Wildlife

A large variety of native wildlife such as kiwi, albatross, yellow-eyed and Fiordland crested penguins, New Zealand Sea Lions, parakeets, Hector’s dolphins and southern right whales can be seen along the Southern Scenic Route.
Smaller islands are important sanctuaries for threatened native species: Kakapo and Short Tailed Bats on Codfish island and South Island Saddlebacks on the Titi islands and Ulva Island off Stewart Island.
The Subantarctic Islands are internationally renowned nature reserves and home to many rare and unique nature reserves and species.

National Parks, Forest Parks and Reserves

Fiordland National Park is a World Heritage Area and one of the largest such parks in the world, covering 1,210,000 hectares. It is renowned for rugged mountains and fiords, vast forests and alpine areas, and an abundance of native wildlife. The park offers an incredible range of recreational activities. Walks, tracks and routes crisscross the park, including the world-famous Milford, Routeburn, Kepler and the new Tuatapere Hump Ridge Track.

A private reserve at the extreme south end of Grant Road- Otatara, Invercargill offers easy access to view the south island fernbird and many other native bird species. This site has the last remaining intact vegetation sequence around the New River Estuary. For arranged access phone Ian and Jenny Gamble at 03 2131302

The Waituna lagoon was one of five New Zealand wetlands with international recognition. It has unique flora and fauna. The surrounding wetlands are unusual in that they are home to a number of plants more commonly found at altitude in sub-alpine areas.

The Catlins is a State Forest Park situated along the Southern Scenic Route. It has spectacular coastal scenery, with rocky headlands, sandy bays and estuaries. The distinctive ridges of the Catlins are covered in rimu, kamahi and silver beech forest. Yellow-eyed penguins nest in pockets of coastal forest, and seals, sealions and Hector’s dolphins are commonly seen.

Stewart Island, Rakiura National Park, is a unique remnant of natural New Zealand. A smorgasboard of unspoilt inlets, bush clad hills, rugged coastline, swampy valleys and dramatic granite outcrops. Podocarp and kamahi forest dominate the island. Kiwi, kaka and parakeets are found in relative abundance.

The Awarua Wetlands, located south of Invercargill, comprise the largest area of protected wetlands in southern New Zealand. They support a variety of vegetation types – estuarine and salt marsh communities, cushion bogs, red tussock grasslands, shrublands and forest. Some unusual plant associations include species otherwise only found in alpine and sub alpine-levels. The Wetlands are a stronghold for migratory birds from the Northern Hemisphere, water fowl and native birds such as fernbirds and bittern. Many species of wading birds can be observed at Awarua Bay.

The Longwood Range dominates the landscape around Riverton, Otautau, Orepuki and east Tuatapere. They are a popular place for red deer and pig hunting, walking, tramping and picnicking. Once the focus for gold mining and timber milling activities, the Longwoods are today conserved for their scenic, historic, wildlife and recreational values.

The Mavora Lakes off the Mossburn – Te Anau road, are set among picturesque mountains, beech forest and grasslands. The park is a great place for walking, tramping, fishing, horse trekking and mountain biking. Good populations of bush robins are found in the forest and falcons are often seen above the bushline.