Ōrokonui Ecosanctuary, Dunedin: Hours, Address, Ōrokonui Ecosanctuary Reviews: 4.5/5
Ōrokonui Ecosanctuary
Ōrokonui Ecosanctuary
4.5
9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Monday
9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Saturday
9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Sunday
9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
About
Our 307 hectare ecosanctuary is the only area of native forest in mainland South Island where indigenous plants and animals can live in the wild without threat from most introduced pests. It is home to some of New Zealand's most fascinating and rare forest wildlife such as Takahē, Kākā, Tūī, Kererū, Tuatara and much more. Our visitor's centre is home to a lovely cafeteria serving classic Kiwi food and coffee roasted on site. Sit by our large fireplace as you enjoy your meal! We are also proud to host weddings both within the ecosanctuary and the visitor's centre! Please get in touch if you are planning your special day!
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4.5
371 reviews
Excellent
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64
Average
16
Poor
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1
Helen0072014
Cromwell, New Zealand16 contributions
Feb 2021
What the volunteers have achieved here is nothing short of incredible. Pest free and wildlife to view in their natural habitat. Well done all of you. I also want to give a huge accolade to the Horopito cafe staff. We had a curried cauliflower and carrot soup which was simply divine. A big thank you to the chef! Our friend had one of the salads which I hadn't seen and I almost had food envy until I tasted my soup!
Written 26 February 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
L Doug
7 contributions
Feb 2021
Fantastic place to explore and discover the birds, lizards and native bush on the various well marked tracks. The highlight for me was the four takahe. A great place to visit.
Written 25 February 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Philip
Auckland, New Zealand6 contributions
Feb 2021
I took a visitor to the sanctuary as part of a two day Dunedin stay. I visited 3 years prior so well overdue for a return visit.
A very well spent $20.00
($18 for students and gold card holders).
Easy walking tracks, plenty of birds to see at the feeding stations placed around the sanctuary: Tui, Bellbirds,Kea,Grey Robin etc.
The latter came up to us and walked around our feet for 2 or 3 minutes without any fear.Predator free = stress free!
There is an open area to see Skinks and Lizards as well as Takahe.
We finished the day with a good cup of coffee and a well earned cake at the cafe, which also sells local hand made products. Reccommended
A very well spent $20.00
($18 for students and gold card holders).
Easy walking tracks, plenty of birds to see at the feeding stations placed around the sanctuary: Tui, Bellbirds,Kea,Grey Robin etc.
The latter came up to us and walked around our feet for 2 or 3 minutes without any fear.Predator free = stress free!
There is an open area to see Skinks and Lizards as well as Takahe.
We finished the day with a good cup of coffee and a well earned cake at the cafe, which also sells local hand made products. Reccommended
Written 8 February 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
knitina
Wanaka, New Zealand47 contributions
Jan 2021 • Solo
This is the first time I have visited and was totally amazed at the bird life. I got there just before 11 am and it was fascinating to watch and listen to the birds. They were excited to receive their daily food being very friendly, inquisitive of my presence and almost tame to watch. I was amazed how close you could get. The sound of birds was exceptional. I have done many great walks and have never witnessed this. It just shows what a difference a predator free place can be. What a great place , well worth a visit and to support.
Written 17 January 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
roaming_kiwi58
Christchurch, New Zealand2,723 contributions
Nov 2020
This was our second visit to the Orokonui EcoSanctuary. They have done a great job here and it is really enjoyable to be able to wander through the forest and stop in various places to watch the birds. We did not see as many birds this visit as we did back in February (when it was raining!), but it was still well worth a visit. We did a loop round the tracks and spent a couple of hours here.
It was a Monday and very quiet. Since lockdown they have only been opening Saturday, Sunday and Monday and the cafe is no longer open. I hope they get lots of visitors over the summer.
We will return next time we are in Dunedin.
It was a Monday and very quiet. Since lockdown they have only been opening Saturday, Sunday and Monday and the cafe is no longer open. I hope they get lots of visitors over the summer.
We will return next time we are in Dunedin.
Written 7 December 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Archie Davison
Wanaka, New Zealand1 contribution
Nov 2020
The Orokonui Ecosanctuary is an amazing place. It is full of entertainment such as the Otago lizards and the walk through the valley that also leads to the tallest tree in New Zealand. The staff are also amazing with their knowledge about the ecosanctuary and they also have a very positive attitude. Its a great place to visit.
Written 2 December 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Karen B
Dunedin, New Zealand25 contributions
Sep 2020 • Family
As I've said in a Google review as well, we had our twin grandsons birthday at the Eco Sanctuary at the weekend, and wow what an awesome place for a kids birthday party. The boys and their friends had a blast, Sam was so good with the bunch of 6 year olds!!! They learnt a lot and had fun doing it🙂 we will definitely put the word out a out how awesome this place is and we will be back to take it all in again in the near future. Thanks guys, you are all great !!
Karen and Barry
Karen and Barry
Written 7 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Hey Karen and Barry,
Thank you so much for your kind review!! Our education team are so awesome, we're so glad you all enjoyed the birthday party!!! I think this is an opportunity that not many people are aware of so I really appreciate you taking the time to give us feedback! Do come back soon :)
Written 28 October 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Ganice Olivers
Dunedin, New Zealand2 contributions
Aug 2020
Brilliant time here with my family. Stunning sites and super educational too!!! I will recommending this gem to my friends.
Written 21 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Thank you for visiting!! Come back soon :)
Written 23 August 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Monica
Auckland, New Zealand11 contributions
Jul 2020
Lovely native bush in which the wildlife is protected by a predator free fence. Get there by mid day to have enough time to enjoy the walks before the 4:30 closure. Well worth an afternoon.
Written 1 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Thanks so much for visiting and for your review, we agree, arriving in the morning is the best time to enjoy the sanctuary! The birds are fed from 9am finishing with the takahē at 11 :) Come back soon!
Written 23 August 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
SuzyOphelia
Rarotonga, Cook Islands215 contributions
May 2020
We had a fabulous time walking around all the different tracks through the native bush. The seats are well positioned so you can stop & listen/watch the native birds singing & feeding 😀
It was amazing to meet the new Takahes Bennett & Waimaire.
It was amazing to meet the new Takahes Bennett & Waimaire.
Written 30 May 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Thank you for visiting and for your review, we're glad you got to meet the two new takahē!!
Written 23 August 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
What is the cost per adult?
How strenuous are the trails?
How long on average to do the trail?
Is there a rest area.
Restaurant?
Orokonui
Dunedin, New Zealand
Hi there, I'm so sorry I missed your questions! The answers given by the lovely people below are accurate however. Cost is $20 per adult, $10 per child, under 5 year olds are free. There is a 10% discount for seniors, students and community services card holders.
The tracks range from easy to a little harder.. the main two tracks take between 30min to 1 hour to complete and another track to NZ's tallest tree takes 2 hours return. There are seats throughout the ecosanctuary for you to take a break.
We have a cafe selling meals and coffee and you're more than welcome to bring a picnic but please don't feed the birds! Thanks again, Alice
Kathie R
Dunedin, New Zealand13 contributions
Is it worth doing the guided tour?
Kejak70
Dunedin, New Zealand12 contributions
Dear Janine
Please forgive my tardiness in getting back to you , somehow this has slipped through the emails. I hope that you haven't been and gone and we didn't get the chance to advise you on how valuable a guided tour is. You get so much more out of the experience and you will find every visit to the bush/forest afterwards is never the same. A whole world is open to you .Please let me know if you come again and we will arrange something special.
Apologies once agin Kerry
VSIN
Pune, India41 contributions
How easy it is to spot a penguin there and during what time of the day
Kejak70
Dunedin, New Zealand12 contributions
Hello there
Unfortunately we don't have penguins .. you will need to check out Penguin Place or the little blue penguins at Tairoa Head .. evening is best for penguins .. however we do have Takehe with a new chick as well as fen birds,kaka,Tui, robins, bellbirds our beautiful forest is alive with bird life ... not to mention our tuatara and skinks .. come and check out the best view in town ..happy new year
The OROKONUI team
sez79_79
Queanbeyan, Australia21 contributions
i'd like to know how i can get there as we are arriving in Dunedin by cruise ship in the next couple of weeks and would like to know how to get from Port Chalmers.
Kejak70
Dunedin, New Zealand12 contributions
Hello there Ses
I have answered this email twice now however it doesn't seem to have been posted ?
Anyway there is two ways of getting to Orokonui
Contact the local i-site (Visitor Centre) or preferably
let us know what ship what day you arrive and we will collect you and return you to the ship or city whatever suits..We have a host of volunteers/staff/who can collect you from the Port. I am also happy to assist if required.look forward to hearing from you. travel safe..Regards
margaret986
Sydney, Australia58 contributions
can you get there by public transport or only a tour.
sez79_79
Queanbeyan, Australia21 contributions
hi margaret, i basically asked the same question so here's what they said:
Hello there Ses
I have answered this email twice now however it doesn't seem to have been posted ?
Anyway there is two ways of getting to Orokonui
Contact the local i-site (Visitor Centre) or preferably
let us know what ship what day you arrive and we will collect you and return you to the ship or city whatever suits..We have a host of volunteers/staff/who can collect you from the Port. I am also happy to assist if required.look forward to hearing from you. travel safe..Regards
Hi Mike W, can you please tell me what day and time you visited Orokonui Ecosantuary? I have visited Orokonui many times and have never experienced this kind of thing.
it is open thru the week?
Kiaora
Yes! At the moment we are open every day from 9:30am until 4:30pm.
We look forward to seeing you soon
