Ōtorohanga Kiwi House
Ōtorohanga Kiwi House
4.1
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
The Ōtorohanga Kiwi House is a great place to see NZ's iconic kiwi birds up close & active in special moonlit nocturnal enclosures. There are 20 kiwi on site involved in the captive breeding programme and 4 or more on display in the nocturnal enclosures. There's also a great range of other native New Zealand birds & reptiles. We are just 15 minutes from the world famous Waitomo Glowworm Caves and are owned and operated by a non-profit organisation dedicated to New Zealand conservation. Everything we earn is re-invested in the care of the animals and the operation of the park. Daily Keeper Talks: •10:30am kiwi •11:00am kea & kaka (native parrots) •12:00pm red-crowned kakariki (parakeets) • 1:30pm kiwi • 2:30pm NZ long fin eels • 3.30 pm kiwi The Ōtorohanga Kiwi House is open daily (except Dec 25th) from 9:00 am - 5.00 pm (last admission 4.15pm). All tickets are valid for 2 consecutive days.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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4.1
771 reviews
Excellent
336
Very good
271
Average
93
Poor
40
Terrible
31
Christopher R
1 contribution
Jan 2025 • Couples
Visiting the Ōtorohanga Kiwi House was an absolutely fantastic experience. The staff were incredibly passionate and knowledgeable, making the visit both engaging and educational.
Not only did they provide fascinating insights into the kiwi and other native wildlife of New Zealand, but they also did an excellent job explaining the broader ecological challenges the country faces. In particular, their explanations about the threats posed by invasive species introduced from other parts of the world were eye-opening. It was a reminder of how delicate and unique New Zealand’s ecosystem is, and how important conservation efforts are.
The care and dedication of the staff were evident in every aspect of the visit, and their enthusiasm made the experience even more enjoyable. I highly recommend a visit to anyone interested in New Zealand’s incredible wildlife and conservation efforts!
Not only did they provide fascinating insights into the kiwi and other native wildlife of New Zealand, but they also did an excellent job explaining the broader ecological challenges the country faces. In particular, their explanations about the threats posed by invasive species introduced from other parts of the world were eye-opening. It was a reminder of how delicate and unique New Zealand’s ecosystem is, and how important conservation efforts are.
The care and dedication of the staff were evident in every aspect of the visit, and their enthusiasm made the experience even more enjoyable. I highly recommend a visit to anyone interested in New Zealand’s incredible wildlife and conservation efforts!
Written 31 January 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for your kind words!
We’re thrilled to hear that you had a fantastic experience at the Ōtorohanga Kiwi House. Our team is truly passionate about sharing the wonders of New Zealand’s unique wildlife and conservation efforts, and it’s wonderful to know that it made an impact on your visit.
We’re grateful for your recognition of the important work being done to protect our native species and their habitats. We hope to welcome you back again soon for another memorable experience!
Written 3 February 2025
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Sally-ann M
20 contributions
Oct 2024 • Couples
Kiwi are nocturnal birds. This understanding is key in adjusting myself to the realities of how they live if I want to see them here.
We we with international guests and we all took our time, were patient & persistent. By the end of our visit we saw each kiwi enjoying itself hunting, running and preening. It was everything we’d hoped for our guests.
Fully adjusting to the ‘nighttime’ viewing is essential. Recognizing what to look for and being realistic ensured our experience was top notch.
The staff couldn’t have been more helpful, welcoming and informative. The gardens are well maintained and seeing the tuatara out and about enjoying the sun was a bonus.
We we with international guests and we all took our time, were patient & persistent. By the end of our visit we saw each kiwi enjoying itself hunting, running and preening. It was everything we’d hoped for our guests.
Fully adjusting to the ‘nighttime’ viewing is essential. Recognizing what to look for and being realistic ensured our experience was top notch.
The staff couldn’t have been more helpful, welcoming and informative. The gardens are well maintained and seeing the tuatara out and about enjoying the sun was a bonus.
Written 8 October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
evenstar944
New York City, NY297 contributions
Feb 2024 • Family
If I did not have a chance to see a Kiwi, I probably would have rated this park as average. Overall the park has a bit of a run down and tired feel to it. There were also some closed off areas and what looked to be construction going on, so they might be in the middle of rennovations. There were some winding paths surrounded by lush trees and plants that took you to see the birds and reptiles. There was a nice aviary there as well. I was able to see one Kiwi in the nocturnal house. It ran back and forth along the window foraging for food. It was an adorable sight to see and I thought it looked much bigger than I imagined they would be. No photos are allowed in the Kiwi House, so if you want to get a picture they do have some taxidermy Kiwi when you first enter. The park had some other interesting birds such as the Kereru/ NZ pigeon, oystercatchers, various ducks, kakariri, plovers and geckos. The park offers keeper talks on Kiwi's and other birds. They did not coincide with the time I was there so I did not get to experience them. Overall worth a visit to see Kiwi and if you have a particular interest in native NZ birds.
Written 4 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Yip Yip
45 contributions
Sept 2024 • Couples
Really enjoyed our visit! Spent two hours enjoying the wildlife, particularly the kiwi areas and aviary (the main one in the big sphere was great, but I liked the smaller one more due to the wood pigeons being easier to watch). Enclosures looked great.
We saw both kiwis in the first enclosure as soon as we arrived and watched for a while, and saw the two smaller ones in the second too. Before leaving we checked again, and while we didn’t see any in the first enclosure, we did see the two smaller ones again!
A lot of reviews are mixed, but I think a lot of people are salty on here due to not seeing kiwi. We both saw plenty of signs mentioning if you hadn’t seen a kiwi, to talk to the keepers and they might be able to help. Additionally, the admission is for 2 days so you can come back! The enclosure is dark, since they’re nocturnal, but it’s not so dark that you can’t see the birds. They’re also wild and live on their own schedule, not waiting to preform for you.
The area that is blocked off does not take away from the experience IMO, as there is still plenty to see. I’d recommend a visit. Some things look a bit dated, like signage, but overall it was fair for the admission. Enjoy!
We saw both kiwis in the first enclosure as soon as we arrived and watched for a while, and saw the two smaller ones in the second too. Before leaving we checked again, and while we didn’t see any in the first enclosure, we did see the two smaller ones again!
A lot of reviews are mixed, but I think a lot of people are salty on here due to not seeing kiwi. We both saw plenty of signs mentioning if you hadn’t seen a kiwi, to talk to the keepers and they might be able to help. Additionally, the admission is for 2 days so you can come back! The enclosure is dark, since they’re nocturnal, but it’s not so dark that you can’t see the birds. They’re also wild and live on their own schedule, not waiting to preform for you.
The area that is blocked off does not take away from the experience IMO, as there is still plenty to see. I’d recommend a visit. Some things look a bit dated, like signage, but overall it was fair for the admission. Enjoy!
Written 16 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Explorer
466 contributions
Mar 2024 • Couples
This has potential but at the moment is undergoing much needed major refurbishment. It was still possible to walk round to see the birds, geckos & eels but the site is very tired. We did see an active Kiwi in the night zone. I was disappointed that there were no talks. Apparently there have been none all week due to keeper illness. However there was a member of staff in reception who answered questions.
Written 24 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Christina R
19 contributions
Jul 2024 • Couples
We went around opening time and the Kiwis were pretty active! If you can catch a keeper talk it's pretty fascinating. The variety of birds and other creatures here were great to see too. Worth a trip if you want a chance to see these nocturnal critters! Staff was so kind and professional too.
Written 26 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Addison M
15 contributions
Mar 2024 • Family
There was basically no chance that we were going to see a kiwi in the wild (they only come out at night, they’re small and hard to spot, and they’re extremely rare/endangered), so this was second-best! They had a “dark room” where one kiwi was out and about in his enclosure. We watched him run back and forth for quite a while. He was so cute! And I'm just so glad I got to see one while in New Zealand! This place also had an aviary, a bunch of other rescued birds, reptiles, and a really cute gift shop.
Written 6 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Janka K
Brno, Czech Republic9,379 contributions
Dec 2023 • Couples
An amazing place where you find live kiwis, a lot of information about them and also some stuffed kiwis to imagine their actual size. And they are much bigger than I had imagined them to be.
Live kiwis are hard to spot, because the animals are active during dusk and their living environment is darker. So don't be disappointed when you don't see them in the bright daylight.
What I found especially nice about this place is an option to touch real feathers of 3 different types of kiwi. The feathers are available as samples glued to paper and the staff working at the place will show them to you after you ask.
Besides kiwis, the place has a small zoo with other native birds and lizards of New Zealand.
Live kiwis are hard to spot, because the animals are active during dusk and their living environment is darker. So don't be disappointed when you don't see them in the bright daylight.
What I found especially nice about this place is an option to touch real feathers of 3 different types of kiwi. The feathers are available as samples glued to paper and the staff working at the place will show them to you after you ask.
Besides kiwis, the place has a small zoo with other native birds and lizards of New Zealand.
Written 24 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chloe G
Kuala Belait, Brunei Darussalam2 contributions
Apr 2024 • Family
Do not waste your money, it's understandable that Kiwis are nocturnal, however this is basically 2 dark rooms...you would be lucky to spot a Kiwi and even if you manage to spot one, you can't see them well at all.
This is not the only problem half the place is closed or under maintenance. The enclosures were poorly maintained..everything looked run down and many were empty.
It really was a terrible waste of time.
This is not the only problem half the place is closed or under maintenance. The enclosures were poorly maintained..everything looked run down and many were empty.
It really was a terrible waste of time.
Written 14 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts. We’re truly sorry that your experience didn’t meet your expectations, and we appreciate the opportunity to explain more about what we do and why some aspects of the facility may not have been what you expected.
The Ōtorohanga Kiwi House is a self-funded charity dedicated to the conservation of New Zealand’s native wildlife. As a breed-for-release facility, our primary focus is always on the welfare of our animals and creating habitats that mimic their natural environment as closely as possible. For our North Island brown kiwi, this means dark, dense enclosures that replicate the conditions they would experience in the wild. We understand this can make viewing a challenge, but these environments are critical to their health and survival. Our staff are also happy to assist if you have any trouble locating any of our wildlife.
Our site was originally built in 1971, and we are currently undergoing a full site-wide redevelopment as part of the Living Building Challenge, a global initiative aimed at creating sustainable and environmentally responsible buildings. This ambitious redevelopment is happening in stages, starting with behind-the-scenes upgrades like our animal care and medical facilities. While this process is rewarding, it’s also time-intensive and can impact the visitor experience as we work through each area.
We’re sorry to hear that parts of the park appeared run-down or under maintenance during your visit. These areas are part of the phased redevelopment, and we’re working hard to improve both the spaces for our animals and the overall experience for our visitors.
Your support by visiting helps us continue our work in conservation, care for our wildlife, and fund these much-needed upgrades. If you’re ever back in the area in the future, we’d love to welcome you again to experience the improvements we’re making.
Thank you again for sharing your feedback.
Written 28 January 2025
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Blue Heeler
Brisbane, Australia777 contributions
Jan 2025 • Couples
This was expensive for a poorly designed and also poorly maintained mini zoo. Very difficult to see any kiwis with the nocturnal conditions they provide. For the rest of the facility there were mainly birds that were nothing special. The majority of them one can see in the wild.
I appreciate that there are always difficulties with providing a good natural habitat for the wildlife, but when charging the expensive fees this place did, one must also consider the needs of customers in being able to easily see the wildlife. I've been to zoos all over the world, and in this place it was extremely difficult to see much of the fauna in their cages. I estimately only saw under 50% of the wildlife. Despite searching very hard it took us less than 30 minutes to the entire facility.
I'd love to be more positive but given that there was quite a lot of staff floating around. But when one looks at some of the buildings and the overgrown cobwebs, and general tun-dien feel, it kind of gives the impression that customers are not their first priority. Giving me specifically traveled to this place to see kiwis, needless to say we were very disappointed.
I appreciate that there are always difficulties with providing a good natural habitat for the wildlife, but when charging the expensive fees this place did, one must also consider the needs of customers in being able to easily see the wildlife. I've been to zoos all over the world, and in this place it was extremely difficult to see much of the fauna in their cages. I estimately only saw under 50% of the wildlife. Despite searching very hard it took us less than 30 minutes to the entire facility.
I'd love to be more positive but given that there was quite a lot of staff floating around. But when one looks at some of the buildings and the overgrown cobwebs, and general tun-dien feel, it kind of gives the impression that customers are not their first priority. Giving me specifically traveled to this place to see kiwis, needless to say we were very disappointed.
Written 17 January 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback.
We’re truly sorry that your visit didn’t meet your expectations, and we appreciate the opportunity to provide some context about who we are and what we do.
The Ōtorohanga Kiwi House is not a zoo but a self-funded charity dedicated to the conservation of New Zealand’s unique native species, with a core focus on animal care and welfare. Currently, we only hold North Island brown kiwi, which are a more cryptic species that thrive in densely planted environments and require carefully controlled nocturnal conditions to mimic their natural habitat.
As a breed-for-release facility, our focus is always on creating environments that prioritize their wellbeing and prepare them for release into the wild.
Our facility was originally built in 1971, and we’re currently undergoing a full site-wide redevelopment as part of the Living Building Challenge—a highly ambitious sustainability-focused initiative. This has brought unique and rewarding challenges, but it also means that the redevelopment is progressing in stages. We’ve started with upgrades to our back-of-house and medical facilities to provide the best care for our animals before expanding to the rest of the park.
We understand that this redevelopment can impact the visitor experience, and we’re working hard to improve both our facilities and how we share what we do. It’s worth noting that entry tickets to our park are two-day passes, allowing visitors more time to explore and enjoy everything we have to offer. Additionally, our staff are always happy to assist visitors in locating wildlife they may have missed.
If you’re still in the area, we’d love to invite you back to view our back-of-house facilities and the first completed stage of our redevelopment. Alternatively, if you ever get the chance in the future, we’d love to welcome you back once we’ve made further progress on the redevelopment for a full tour and a chance to learn more about our conservation work.
We deeply value your support—every visit helps us care for our animals, contribute to the conservation of New Zealand’s native species, and fund the upgrades we’re making to our facility. Thank you again for your feedback, and we hope to see you again in the future.
Warm regards,
The Ōtorohanga Kiwi House Team
Written 28 January 2025
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Hi there
We are open from 9am to 5pm every day except December 25. Last admission time to the park is 4.30pm. We hope to see you soon!
Regards
Jo Russell
Written 6 January 2020
Hi there! We suggest you allow at least 45 minutes to an hour to walk around the park and take in one or two of our daily keeper talks. The keepers talks are about: kiwi (10.30am, 1.30pm, 3.30pm), kea and kaka (11am), kakariki (12pm) and longfin eels (2.30pm). We hope to see you soon!
Written 3 May 2017
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