![yellow eyed penguin](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/eip/air-new-zealand/wildlife/anz-header-yellow-eyed-penguin-credit-getty.jpg?imwidth=680)
Five awesome wildlife experiences to have in New Zealand
From kiwis and penguins to giant sperm whales and dusky dolphins, Aotearoa’s coast, lakes and forests abound with wildlife
![yellow eyed penguin](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/eip/air-new-zealand/wildlife/anz-header-yellow-eyed-penguin-credit-getty.jpg?imwidth=680)
Spot kiwis on Stewart Island
The iconic kiwi is the country’s most curious species. Often described as an honorary mammal, Stewart Island (Rakiura) is the best place to spot them in the wild. Just 30km south of South Island across the Foveaux Strait, Stewart Island is home to fewer than 400 people, many of whom live in Oban, while much of the prodigious wildlife – think penguins, sea lions and seals as well as kiwis – resides in Rakiura National Park.
![Kiwi](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/eip/air-new-zealand/wildlife/anz-1-kiwi-stewart-island-credit-alamy.jpg?imwidth=350)
The walking track that loops from Little Glory Cove to Ocean Beach in the Glory Cove Scenic Reserve is the best place to see them, or you can follow the Rakiura Great Walk on a guided tramp. This spectacular multi-day route passes along deserted beaches and through coastal and inland primaeval forest. With its name meaning “the Land of Glowing Skies”, Rakiura is also one of the top spots to observe the enchanting Aurora Australis, or Southern Lights, thanks to the lack of light pollution.
Glimpse giant sperm whales in Kaikoura
Caught between the snow-capped Kaikōura mountain range and the Pacific Ocean on the east coast of the South Island, Kaikōura’s setting is captivating. But it’s not just its breathtaking scenery that wows visitors. It’s also one of the world’s best places for marine life encounters.
Whales, fur seals and dolphins fill the waters around Kaikōura, where boat tours regularly depart from the marina. Depending on what time of year you visit you may encounter orca, humpback, minke, beaked and even blue whales. And it’s one of only a few places in the world where sightings of the awe-inspiring giant sperm whale are possible.
![sperm whale fin pops out of the water](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/eip/air-new-zealand/wildlife/anz-3-giant-sperm-whales-Kaikoura-credit-getty.jpg?imwidth=350)
Along with responsible whale-watching boat tours, aerial tours take passengers above the coastline to get a good look at these majestic cetaceans that can reach lengths of up to 20m. Kayaking with fur seals and pods of dusky dolphins – looking out for the rare Hector’s dolphin too (one of the world’s smallest) – are other highlights of a stay here.
Spy seals and penguins in Milford Sound
On the west coast of South Island, Milford Sound (Piopiotahi) amazes with yet more dazzling scenery and marine life: think towering glacier-carved mountains and razor-edge cliffs, lush rainforests, glassy waters and thundering waterfalls.
There are many ways to explore the fiord, which stretches 16km from its head to the open sea, including taking one of the spectacular hiking trails, or on a scenic flight above. But to get close to some of its most fascinating residents you’ll want to take to the water. Hop on board a Milford Sound cruise or join a small-group kayak expedition – twilight is an especially enchanting time to paddle here.
![seals on a rock at Milford Sound](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/eip/air-new-zealand/wildlife/anz-4-seals-at-milford-sound-credit-alamy.jpg?imwidth=350)
A deep sea inlet, Milford Sound’s waters are a unique mixture of fresh and saltwater and home to many marine mammals, including New Zealand fur seals. Also known as Antarctic fur seals, these playful creatures can be spotted wallowing, cavorting or clinging to craggy outcrops year-round in the wilds of Milford Sound.
Keep an eye out for some of the fjord’s other cute critters too, including the little blue penguin, the Fiordland crested penguin (also known as tawaki), bottlenose dolphins and the rarer dusky dolphins. You may be lucky enough to see a southern right whale.
Milford Sound might be the jewel in Fiordland National Park’s shimmering crown but it’s just one of many ravishing waterways where wildlife thrives. Doubtful Sound, Dusky Sound and Breaksea Sound are some of its other 14 fiords.
Paddle next to pods of dolphins around the Bay of Islands
The Bay of Islands is a group of 144 subtropical islands clustered off the northeast coast of North Island, and one of the country’s most popular holiday spots, with knock-out beaches, native forests, walking trails, historic sights and bountiful wildlife. But it’s the local dolphin population that draws visitors. Head out from Urupukapuka Island’s Otehei Bay on a kayak or paddle board and you’ll spot the dorsal fins of bottlenose and common dolphins before too long, as well as the resident stingrays, along with schools of shimmering fish.
![dolphins jump out of the water](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/eip/air-new-zealand/wildlife/anz-6-bay-of-islands-dolphins-credit-getty.jpg?imwidth=350)
There are numerous ways to explore the little inlets and isles. You can join multi-day kayak expeditions or go it alone for a quick paddle. Or simply sit back and let someone else do the navigating – cruises sail out around the isles, taking passengers past remote coves to spot the wildlife. Take a boat tour along the rugged Rakaumangamanga Peninsula to Cape Brett where a lonely old lighthouse overlooks Piercy Island/Motukōkako. Also known as the Hole in the Rock, due to its sea arch, this is a top spot for cetacean spotting.
Go diving in Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve
There’s plenty to see just below the waves on the Northland’s coast, but dive a little deeper and you’ll be rewarded with sightings of rare marine creatures and extraordinary underwater geological formations. A cluster of islands and islets just off the Tutukaka Coast, Poor Knights Islands are one of the most magical dive sites in the southern hemisphere, with vertical reef walls, caves, tunnels, arches and spectacular drop-offs galore. Even oceanographer Jacques Cousteau rated the sub-tropical reef’s splendours among his top 10 dive sites.
As well as its incredible underwater geography, the isolated isles and sea stacks support a remarkable array of plant and marine life. Among the reef fish, you’ll encounter great shoals of blue and pink maomao and two-spot demoiselle. Manta rays, sting rays, turtles, common and bottlenose dolphins and orcas are also possible sightings.
![underwater at Poor Knights island marine reserve](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/eip/air-new-zealand/wildlife/anz-7-poor-knights-islands-marine-reserve-credit-shutterstock.jpg?imwidth=350)
Novice divers should head to Nursery Cove and shallower areas around South Harbour while experienced divers will discover challenging dives all around the islands. But if you’re not keen on going under, head out to the marine reserve by boat from Tutukaka Harbour then jump on paddle boards to explore its cavernous sea caves, including Rikoriko Cave, one of the largest in the world.
More ways to New Zealand
Air New Zealand offers amazing services to ensure your comfort during travel, from Business Premier to Premium Economy and Skycouch.
For more information, please visit airnewzealand.co.uk