Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, White Heron Sanctuary Tours, established 1987, is the original and only tour operator permitted to enter the Waitangiroto Nature Reserve and guide visitors to view the nesting White Heron, Kōtuku.

Our tour offers exclusive access to New Zealand’s only White Heron, Kōtuku nesting site in the Waitangiroto Nature Reserve. Here, visitors have the unique opportunity to observe around 50 nesting pairs in their natural habitat and witness remarkable interactions and behaviours that occur only at the nesting site, such as courtship displays, nest building, and the feeding of chicks. Other tours may advertise White Heron sightings, but they do not have access to the protected breeding grounds. These operations take place on public waterways, where individual birds may sometimes be seen feeding or roosting, but such sightings are seasonal, chance based, and cannot be guaranteed.

Yes, Whataroa is the departure point for all tours to visit New Zealand's only Kōtuku, White Heron breeding ground in the Waitangiroto Nature Reserve. There is no access to this area from Ōkārito or the Ōkārito Lagoon, and we do not travel that way on our tour.

The best way to guarantee your place on a White Heron Sanctuary Tour is to book ahead. Walk-ins are welcome but please keep in mind our usual tour sizes are small and there are limited places available.

The tour duration is two and a half hours - 2.5 hours. We depart from and return to our tour office at 64 Main Road, Whataroa.

Yes, the White Heron Tour is suitable for everyone. For those with mobility challenges, please contact us direct for further information and to discuss options for assistance.

Yes, we visit the Watangiroto Nature Reserve rain or shine, and are able to operate when other activites are often postponed/cancelled. We provide quality wet weather gear, and our undercover viewing hide allows us to observe the nesting birds in comfort.

Yes, if you need to amend your tour reservation due to weather or other reasons, we will do our best to accommodate your request, subject to availability.

The rainforest walk to the White Heron nesting site is short 800 meters and is a combination of gravel track and boardwalk. The path is flat and easy to navigate. Options are available for visitors with mobility issues - please feel free to contact us to discuss.

Visitors are kindly requested to check-in at our White Heron Sanctuary Tours office at 64 Main Road, Whataroa at least 15 minutes before their confirmed tour time. Our tours depart promptly at their scheduled times.

We recommend visitors wear comfortable clothes and walking shoes. It can often be cooler in the rainforest so taking along a warm outer layer is advised. We offer efficient wet weather gear when it's raining.

You may want to bring a backpack containing your camera, binoculars, jacket, a drink/snack, and any necessary medication. At our viewing hide, we provide quality binoculars for visitors who may need them.

For our visitors' comfort and convenience during the White Heron tour, we provide a clean and spacious portable toilet at our van parking area, before the rainforest walk to the nesting site. Public toilets are also located just along the path from our tour office in Whataroa.

No. For many years, the only way to reach the Waitangiroto Nature Reserve was by jet boat, followed by a walk to the Kōtuku nesting site. Today, we operate as a land-based tour, travelling by minivan to connect with the same walking track to the nesting site.

Please use the office donation box or arrange a bank transfer. Any donation is always greatly appreciated. All donations help fund the Predator Control work we do in and around the Waitangiroto Nature Reserve, helping to protect the Kōtuku and its habitat.

Yes, a White Heron Tour voucher makes a unique and special gift for any occasion. The prepaid tour voucher is valid for two years and can be posted or emailed to either the buyer or recipient. Please contact us to arrange.

We offer EFTPOS and credit card facilities, accepting Visa and Mastercard. Visitors may also pay in cash or by bank transfer if they prefer.

There is plenty of free parking outside our tour office on the main street in Whataroa. Additionally, we have a large off-street parking area behind our tour office for visitors to use while they are away on the tour.

Yes, the local store and tearooms are located just across the road from our tour office. Petrol and diesel are also available at the service station/garage along the road heading south to Franz Josef.

No, pets are not permitted in the protected Waitangiroto Nature Reserve. Visitors with pets are welcome to park behind our tour office, where it is quiet and shaded, with tap water available. Our office staff are happy to check on pets if needed.