Visit NZ's ONLY Kōtuku, White Heron Nesting Site
Visit New Zealand's Only White Heron, Kōtuku Colony
Welcome to
White Heron Sanctuary Tours
Whataroa
Established 1987
The Original and Only Tour to Visit Aotearoa’s Sole White Heron Nesting Site
Our renowned birdwatching tour offers exclusive access to the ancestral home and only breeding ground of the rare Kōtuku, or White Heron, located within the protected
Waitangiroto Nature Reserve on the West Coast of the South Island, New Zealand
Discover the Magic of the Kōtuku
Enjoy guaranteed and unrivalled
viewing of the Kōtuku
Nesting Season is typically from mid September until early March
The majestic White Heron, known in te reo Māori as the Kōtuku, is one of New Zealand’s rarest and most revered birds.
Remarkably, the Kōtuku has just one breeding ground in all of Aotearoa, located within the ancient rainforest of the protected Waitangiroto Nature Reserve near Whataroa, on the West Coast of the South Island.
Every Kōtuku in New Zealand originates from this sole ancestral nesting site, and each spring the entire breeding population returns home to nest and raise their young.
With a population of just 150–200 across Aotearoa, encountering a single Kōtuku is a special privilege, but to witness up to 50 nesting pairs, resplendent in their exquisite breeding plumage, interacting and raising their young, within their natural nesting environment, is an extraordinary sight!
Observe elaborate feather displays, endearing courtship rituals, beak-kissing, stick gathering and exchange, nest building, egg incubation, chick feeding, and first flights — all behaviours seen only here at this sacred nesting site during the breeding season.
Once hunted to the brink of extinction for its prized plumage, with just four nests recorded in 1941, the Kōtuku’s steady recovery is a powerful conservation success story. Today, continued protection and dedicated predator control help safeguard the Kōtuku, and its unique Sanctuary.
Join us for a One-of-a-Kind New Zealand Nature Experience!
Visitor Comments
"A birdwatcher's and photographer's dream!"
"One of NZ's best birding experiences"
"A truly unique wildlife encounter "
NZ's ONly
White Heron
nesting colony
Be mesmerised by the ethereal beauty of the Kōtuku, their white plumage in striking contrast to the lush native backdrop of their sole nesting site in Aotearoa.
The viewing is fascinating throughout the entire White Heron breeding season, with behaviours and activity changing as nesting progresses.
Also observe nesting Royal Spoonbills and Little Shags, and other birdlife.
Witness the
majestic Kōtuku
nesting in the wild
Watch as nature unfolds, capturing the beauty and delightful activity of the White Herons from our covered, elevated viewing hide.
Learn about the behaviours, breeding habits and cultural significance of the revered Kōtuku - a rare and deeply symbolic bird in New Zealand.
Amazing close encounters.
Varied and fascinating viewing.
The enchanting
Waitangiroto
Nature Reserve
Feel the pioneer spirit as you marvel at and appreciate the prehistoric Kahikatea Rainforest.
Discover a diverse array of intriguing native birds, trees, ferns, flowers, mosses, lichens, and fungi.
See our dedicated conservation work in action, helping to protect this unique area and its precious wildlife.
Stunning scenery.
Awesome photo opportunities.
One & Only
Exclusive Access
Kōtuku colony Tour
White Heron Sanctuary Tours is the original and only tour company authorised to visit the Waitangiroto Nature Reserve, and the White Heron breeding ground.
A 'Kiwi' family-owned and operated business, we have almost 40 years of experience guiding visitors from around the world and sharing the magic of the Kōtuku.
Small, personalised group tours.
Knowledgeable, local guides.
Tour Information and Pricing
Entry to the protected White Heron nesting site is permitted through the
Department of Conservation and only possible by joining a guided tour with
White Heron Sanctuary Tours, Whataroa.
Tour Times
9:00am, 12:00pm & 3:00pm
Bookings are recommended
Minimum numbers apply
Duration
2.5-hour round trip
We depart from and return to our tour office in Whataroa
Cost
Adult 18 +
Youth 13-17
Child 3-12
$150.00
$100.00
$75.00
Includes GST (15%) and DOC entry permit fee
Location
64 Main Road
Whataroa
Please check-in 15 minutes before scheduled
tour time
Breathtaking Views!
Journey with us in scenic South Westland
The Whataroa Valley, enroute to the Kōtuku nesting site
Whataroa is the gateway to
New Zealand's sole Kōtuku nesting site
Our White Heron Sanctuary Tours office is located in peaceful township of Whataroa on State Highway 6 - 100km south of Hokitika and a short 30km drive north of Franz Josef, and the world-famous West Coast glacier region.
Join us for a premier birding tour to Aotearoa’s only Kōtuku breeding colony, from which the magic of the Kōtuku lingers long after your visit.
