Kiwi Birdlife Park, Queenstown Overview

A trip to New Zealand would be incomplete without viewing its national bird, the kiwi. The Kiwi Birdlife Park is a not-for-profit conservation park which hosts over 20 species of local birds and reptiles. It takes special care to provide the birds with the closest to a natural habitat possible by keeping the nocturnal kiwi in the dark space. The kiwi is also not visible in the open, and this is one of the few places in New Zealand where you can observe them from such a close distance.

The park also conducts an informative yet fun conservation show, which teaches the audience about the in-house species and the team’s conservation efforts all. At the same time, the birds fly around in the open arena.
This is an excellent location for a family to spend a Sunday morning, and it will be a great learning experience for the young. You can also view a kiwi feeding session or take an audio tour of the facility. The park is also home to a Bee Centre, where you can view indoor and outdoor beehives and even sample some honey for free! So immerse yourself in the lush green surroundings with the chirping of the birds, and buckle in for a wholesome yet educating day!

Things to Do

This parks gives you an up-close peak of the native kiwi birds, along with other species of birds and reptiles. Some activities they organize are:

Kiwi feeding – If you’ve ever wondered what kiwis eat for meals, the kiwi feeding hours have you covered! Their team of experts take you through the feeding habits and other fun facts during this 20 minute long activity, where you can observe the kiwis right at home.
Conservation show – This show is a 30-minute long experience, with the trained and passionate animal keepers educating the audience about the local species. The many types of birds and replies also roam and fly around freely in the arena, and it is an amazing learning opportunity for kids and adults alike.
Audio tour – You could also choose to explore the park freely on your own, with audio guides available in English, Chinese and Japanese. It guides you through the conservation efforts conducted at the park since 1986.
Bee centre – You could also view an indoor and outdoor bee hive, as well as learn about bees at their Bee centre. A free bee tasting is also available here.
Private tours – A private tour allows you to experience the park with one of their highly trained and highly enthusiastic staff members, who will make it a great learning experience.

The Layout

The entire park is spread across 5 acres of green land, with different areas dedicated to different species. There are a few ponds and water bodies for species such as the Rainbow Trout and Brown Trout, and different houses built for the kiwis in order to maintain a dark surrounding.

There is also a separate building for the Bee Centre. It is located in the city of Queenstown, and hence is easily accessible to tourists for a day visit.

How To Reach Kiwi Birdlife Park

Since the park is located within the city of Queenstown itself, the following modes of transport can be used to get here:

Bus – This is the cheapest way to get to Kiwi Birdlife Park. The bus lines that go near the area are Bus-11 and Bus-9. The closest bus stop is Queenstown (Connells Mall / Camp St), which is 120 metres, or a 2 minute walk away. Another station which is close is Boundary St, which is a 3 minute walk away.
Taxi – There are multiple taxi services which operate in the city. The most popular is Uber, which is easily available and can be booked through their app.
Car – If you plan on driving down, street parking is available near the park area.