White Heron Sanctuary Tours
View the magnificent Kotuku (White Heron), the Kotuku Ngutu Papa (Royal Spoonbill), the Kawapaka (Little Black Shag) and other Bird life – all in their natural environment.
Tours to the White Heron Colony open mid September and the Kotuku disperse from the colony about the end of February/Early March each year.
A unique experience to New Zealand’s only Kotuku (White Heron) nesting site, in the Waitangi Roto Nature reserve, the Kotuku Ngutu Papa (Royal Spoonbill) also nests here.
The round trip tour from the companies Whataroa office, back to the office, takes approximately 21/2 to 3 hours. The tour consists of a short minibus ride to the river to connect with the jet boat. The jet boat ride is a gentle 20 minutes each way. From the jetty it is just a short boardwalk (500mtrs) through native bush to where you can stay for 30-40 minutes to view the birds.
During the crystal clear days of the winter months, the rainforest, alive with an array of bird life, is a photographers paradise as the snow capped peaks of Mounts Cook and Tasman can easily be viewed.