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New Zealand - Highlights (Relaxed)

© Black Stilts by Erik Forsyth
New Zealand - Highlights (Relaxed) 2026

22 Jan 2026 - 04 Feb 2026 (14 days)

NZD9,500 - 4 Spaces Available

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Tour Leader: Erik Forsyth

Pricing notes : *Prices are estimated and dates may change*

Tour price (Per person): NZD9,500 * USD5,354 * GBP4,275 * EUR5,155 * AUD8,598

New Zealand supports a host of unusual endemic land birds and a rich assemblage of marine birds and mammals. We begin our relaxed tour of the country on the North Island. Around Snells Beach we’ll find a multitude of new endemics and head out at night looking for North Island Brown Kiwi. Our pelagic into the Hauraki Gulf searches for the recently rediscovered New Zealand Storm Petrel amongst a myriad of albatrosses, shearwaters and other seabirds. Our time on the north island draws to a close with a visit to the fabled Tiritiri Matangi Island, where we’ll bird this predator-free reserve for the prehistoric South Island Takahe, strange North Island Kokako and Stitchbird amongst others.

We make our way south to the beautiful grasslands of the Mackenzie region of the South Island where we will take in the beauty of the Southern Alpine range, while looking for the critically endangered Black Stilt and unusual Wrybill, before hiking through pristine Red Beech forest surrounded by breath-taking glacier-lined mountains, where the massive Kea (an Alpine parrot) can be found. In Fiordland National Park we will search for Blue Duck, the cute New Zealand Rockwren and New Zealand Falcon, before catching our ferry to the rugged Stewart Island in search of Southern Brown Kiwi, Yellow-eyed and Fiordland Crested Penguins and a pelagic outing visiting several nearby islands in search of a variety of seabirds including 8 species of albatross! Our final destination will be Dunedin, where a visit to a Northern Royal Albatross colony will certainly be amongst the many highlights of this rewarding tour. With excellent lodging and meals, awe-inspiring scenery, and fantastically friendly “Kiwis”, this is sure to be a tour of a lifetime!

Top Birds

North Island & South Island Brown Kiwis; North Island Kokako; North Island & South Island Saddlebacks; Whitehead; Rifleman; Stitchbird; South Island Takahe; Wrybill; Blue Duck; Black Stilt; Yellowhead; Kea & Kaka; New Zealand Pigeon; Red-crowned Parakeet; Tui; Yellow-eyed, Little Blue & Fiordland Crested Penguins; New Zealand Storm Petrel; Northern Royal Albatross; Buller’s, Fluttering & Flesh-footed Shearwaters; Cook’s & Black Petrels;

Habitats Covered

Forest, beach, estuary and pelagic at sea

Expected Climate

Subtropical with chances for occasional rain

Max Group Size

8 with 1 Rockjumper Leader

Tour Pace & Walking

UNDEMANDING: This tour is ideal for birders and wildlife enthusiasts of all experience levels. It’s suitable for most mobility levels and offers a relaxed pace, ensuring an enjoyable experience for everyone.

Comfortable. Suitable for all birding / wildlife interest levels & most mobility capabilities.

Accommodation

Comfortable.

Ease of Birding

Undemanding, most species provide good visuals. Night birding for kiwis can be tricky. A small number of scarce/rare target species.

Other Attractions

Tiritiri Matangi Island, Mt Cook scenery and glaciers, Southern Alpine Mountain Range, island life of Stewart Island, picturesque city of Dunedin

Photographic Opportunities

Good to very good. Pelagic opportunities can be outstanding in good weather conditions.

What our clients say about us

Erik Forsyth
AW & DW, New Zealand 2018

We thoroughly enjoyed the tour, which covered a wonderfully varied range of environments, scenery, birds, etc., and was a great introduction to New Zealand. Erik Forsyth did a good job of rearranging times and/or dates for two of the pelagics, which were ultimately successful--even given substantial rain and wind.

Erik Forsyth
LP, New Zealand 2017

Erik Forsyth's depth of knowledge of the birds of New Zealand was astounding. He delivered on all the species possible, and some even became good friends with multiple good sightings before the trip was through. He was good-natured and managed our group well throughout the long hours of driving on several days. The accommodations were good, as were the night walks for kiwis, the pelagic tours, and the visits to islands and refuges to see rare, endemic and endangered species. I loved the trip from the beginning to the end. We had good weather, too! Thanks, from the bottom of my heart, for the wonderful experience exploring New Zealand. I fell in love with the birds and the country. Thanks, Erik, for making it happen. Four stars, two thumbs up, all possible positive accolades.

Erik Forsyth
DS & JS, New Zealand 2018

Erik Forsyth did a fine job of managing the group. He is a constitutionally positive person and conveyed a healthy sense of humour that was appreciated by the entire group. He clearly endeavoured to spend time with all of the members of the group which brought about good group cohesion. He met each person, regardless of their birding ability, and facilitated their birding experience.

Erik Forsyth
KS, New Zealand 2020

We thoroughly enjoyed this trip. Erik Forsyth is an excellent guide. He managed a one-man show as bird guide, van driver and ground agent all the while maintaining a wonderful sense of humor.

Erik Forsyth
JM, New Zealand 2018

Overall, a very good tour. Erik Forsyth got us onto all the most wanted birds and was attentive to everyone's needs. He was professional and kept the atmosphere fun and light.

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