Experience the amazing West Coast Wildlife Centre, home of the rare kiwi, complete with a guided backstage tour and fascinating Tuatara Encounter!
The VIP Guided Backstage Pass Tour is a combo ticket including West Coast Wildlife Centre entry PLUS a guided 30-45 minute informative tour with one of our Kiwi Rangers through the incubation and chick rearing facility. You'll also enjoy a fascinating Tuatara encounter where you can view up-close the prehistoric tuatara that is endemic only to New Zealand.
The Backstage Pass is hugely popular – especially during the summer months - and is classed as a ‘Top Pick’ by Lonely Planet Travel Guides.
Visitors will see where and how eggs are processed when they first arrive at the West Coast Wildlife Centre. They will learn about incubation procedures and take a look at the room where the eggs are cared for. Finally, visitors will get a chance to view the Brooder Room where the kiwi chicks are housed and reared during their time with us.
The West Coast Wildlife Centre is an all-weather visitor attraction located in Franz Josef. The centre is the sole provider of the BNZ Operation Nest Egg TM incubation and captive rearing programme for New Zealand's rarest Kiwi, the Rowi and Haast tokoeka. Since opening in 2010 the West Coast Wildlife Centre has successfully raised and released over 240 Kiwi Chicks.
West Coast Wildlife Centre entry gives visitors the very special chance to view juvenile Rowi in a natural walk through Nocturnal House setting. This self-guided attraction also includes educational and interactive displays and wildlife films offering an opportunity to learn about the Glacier and the unique West Coast region.
All prices are shown in NZD ($)
Thank you for the 5 star review and delighted that you really enjoyed your visit and your personal guided tour with our ranger.
Highly recommend to everyone, it's awesome!!
Well worth the visit. We found it very informative.
Our family really enjoyed this experience. Our host was friendly and informative and the kids loved getting up close with some of the locals.
Thanks so much for the 5 star review and delighted that you really enjoyed your visit.
Very informative, impressive what they do was a great wee tour...but do check as kiwis only born spring and summer...but was great all the same...!
Really appreciate you taking the time to place a review and the team are so pleased that you enjoyed your guided tour.
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lansh227 from Taiwan wrote on 12 June 2024
值得去的行程
由於我的英文不是非常好,導覽員特別放慢速度導覽讓我可以了解他們如何保育牠們,超出了時間也不會草草結束,當天參觀的只有我一人,他非常耐心地告訴我每一件事,這次體驗我覺得非常滿意;之後有一段看kiwi的時間,我看到了TIU,但沒看到Sammy,等了好久失望的走出來,遇見我的導覽員,他又帶著我回頭看了一遍,並用紅光指向Sammy,最後我如願看到他了,滿意的完成這次體驗,非常開心! Im not good at the English,the tour guide slowed down the tour so that I could understand how they raise them, and it would not end hastily if the time was exceeded. I was the only one who visited that day, and he told me everything very patiently. I felt very happy. ! After a while while watching Kiwi, I saw TIU, but not Sammy. After waiting for a long time, I came out disappointed and met my tour guide. She took me back to look again and saw it with a red light. Sammy, in the end I got what I wanted. I am satisfied with the experience and very happy!