Karori Wildlife Sanctuary
The Karori Wildlife Sanctuary is a conservation project with an ambitious aim, to restore a 255 hectare patch of Wellington to the way it was before humans arrived in New Zealand. This sort of aim does have its complexities, but in general terms the project is well on its way though 500 years is the expected time frame. So far the project which was initiated in 1995 is off to a flying start. A list of their key achievements is available here.
I lucked out and visited on a nice day, dodging the frequent flashbacks to winter that this summer has been kindly bestowed on us. However, some hanging cloud provided a little relief from the sun where the trees did not. The birds are the stars of the show, followed by the lizards and insects. It’s a nice change to have tui fluttering about in front of you, rather than the more familiar pigeons of Wellington looking to bumptiously flap past your face.
The main walk of the park can be taken rather briskly in about 2 hours. I’m sure there is near unlimited potential to slow down and take in your surroundings while trying to spot some of the less brazen wildlife. New Zealand doesn’t really have any gaudy animals, so the trick is to take your time and watch for the tuatara that might be right under your nose. That said, being able to rush through the park isn’t necessarily a negative. It can quickly get you to the more remote tracks which will likely have less people (especially rowdy children, who tend to tire after being marched up a hill) and better chances of spotting creatures.
I missed it on my visit, but if I’d have more of a mind to plan ahead I’d have avoided missing the kaka feeding which takes place at certain times of the day. Something for next time is the tour by night; though it is more expensive it does offer something special not commonly found elsewhere in New Zealand. For a cheaper option, enjoy the extended hours until 8pm through February and March.
We caught sight of about a ten fluffy baby quails on our way out of the Sanctuary. The smaller ones, though not exactly timid, took to the tall grass pretty quickly.
