Wildlife on Lake Mapourika

I’m not quite sure how many times we’ve been out running guided kayak tours or boat cruises on Lake Mapourika. It must be in the thousands by now. After more than 15 years of guiding on the lake, we still find something new and exciting to experience on every trip. No two tours are ever the same.

Time spent on the lake is uniquely scenic, with mirror-like reflections of the Southern Alps and ancient rainforest stretching to the water’s edge. Yet we’ve learnt that wildlife encounters are often the moments guests remember most.  While many visitors come for the spectacular scenery, they quickly discover that Lake Mapourika is also one of the best places on the West Coast to experience native wildlife.  

Part of what makes the lake so special is its protected setting, within Westland Tai Poutini National Park and part of the Te Wāhipounamu UNESCO World Heritage Area. Lake Mapourika is one of the most significant natural landscapes in the world. The surrounding rainforest and wetlands provide a safe haven for native bird species, while extensive conservation work throughout South Westland has helped create a predator-free landscape where many native birds can thrive.  The water is home to native long-fin eels often spotted along the shoreline. 

Today, the forests surrounding the lake benefit from ongoing predator control programs, helping protect vulnerable species including the rare Rowi kiwi. Combined with the protection of the national park, this has created an extraordinary environment where wildlife continues to flourish.

From spotting a white heron (kōtuku) feeding along the shoreline from a kayak to watching native bush birds from our guided walking track, the lake offers a unique opportunity to experience wildlife from the water.

The lake sits between the Southern Alps and the Tasman sea, making it a unique environment where alpine bird species like Kea and can meet sea birds like oyster catchers. Exploring these environments by kayak or boat provides a perspective that simply isn’t possible from the roadside, the only way to see the wildlife and explore the Lake is from the water.

Why is Lake Mapourika So Rich in Wildlife?

The lake itself provides feeding grounds for a variety of species. White herons patrol the shallow shorelines hunting for fish and small eels, while kingfishers perch above the water searching for prey. We often spot them as we paddle towards Mirror Creek in the Ōkārito Kiwi Sanctuary.  Tūī and bellbirds move through the flowering and fruiting trees along the shoreline, and their birdsong is often heard as we paddle close to the bush or walk through the forest on our guided walking track.

Unlike many tourist-style wildlife experiences, Lake Mapourika still feels authentic and genuinely wild. Most of the time, we are the only people out on the lake. Every trip is slightly different depending on the season, the weather and what the wildlife is doing that day.  For our guides, who spend hundreds of hours on the lake each year, this is part of what makes every tour so enjoyable. Some days it’s the sight of a kōtuku feeding quietly along the shoreline, or being followed through the bush by a friendly fantail. Other days it’s a kererū gliding through the canopy, a kingfisher diving into the water metres from a kayak, or an eel rising to the surface beneath our boat.

The wildlife is always there, waiting to greet us along the way.

Kōtuku (White Heron)

For many visitors, seeing a kōtuku is the highlight of their West Coast trip.  The kōtuku is one of New Zealand’s rarest and most iconic birds. While the country’s only breeding colony is located at nearby waitangiroto nature reserve. These elegant birds regularly travel throughout the wider South Westland region in search of food.

Lake Mapourika has become one of the most reliable places on the West Coast to encounter kōtuku throughout the year. They are often seen feeding in shallow water near the shoreline or resting in trees around the lake edge.  The lake’s combination of wetlands, sheltered feeding areas and healthy freshwater ecosystems provides ideal habitat for the herons. The heron’s brilliant white plumage stands out against the deep green rainforest backdrop, creating unforgettable memories and stunning photography opportunities. 

Kōtare (Sacred Kingfisher)

The sacred kingfisher, or kōtare, is commonly seen birds around Lake Mapourika but you need to know where to look!  These striking birds are easily recognised by their vivid blue and green feathers and distinctive call. Often perched quietly on overhanging branches, they watch patiently before diving to catch small fish, insects and freshwater prey.

Because kayaks move quietly through the environment, guests are often able to enjoy close views of kōtare as they hunt along the lake’s sheltered waterways.  We almost always spot them as we paddle or cruise into the Okarito Kiwi sanctuary on the far side of the lake.  This is where our guided nature walk is located, or where we kayak in the mirror-creek on a Kayak Classic Tour.  You’re guide will help point these birds out as we glide along the shoreline. 

Tūī, Bellbirds and Kererū

The rainforest surrounding Lake Mapourika is alive with birdsong.  Tūī fill the forest with an extraordinary song: a mix of whistles, clicks and melodies. Bellbirds contribute their own musical calls.  Kererū (New Zealand’s native wood pigeon) is spotted often, gliding through the canopy.  The wood pigeon search for fruiting native trees, often gorging themselves. Their size and distinctive wingbeats make them one of the easiest native birds to identify.

Together, these species create an exceptional birdwatching experience for visitors exploring the lake.

Native Parrots of South Westland

The diverse habitats surrounding Lake Mapourika support several native parrot species. Since predator free initiatives have started, we’ve witnessed the return of the Kākāriki (meaning: small green parrot in Maori). These birds have only since returned and inhabit the surrounding forests.  Often heard more than seen, our walking track has been an abundant hot spot for these elusive birds.  Often spotted, or heard, on Kayak & Walk or Cruise & Walk tours. 

Although kea are more commonly encountered in higher alpine environments, there’s a breeding pair on Lake Mapourika.  They are often seen and heard causing while out enjoying the Lake.  We had this boisterous pair below visit us on a tour last year. 

Long-finned Eels

Not all of Lake Mapourika’s wildlife can be found in the trees. Beneath the calm waters live New Zealand longfin eels, one of the country’s most fascinating native species.

Longfin eels can live for many decades before undertaking an incredible migration thousands of kilometres into the Pacific Ocean to breed. Their life cycle remains one of the most remarkable stories in New Zealand’s freshwater ecosystems. Visitors occasionally spot these ancient fish cruising through the shallows near the lake edge.  If you know where to look, you can usually spot a curious eel that might even rise up to say hello! 

Home of the Rare Rowi Kiwi

Found only in South Westland, rowi are one of New Zealand’s greatest conservation success stories. The rainforest surrounding Lake Mapourika forms part of the habitat of the rowi, New Zealand’s rarest kiwi. Intensive predator control and ongoing conservation efforts have helped the population recover from critically low numbers. We visit their habitat when we explore the Okarito Kiwi Sanctuary on tours.

Although rowi are nocturnal and rarely seen during the day, we pass alongside burrows and sometimes spot footprints of the elusive birds on the forest floor. Guides regularly share the conservation story behind the rowi and point out signs of kiwi habitat within the surrounding forest.

Knowing that New Zealand’s rarest kiwi lives within the forests surrounding the lake adds another layer of appreciation to our experiences on Lake Mapourika.

More Wildlife Than We Could Ever List

This list could never be comprehensive, there’s not enough space in a page.  Some of the most commonly spotted species also include:

• Fantails (Pīwakawaka) – read more about them here. 
• South Island Robins (Toutouwai)
• Tomtits (Miromiro)
• Paradise Shelducks
• New Zealand Scaup 
• Black Swans
• Pied Shags/Little Shag
• Variable & Pied Oystercatchers
• White-faced Herons
• Spur-winged Plovers
• Grey Ducks and Mallards

And that’s only scratching the surface.

Explore Lake Mapourika for Yourself

If you’re planning a trip to the West Coast to see the glaciers a trip to Lake Mapourika is an absolute must.  Whether you choose a guided kayak tour or a relaxing scenic cruise, every trip offers the chance to connect with New Zealand and the West Coast.  

We’d love to share it with you.