HOTEL HARI HARI
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • Accommodation
  • Rates & Special Offers
  • Bookings
  • What to do in Hari Hari
  • Groups and Functions
  • Links & Useful Information
  • Photo Gallery

A Tour of the White Heron Sanctuary

30/12/2013

 
Picture
Adults and chicks - note the fancy breeding plumage
On Friday I was lucky enough to visit the White Heron Sanctuary in nearby Whataroa.  White heron are critically endangered in New Zealand and this special place is the only breeding ground in New Zealand for these birds.  Access to the site is by tour only.

The tour begins with a short bus ride and a commentary about the  area, local flora and fauna and the herons themselves.  We then transferred to a jet boat for a ride through bush and farmland to the Sanctuary itself. 
A short walk through mature forest on a well maintained path took us to the well located viewing hide.  Binoculars and a telescope were available  for detailed viewing - but it isn't hard to see the birds, the herons only nest in an area of about 500 meters along the river frontage and their white plumage is easily visible in the bush.  Photographic opportunities are endless and telephoto lenses are recommended! The heron share their nesting site with a variety of other birds, notably the Royal Spoonbill and Small Black Shag or Cormorant. I could have watched the birds fish and feed their young for hours but all to soon it was time to stroll back to the boat.

The herons nest between November and March each year and this is the only time you will get to see the birds with their lace like breeding plumage.    The sanctuary is a very special place and a visit is highly recommended - for information on the tours please visit the White Heron Sanctuary website, or call Ken and Shirley on 0800 523456 (within NZ only).

Thanks to Ken and Dion for hosting me!




Picture
First view of the herons, from the bush walk - the viewing hide is still ahead
Picture
Feeding Time

Comments are closed.

    Author

    In early 2012 Penny & Nairn moved from central Wellington to South Westland.  Welcome to the record of their adventures.

    Archives

    April 2015
    December 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    June 2014
    February 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    July 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    October 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • Accommodation
  • Rates & Special Offers
  • Bookings
  • What to do in Hari Hari
  • Groups and Functions
  • Links & Useful Information
  • Photo Gallery