Okarito Kiwi Sanctuary

Okarito Kiwi Sanctuary, Lake Mapourika

The Okarito Kiwi Sanctuary protects around 11,000 hectares of dense lowland rainforest between Lake Mapourika’s western shoreline, Ōkārito and the Waiho River in South Westland. Established in 2000 to help protect the endangered rowi kiwi, the sanctuary is now one of New Zealand’s most important conservation areas and forms part of the wider UNESCO World Heritage landscape.

This ancient podocarp forest is home to towering kahikatea and rimu trees, rich wetlands, and thriving native birdlife. Through intensive conservation work, including Operation Nest Egg and large-scale predator control, the rowi population has recovered from just around 150 birds in the 1990s to more than 600 today.

Conservation & Predator Free Work

The Okarito Kiwi Sanctuary is at the heart of one of New Zealand’s most successful kiwi recovery stories. By the 1990s, the rare rowi kiwi population had fallen to around 150 birds due to introduced predators such as stoats and feral cats. In response, the Department of Conservation established the sanctuary and launched intensive protection programs including Operation Nest Egg, where kiwi eggs were raised in predator-free environments before being returned to the wild.

Today, large-scale predator control across South Westland by DOC and the Zero Invasive Predators’ (ZIP) program has transformed the region surrounding Lake Mapourika and the rest of the sanctuary into an effectively predator-free environment. This ongoing work is allowing native birdlife and rainforest ecosystems to recover naturally, with species such as rowi kiwi and kākāriki now increasing in number throughout the area.

Birdlife and Ancient Rainforest

The Okarito Kiwi Sanctuary protects one of the largest remaining areas of untouched lowland podocarp rainforest on the West Coast. Towering kahikatea and rimu trees, some estimated to be over 1,200 years old, rise above dense fern-covered forest floors and winding waterways.  This creates a Jurassic-like rainforest environment similar to the ancient Gondwana forests that once covered New Zealand. Many of these podocarp tree species trace their lineage back millions of years, giving the sanctuary a prehistoric feel unlike anywhere else in the region.

The sanctuary and surrounding wetlands are home to an incredible range of native birdlife. Along the lake edges and waterways, the rare white heron (kōtuku) can often be seen feeding quietly in the shallows. These birds breed nearby at the Waitangiroto Nature Reserve, the only natural breeding site for kōtuku in New Zealand. The forest canopy is also alive with tūī, kererū, bellbird, fantail, tomtit, and kingfisher, while kākāriki have recently begun returning to the area as predator control efforts continue to restore the ecosystem.

Experience the Okarito Kiwi Sanctuary

Much of the Okarito Kiwi Sanctuary lies on the remote back side of Lake Mapourika and cannot be accessed by road. This makes Lake Mapourika the lake the gateway into this remarkable environment. Through our guided kayak and boat tours, guests can experience the sanctuary firsthand while learning about the ongoing conservation work protecting the region’s wildlife and rainforest ecosystems. Along our walking track, you’ll even see live predator traps used by Zero Invasive Predators (ZIP) as part of the wider predator-free program across South Westland.

You can explore the sanctuary in different ways with the following tours:

• Kayak Classic Tour – paddle through narrow rainforest creeks beneath the forest canopy
• Kayak & Walk Tour – combine kayaking with guided access onto our rainforest track
• Cruise & Nature Walk Tour – scenic cruise followed by a guided walk within the sanctuary
• Scenic Cruise – learn about the sanctuary and conservation work from the water without leaving the boat