07 Jan 2025 - 23 Jan 2025 (17 days)
NZD11,595 - No Spaces Available
Tour Leader: Erik Forsyth
16 Oct 2025 - 01 Nov 2025 (17 days)
NZD11,595 - Spaces Available
Tour Leader: Erik Forsyth
Tour price (Per person): NZD11,595 * USD6,535 * GBP5,211 * EUR6,288 * AUD10,492
Single Supplement: NZD1,450 * USD817 * GBP652 * EUR786 * AUD1,312
Can be linked with: New Zealand - Chatham Islands Extension 2025
05 Nov 2025 - 21 Nov 2025 (17 days)
NZD11,595 - No Spaces Available
Tour Leader: Erik Forsyth
Tour price (Per person): NZD11,595 * USD6,535 * GBP5,211 * EUR6,288 * AUD10,492
Single Supplement: NZD1,450 * USD817 * GBP652 * EUR786 * AUD1,312
Can be linked with: New Zealand - Chatham Islands Extension 2025
Tour Leader: Erik Forsyth
09 Oct 2026 - 25 Oct 2026 (17 days)
NZD12,100 - Spaces Available
Tour Leader: Erik Forsyth
27 Oct 2026 - 12 Nov 2026 (17 days)
NZD12,100 - Spaces Available
Tour Leader: Erik Forsyth
New Zealand supports a host of unusual endemic land birds and a rich assemblage of marine birds and mammals. Our comprehensive tour is designed to seek almost every possible endemic and take full advantage of New Zealand’s oceanic diversity. Beginning in Auckland, we target North Island Brown Kiwi, amongst a multitude of other species that will no doubt be lifers. The first of our several pelagic excursions then takes place in the Hauraki Gulf in search of the recently rediscovered New Zealand Storm Petrel and a myriad of other species. Continuing to the fabled Tiritiri Matangi Island, we will bird this predator-free reserve for the prehistoric South Island Takahe, strange North Island Kokako and Stitchbird, before combing the Miranda shoreline for the bizarre Wrybill and numerous migrant waders. We finish our time on North Island visiting Kapiti Island searching for the endangered Little Spotted Kiwi, migrant Long-tailed Cuckoo and Tomtit.
Crossing onto South Island, our first stop is Blumine Island Bird Sanctuary, where the dazzling South Island Saddleback and New Zealand Robin will no doubt entertain us, before we embark on another pelagic adventure into the fantastic upwelling off Kaikoura, searching for an abundance of albatrosses, shearwaters and petrels. Travelling across South Island, we will seek the endemic flightless rail known as the Weka, as well as the critically endangered Black Stilt, before hiking through pristine Red Beech forest surrounded by breathtaking glacier-lined mountains, where Pipipi (Brown Creeper) and the massive Kea 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 and a variety of other specialities prior to another pelagic outing visiting several nearby islands. Our final destination will be Dunedin, where a visit to a Northern Royal Albatross colony and a Yellow-eyed Penguin breeding site 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!
Southern Brown, North Island Brown & Little Spotted Kiwis; Paradise Shelduck; Blue Duck; Brown Teal; New Zealand Scaup; Yellow-eyed, Fiordland & Little Penguins; New Zealand Storm Petrel; Wandering, Antipodean, Southern Royal, Northern Royal, Campbell, Shy, Salvin's & Buller's Albatrosses; Cook's, Westland & Black Petrels; Buller's & Hutton's Shearwater; New Zealand Grebe; Spotted, Rough-faced, Foveaux, Otago & Spotted Shags; Weka; South Island Takahe; South Island & Variable Oystercatchers; Black Stilt; Wrybill; New Zealand Plover; Black-billed Gull; White-fronted & Black-fronted Terns; New Zealand Pigeon; New Zealand Falcon; Kea; New Zealand Kaka; Yellow-crowned & Malherbe's Parakeets; Rifelman; New Zealand Rockwren; Tui; Grey Gerygone; North Island Kokako; North Island & South Island Saddlebacks; Stitchbird; Yellowhead; Whitehead; Pipipi; Tomtit; New Zealand Robin; New Zealand Fernbird; New Zealand Pipit.
New Zealand Fur Seal; Hector's & Dusky Dolphins; Killer Whale
mudflats, estuary, river, pelagic, wetlands, islands, alpine grasslands, mountain beech forest, temperate rainforest
subtropical to temperate. the south can get very cold. New Zealand often experiences four seasons in one day, so you should be prepared for sudden changes in weather and temperature.
8 with 1 Rockjumper leader
mostly very relaxed with some longer walks
very comfortable
mostly undemanding
135+
excellent
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.
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.
Beautiful country, good birding sites, good group of travelers. Eric Forsyth was an excellent guide, handling all situations very well, including weather-related activity cancellations that were beyond his control.
The trip sounded good in the write-up but far exceeded our expectations. The pelagic trips were outstanding. The number of participants was perfect. Erik knew the birds and their calls/sounds and was very effective in getting everyone to see the birds. He called many pelagic IDs well before other people had even spotted the birds. Erik’s skills in managing the participants showed and his sense of humour added to his effectiveness. We thoroughly enjoyed our trip.
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.
New Zealand - Comprehensive III 2024 - November 2024
New Zealand - Comprehensive II 2024 - October 2024
Grand Pacific Odyssey - New Zealand to Japan 2024 - March 2024
New Zealand - Comprehensive I 2024 - January 2024
New Zealand - South Island Endemics 2023 - December 2023
New Zealand - Comprehensive III 2023 - November 2023
New Zealand - Chatham Islands Extension II 2023 - November 2023
New Zealand - Comprehensive II 2023 - October 2023
Australia & New Zealand - Zhong 2023 - October 2023
Grand Pacific Odyssey - New Zealand to Japan 2023 - March 2023
New Zealand - Chatham Islands Extension I 2023 - January 2023
New Zealand - Comprehensive I 2023 - January 2023
New Zealand - Comprehensive III 2022 - November 2022
New Zealand - Comprehensive II 2022 - October 2022
New Zealand - Comprehensive I 2020 - January 2020
New Zealand - Comprehensive II 2019 - October 2019
New Zealand - Comprehensive III 2018 - November 2018
New Zealand - Comprehensive II 2018 - October 2018
Sign up now and get the best deals straight in your inbox!
1-888-990-5552
info@rockjumper.com
