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 New Zealand's 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. Striking in appearance, this taonga (treasure) holds deep cultural significance, symbolising beauty, rarity and prestige.
Remarkably, the Kōtuku has only ever had one known breeding ground in all of Aotearoa, located amongst ancient rainforest within 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 for hundreds of years, each spring the entire breeding population returns home here to nest. During this time, the birds are at their most spectacular, displaying their full breeding plumage.
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 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 Kōtuku 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, ethical viewing, 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 "
Visit Aotearoa's
Only White Heron
Colony
Witness 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 breeding season, with behaviours and activity varying within the colony as nesting progresses.
See Nesting Royal Spoonbills
and Little Shags too.
Observe 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.
Discover
New Zealand's
Home of the Kōtuku
Feel the pioneer spirit of the nationally significant, protected Waitangiroto Nature Reserve.
Marvel at the prehistoric Kahikatea rainforest, with its rich biodiversity and abundant seasonal wonders.
See our dedicated conservation work in action, helping to preserve this unique area and its precious wildlife.
Stunning scenery.
Awesome photo opportunities.
One & Only
Exclusive Access
White Heron 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
You will find our White Heron Sanctuary Tours office in the peaceful township of Whataroa, conveniently located 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 White Heron breeding colony, an experience that leaves you with lasting memories of the magic of the Kōtuku.
