Hi Tom
In New Zealand From my experience you need to go to islands to see many
land birds. The best place we went to was Tiritiri Matangi island, a
ferry trip from Auckland. This is a reserve where predators have been
removed and endangered species reintroduced. We paid $5 for a
birdwatching tour, which was the best money we ever spent. The serious
birders (people with binoculars) were put in a group together and we
spent 3 hours, seeing all the island species.
It is probably of interest only to birders but perhaps your wife would
like to spend a day, or half day shopping in Auckland?
We also went to Kapiti, a short boat trip from Kapiti Boating Club,
Paraparaumu Beach, approximately one hour by car north of Wellington.
(We stayed at the Golf View motel, close to the beach, an older motel
but good value.)
http://www.doc.govt.nz/templates/PlaceProfile.aspx?id=35101
You have a choice between the nature reserve or the north end of the
island where a local family provided lunch and a tour. This was a
couple of years ago and was somewhat more expensive than Tiritiri but
still good value. It is advised that you book ahead but I think we got
in with little advance notice. Non birders can also enjoy this.
We saw Kaka and aviary birds at the Mt Bruce centre, staying nearby to
get there early.
http://www.mtbruce.org.nz/
The best place we stayed was Driftwood Cottages, Hawkes Bay. They were
near the beach for bird watching and were beautifully set out with a
great kitchen. There is really good food in Hawkes Bay so cooking was
enjoyable.
http://www.reservenewzealand.co.nz/Napier/
Driftwood_Cottages_ov=3112_.html
We went to Manawatu Estuary, near Foxton Beach to look for waders, but
got the tide wrong and didn't see much.
In general you see surprisingly few birds in NZ apart from sea birds
and birds on some islands. Still a great place to visit.
Cheers
Susan Knowles
On 10/01/2009, at 1:57 AM, tom rauch wrote:
My wife and I are visiting this spring (your fall). We will be in
Tasmania (4days), Melbourne (4days), Sydney (5days) and Cairns/Port
Douglas (7days). I am not a birding fanatic but like to see as many
species as possible in each place we visit on our trips. Our itinerary
does not allow for a full day of birding in each location; my wife
sleeps in until about 9:00am so most of my birding is on the fly from
sunrise until 8:30 or 9:00.
I'm looking for some local "hot spots" (parks, lakes, marshes, etc)
that I can hit for a few hours in the mornings, either alone or with
some one who knows the ropes.
We are also spending 3 weeks in New Zealand, driving from the south
end of the South Island to north end of the North Island. We have a
little more time to explore but my birding would basically be the same
as above. If anyone has contacts or site information for New Zealand,
please advise.
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