Karori Sanctuary Trust is where kiwis breed nowadays in peace, just a few minutes away from downtown Wellington, capital city of New Zealand. One would not expect to find our national bird in this valley so close to the hustle and bustle of a big city, but the kiwis now have their own protected slice of land all to themselves, away from predators and with plenty of room to breath.
Writing about this valley in the early days, people used to mention the dense forests and loud singing of kiwis and other birds. Karori Sanctuary Trust is were a handful of permanent staff with the help of hundreds of volunteers are working to restore the valley to its former glory. It sure is a big task but they are thinking hundreds of years in the future, not just for today.
Once we arrive to the 250 hectares valley – a short 10 minutes bus ride away from the city – two of the Karori Sanctuary Trust volunteer guides take our group on a nocturnal kiwi tour of the forest.
We are handed small torch lights and asked to move around quietly, using the faint light to guide ourselves. We are not to shine the torches onto the kiwis and our tour will be all about listening. We won’t be able to see the birds in the dark but we should hear them sing.
We slowly grow used to the dimmed light beaming out of our torches and, while watching our steps, we listen to the kiwi history lessons of our Karori Sanctuary Trust guides who eagerly answer all our questions.
There used to be two water reservoirs here which covered Wellington’s needs but they were dismantled around 1995. Now the area has been taken over by the Karori Sanctuary Trust with its sole visitor entrance being where Waiapu road ends, left as you come out of the Karori tunnel.
As we walk into the night, flashlights poised at the ground in front of us, watching our every step, we hear a bird calling. It’s a kiwi, our guide interjects, and here I am for the first time ever hearing a kiwi calling in the night. There is a scuffle in the dense vegetation to the right of the path, and a girl from our group walking in front of me jumps away startled! A gaggle of birds rushes out of the bushes to our right, cross the narrow pathway at breakneck speed and disappear into the forest to our left. It only lasted a couple of seconds and we are all disoriented, some of us not sure of what happened. Talk about adrenaline rush!
We reach the top of the dam and a whole quiet forest stretches at our feet. We hear a few more kiwis calling and our guides mention the first kiwis were released at the Karori Sanctuary Trust from the Kapiti Island, over the span of two years, and they have been breeding on their own ever since.
As we take the trip back descending on the dam’s other side, I see dancing lights. Are those fairies? Might as well given the fairy tale quality of the forest all around us. Unfortunately they are just glow worms, so bright they make you squint. We hear one more kiwi calling before we leave, a North Island weka, and a couple other birds songs piercing the night’s quiet vibe. Karori Sanctuary Trust is indeed a sight to behold.
I went back twice more during the week to witness its beauty in daylight. I find out the Karori Sanctuary Trust is still under construction, new areas being developed all the time. There will be many viewing areas and forest trails through which one can witness the birds in their wild habitat.
A tall fence around the reserve protects its inhabitants from predators, particularly rodents and small dogs who love feasting on kiwi eggs. There are even trained dogs who chase away predators and bait places spread out all over the valley. Volunteers go to great lengths to keep the Karori Sanctuary Trust a safe place for the kiwi to live and multiply for future generations.
I can only recommend you don’t miss this opportunity while in Wellington to visit one of the most amazing places in the city – one which will only become better as the time passes. Karori Sanctuary Trust is indeed one of the few places inland where we can witness our national bird in its habitat and delight in its thrill and song. Bring the kids along and they are guaranteed a wonderful afternoon in nature.
Check out ZEALANDIA: The Karori Sanctuary Experience for a lot more details and how to book your unforgettable tour!
Hello! Just want to say thank you for this interesting article! =) Peace, Joy.