full day Birding Classic $308pp
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Duration: 7 hours Departs: 8.30am What happens on the day: unless you've been advised otherwise please meet our guide at GOLDEN BAY WHARF ten minutes prior to departure time where we board a water taxi for the 7-minute ride across Paterson Inlet to Ulva Island Bird Sanctuary. After our wonderful walk through lush native forest you will be collected directly from Ulva Island by the seabird watching boat. After a few hours at sea in the company of a local skipper and plenty of seabirds the tour comes to an end at HALFMOON BAY WHARF. Occasionally this tour runs in reverse. Price includes: water taxi to Ulva Island, our specialist natural history/bird watching guide at Ulva Island, Department of Conservation concession fees, 3-hour boat charter and tax. Operates: October to April except Christmas Day. This tour combines our half day Beautiful Birding & Botany Ulva Island guided walk with a seabird watching boat excursion for a full day experience in the company of rare and endangered land and sea birds.
The day begins with our half day Beautiful Birding & Botany Ulva Island guided walk with one of our exceptional local guides. Well maintained gravel walking tracks weave around fallen trees, through lush native podocarp forest that's alive with birdsong. Exquisite seasonal orchids, very friendly birdlife that will come too close for your camera lens... Birds you will likely see at Ulva Island include South Island Saddleback, Stewart Island Weka, NZ Pigeon/Kereru, South Island Kaka, Yellow- and Red-crown Parakeet (Kakariki), Morepork, Rifleman, New Zealand Fantail, South Island Tomtit, Stewart Island Robin, Yellowhead (Mohoua), Brown Creeper, Grey Warbler, New Zealand Bellbird and Tui. At lunchtime depart Ulva Island straight onto the seabird watching boat - our guide will show you where to meet the boat at Ulva Island wharf. There may be a short break before this part of the tour begins so it's a good time to eat lunch (please take all rubbish away with you) or you can eat onboard the boat. The charter boat has good viewing from the back deck, heated cabin, some seating inside, kitchenette with hot drinks (and cake!) available and toilet onboard. Even on a good day we recommend that you come prepared with wet weather gear. Head out to deeper water and enjoy the commentary from a local knowledgeable skipper. Typical sightings include 4 species of albatross, 2-3 species of penguin (depending on time of year), shearwaters, petrels and terns. Return approximately 3 hours later to Halfmoon Bay Wharf. Typical group size is 3-6 but this may not always be possible. Private tours available, please ask! We try to accommodate everybody's needs within a group but a private tour offers greater flexibility if you have particular needs. Perhaps a certain bird or plant species for your list or photographic library? Please let us know - we can help you to enjoy your experience if we know well in advance. ... and finally, THANK YOU!
By choosing Ulva's Guided Walks you help us to support Gadget, the only rodent detector dog in the south of New Zealand. Detector Gadget is part of the Conservation Dogs Programme and helps us to keep Ulva Island free of introduced pests and predators. Find out what Detector Gadget has been up to lately!
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This tour is suitable for:
By choosing Ulva's Guided Walks you help us to support the Ulva Island Charitable Trust who work together with the Department of Conservation towards the further restoration of Ulva Island, and keep Ulva Island free of introduced pests and predators so that native plants and birds can thrive.
Read more about the Ulva Island Charitable Trust. |
