Nature and Wildlife in Glacier Country: A Campervan Traveller’s Guide

Quick summary: On a campervan trip, you’ll find glacier country isn’t only ice. Around Franz Josef and Fox, temperate rainforest grows almost to the edge of the glaciers, and the coast and wetlands are home to some of New Zealand’s rarest birds, including the rowi kiwi and the kōtuku, or white heron. On the eastern side of the Alps, the Mackenzie Basin has its own alpine birds. Nature tours and walks fill the days between flights and make the most of a wet-weather day.

At a glance
Rare birds	Rowi kiwi at Ōkārito, kōtuku (white heron) near Whataroa
Rainforest	Walks around Franz Josef, Fox and Ship Creek
Coast	Seals at Gillespies Beach and Ship Creek
Wildlife centre	Kiwi breeding and viewing in Franz Josef
Eastern side	Kea and alpine birds at Mount Cook
Tours	Nature and wildlife tours

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Which wildlife can you see near the glaciers?

Wildlife	Where	How
Rowi kiwi	Ōkārito	Guided night walks in the forest, and the wildlife centre in Franz Josef
Kōtuku (white heron)	Near Whataroa	Guided tours by jet boat and boardwalk to the nesting colony in season
Wading birds	Ōkārito Lagoon	Kayaking or walking the lagoon edge
Fur seals	Gillespies Beach, Ship Creek and the coast	Coastal walks
Kea	Mount Cook and the alpine passes	Often seen around car parks; don’t feed them

What is the rowi kiwi?

The rowi is the rarest kiwi species, found only in the Ōkārito forest. Conservation programmes raise chicks in safety and return them to the wild, and the wildlife centre in Franz Josef lets you see rowi and learn about the work to save them. In Ōkārito, small-group night tours offer a chance to hear and sometimes see wild kiwi.

Where is New Zealand’s only white heron colony?

Near Whataroa, around 35 km north of Franz Josef, the kōtuku nest in the only breeding colony in New Zealand, beside a river in the rainforest. Guided tours reach a hide overlooking the colony during the breeding season, travelling by jet boat and a short boardwalk. It’s a rare and memorable sight.

Which rainforest walks are easy from an RV base?

• Around Franz Josef, short walks lead through rainforest to Peter’s Pool and Sentinel Rock.
• Lake Matheson at Fox, a 1.5-hour loop through forest around the mirror lake.
• Ship Creek, north of Haast, with a dune lake walk and a swamp forest walk.
• The Ōkārito Trig Track, a short climb to a lookout over the lagoon and mountains.

All have car parks suitable for campervans and motorhomes.

Why do kea need special care?

Kea, the world’s only alpine parrot, are intelligent, curious and famously cheeky, and they often investigate parked vehicles, pulling at rubber seals and wiper blades. Don’t feed them, as human food harms them, and keep doors and windows closed when they’re around.

How do nature tours fit around flights?

Nature tours, walks and the wildlife centre are good options for cloudy or wet days when flights are grounded. Plan a flexible mix: try for a flight in the morning, and switch to a nature tour if it’s cancelled. See our guide to weather and spare days.

Where can you book?

Browse nature and wildlife tours, and see kayaking glacier lakes for wildlife from the water.

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Frequently Asked Questions