Reply To: What all Wildlife can I see in its natural habitat in New Zealand?

[Merina]

We had a wonderful trip to NZ last year. Based on our experience, following are the wildlife we got to see with in its habitat.
1. The best experience and the best 50$ ever was the blue penguin in the royal Albatross centre make sure you book the 9PM as this is the time when the penguin coming to the beach and you literally see 100+ of them! Book in advance!
2. Dolphins in Kaikoura I can’t really explain to you and beauty and the fun I had with this animals! I found myself swimming in circles with one dolphin until I forgot to breathe 🙈and swim around seal (will upload the video later) also book in advance especially during weekends and holidays!
3. Seals and sea lions – there are two best places to see them especially on breeding season 1) Cape Palliser google will take specific to the place. 2) Allan beach. A small request this is a wild animal and they are very protective around the pups, please don’t bother them and if you take your kids please don’t try make the animal move for the perfect picture also on the Milford Sound cruise they take you to see the seal on the rock.
4. Yellow eye penguin I think there is a lot of disinformation about this place so let’s set the record straight 1) This season (23/24) there only one pair of penguins in the bay, which mean you are able to see only one because the other one looks after the chick. 2) although the sign says from 3pm (Summer time) according to the rangers they only spotted the penguin between 19:30 to 21:00 and even that not every day I’ve waited over 3 hours until I got this information from the rangers who came around 6pm.
5. Royal Albatross it’s a great way to support their work but it was much easier seen Albatross in the sea (Bluff and Kaikura)
6. Manta rey/ Stingray – Able Tasman was the best place to see but also in Stingray bay on the way to Cathedral cove I only saw in Able Tesman.
7. Kea – Milford sounds just outside the Homer tunnel 3 of them toke food from the car upfront
8. Great white Sharks – I don’t want to say a lot about that as I didn’t had good experience at all and I went twice and in a way it’s their livelihood! *BUT* I will say though if you are a local do it! You will be able to go again in one year time or book for the next season. If you are international travelers it’s not worth it and it is very difficult to book again for different reasons. You can’t get your money back and you can’t transfer or sale the voucher it has to be you and it’s 600$.