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New Zealand - South Island Endemics

© Black Stilts by Erik Forsyth
New Zealand - South Island Endemics 2025

24 Jan 2025 - 02 Feb 2025 (10 days)

NZD6,795 - No Spaces Available

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Tour Leader: Erik Forsyth

Tour price (Per person): NZD6,795 * USD3,959 * GBP3,161 * EUR3,803 * AUD6,097

Single Supplement: NZD920 * USD536 * GBP428 * EUR515 * AUD825

Can be linked with: New Zealand - North Island Endemics 2025

New Zealand supports a host of unusual endemic land birds and a rich assemblage of marine birds and mammals. We start our tour in 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, before hiking through pristine Red Beech forest surrounded by breathtaking glacier-lined mountains, where the massive Kea (an Alpine parrot) can be found. In Fiordland National Park, our targets will include 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

Southern Brown Kiwi, Black Stilt, South Island Saddleback, Yellowhead, Rifleman, Black-fronted Tern, Kea, Wrybill and Blue Duck

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 and local leaders where necessary

Tour Pace & Walking

easy pace with undemanding walks. Most walks are on trails in reserves. Trails tend to be flat with reasonable space, but can be a little slippery when wet.

Accommodation

good hotels, roads, facilities and wifi throughout etc

Ease of Birding

most species are easily seen in open habitat. Kiwi are found at night and are wary of sound and light, so a fair amount of luck is needed

Number of Species Expected

+-100

Other Attractions

Mt Cook scenery and glaciers, Southern Alpine Mountain Range, Mitre Peak Milford Sound, island life Stewart Island, picturesque city of Dunedin

Photographic Opportunities

good to excellent

What our clients say about us

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
DE & NE, New Zealand

Erik was a delight to be with, as his sense of humour was a constant. Having him at the helm added an unexpected and pleasurable dimension to the whole trip. The entire trip was terrific: beautiful scenery, nice people, good beer and food, and comfy accommodations.

Erik Forsyth
SC, New Zealand 2018

Erik Forsyth was excellent, a great guide; professional, knowledgeable, friendly and pleasant to be around. He was also a careful driver who spent many hours driving us around New Zealand. All in all, I was left very satisfied and happy with the tour; and this being my first Rockjumper tour, I was left with a very positive impression of the company and its staff. I would certainly like to use Rockjumper and Erik again!

Erik Forsyth
PJ, New Zealand 2022

Even though the weather did not always cooperate Erik was able to get us to sites to see the endemic birds of NZ. The pelagic trips were excellent as was Erik's quick response to having to use an alternate boat for our last trip. He was very helpful in allowing me to spend time with a relative I had not seen in a long time and she and I were able to visit while waiting for the Interisland ferry.

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