Ōkārito Nature Tour: Bird-Watching in South Westland

Discover Okarito’s hidden gems: explore wetlands, spot rare birds, and enjoy stunning views of Mount Cook and Franz Josef Glacier.

Duration: 4 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Okarito - Visit this historic ex-gold mining village, home to now 35 permanent residents. Loads of history, and home to 75 sea and land bird species including eastern bar-tailed godwits, Rowi Kiwi, banded dotterels, ferbirds and the infamous Kotuku (white heron) - its perfect for those that love birds and nature. With lagoons, rugged west coast…
What's Included
  • Walking boots (limited supply, call to book)
  • Wet weather clothing (call to order sizes)
  • Local guide
  • Walking poles if required
  • Pickup and drop-off from designated meeting points
  • Umbrellas
  • Snacks
  • Tea and coffee
What's Not Included
  • Lunch
Additional Information

Embark on the Ōkārito Nature Tour with Glacier Valley Eco Tours and explore New Zealand’s South Westland. Just 20 minutes from Franz Josef Glacier, the coastal village of Ōkārito offers superb bird-watching amidst stunning natural diversity. This tour is suitable for all ages and includes a shuttle from Franz Josef or an option to meet in Ōkārito….

Location
20 Main Road
Main Road
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(4 Ratings)
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Cfma2000
Jun 24, 2021
Recommended for an Informative Walk of Okarito - Cliff took us on the Trig Walk and the Okarito area after a morning with Okarito Boat tours. Our afternoon began with a delicious picnic lunch while Cliff explained some of the history of Okarito. Followed by the walk with interesting local plants pointed out along the way. The view from the top of the walk is breathtaking and an unexpected bonus was afternoon tea as we took in the view. Highly recommend. Yes you could do the walk yourself but you gain so much more history and information accompanying Cliff.
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Pilotdan5
Feb 8, 2020
Lovely boat ride in the park - We had an 80 min boat ride at low tide. Enjoyed our time with Swade who was able to point out local flora and fauna. We was especially knowledgeable about the birds.
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Jill
Sep 16, 2019
Afternoon in Okarito: the perfect Part 2 to our Franz Josef Glacier Visit - After walking up to the Glacier in the morning our guide Cliff took us to Okarito. We visited the dock on the lake to learn a little history of the area and then proceeded to climb to a beautiful view spot above the lake for a well-earned hot chocolate and home baked brownie. On a clear day, you have a stunning view of the southern Alps - but on our day the cloud did not clear. Nonetheless, the 360 degree view was beautiful taking in the Tasman Sea to the lake and beyond. The plant and bird life were a delight. We finished with a sunset viewing on the beach.
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Rustbell
Apr 22, 2019
Fantastic Okarito - Thanks to Cliff for a great tour of Okarito and a very enjoyable walk to the trig station. Seeing dolphins and stunning views at the top! Awesome!
Review provided by Tripadvisor