. My only critical remark is that I would have loved a laminated card which would have identified the bird species which we could return to the sanctuary after use. Maybe that exists and we just missed it.

Wow what a place! Such a beautiful spot, you can feel how important the wildlife is to the staff working there. Roy our guide was a gent, so informative and answered all our questions. We saw almost all of the birds and plant life in the park with some stunning views from the dam. There conservation efforts are remarkable!

I went to Zealandia Ecosanctuary, I decided to go on a guided tour. Our guide was Johnny. What an amazing two hours! So much bird life! Beautiful scenery! Johnny was an absolute wealth of knowledge about New Zealand native trees, birds and ecology!

We visited Zealandia as we wanted to go last time in New Zealand. Great experience would definitely recommend a guided tour as you get an insight into their history. Rosa was a great guide. A great chance to see New Zealands native wildlife .

Interesting tour with information about zealandia. They are obviously very passionate about their work. Didn’t see a kiwi but obviously nothing is guaranteed with wildlife. Did see some rarities but overall not that much wildlife. Think there could have been more information to keep us all engaged though when we asked questions more info was forthcoming. The main issue for us was that the flora and fauna names used were all Māori names. Whilst this is understandable, to our English tourist ears it was difficult to remember the names. An additional ‘also known as’ in English or even the official Latin name might have helped. I came away remembering the visuals but not the names. As we were told, our entrance fees keep this place going so it’s important the guides put themselves in the tourists shoes and not just give out their own messaging.

A very enjoyable guided tour. We saw quite a lot of different birds, especially taking into account that the weather wasn't great. The tour was informative and lasted much longer than the advertised 2 hours.

Definitely try to do this tour. We took the evening walk - timed to maximize the chance to enjoy the sunset, see kiwis, and hear the songbirds. An easy and non-demanding walk, with a team of guides who provided a wealth of information. For a first-time visitor to New Zealand, the level of the country's attention to its environment is stunning. Taking this tour with first-hand exposure puts it in context - a project with a meticulous long-term commitment.

Firstly, what an amazing setup and organisation. They really care about the environment and wildlife, and taught me so much in such a short space of time. I started this tour a little envious of the people going out on the night tour, as kiwi are more often seen later on, alas there were no spaces left. Firstly, our guide Oliver introduced himself and fellow guide Heather, who would trek out ahead of us and act as a wildlife spotter. Next we were treated to a film explaining the ethos of the Zealandia organisation and the ambitious 500 year plan upon which they have embarked. Then we ventured out into the forest - or “bush” - and instantly saw / heard various birds which were pointed out to us and their habits / conservation plans explained. This is where Oliver came alive: his passion for the flora and fauna was unparalleled and infectious. Both plants and wildlife were pointed out and enthused about so vividly that you couldn’t help feeling the same about them. Heather did an excellent job of spotting wildlife up ahead, including a rare frog which Oliver revealed was only his third sighting! As the sun set we were encouraged to turn on our red light torches to help us spot wildlife and stay safe on the path, which (for me at least) added a sort of intrepid aura to the experience. Suddenly Oliver bade us gather around and revealed in the undergrowth a kiwi foraging for food. This bird stayed around for over 5 minutes, apparently unperturbed by our presence, before we moved on so as not to disturb. Next we saw a giant Wētā, again a rare sighting, then, astonishingly Heather spotted a second kiwi! This one soon disappeared into the forest, but as a group we felt so lucky to have experienced two sightings that we all left on quite a high. I cannot recommend this experience highly enough.

Such a cool experience! Matt and Rosemary were so knowledgeable about the ecosanctuary and all of the birds contained within. It didn't feel like we were anywhere near Wellington - it's so quiet and peaceful. We were so lucky to be able to see a kiwi off the trail with our red light torches at the very end of our tour. If you have mobility issues, be mindful because though there are clearly marked paths, there are also exposed roots and uneven terrain. Plus this was a tour at night and it was pitch black without the red light torches.

Paul was great, charming and informative, with an innate ability to spot and point out things we would certainly not have seen without a guide. I really feel he made the visit worthwhile and would venture that our experience would not have been the same without him.

This is the most magical place- a wonderful haven for plants and wildlife. I went to university in Wellington in the 1980s, now live in the UK and had come to rediscover the city. Several friends had recommended Zealandia as a place to visit and I was not disappointed. I spent three hours revelling in the sights along the tracks- all the fabulous flora and animals. The guides along the way were so helpful and really contributed to the experience. I finished the trip in the cafe with an excellent salad and coffee. Special shout outs to Elizabeth the guide and Paul the shuttle driver, who whetted our appetite for Zealandia on the journey there with fascinating facts. It was an unforgettable experience.