Bird Watching

A sustained pest eradication programme over the past 15 years, together with the planting of over 4000 native shrubs, trees and plants, has transformed the surrounding landscape and the ancient podocarp forest into a haven for our native birds.

The lodge has been positioned to sit into the top of the ridge line giving a magnificent vantage point over the treetops and surrounding bush. The experience is like being up in the forest canopy with the birds.

Binoculars are available in each guest suite for guests’ use during their stay together with a New Zealand bird book to identify and to observe the birds in their natural environment.

Te Arai Lodge is a proud sponsor of NZ Forest & Bird www.forestandbird.org.nz with a percentage of our profits being donated annually to this iconic NZ institution.

Some of our resident birds include:

• Kōtare (Kingfisher)

• Kererū (Wood Pigeon)

• Tūī

• Pīwakawaka (Fantail)

• Silvereye

• Bellbird

• NZ parakeet

• Pheasant

• Quail

• Yellowhead

• NZ falcon

• Morepork

• Swallow

• Magpie

• Australasian bittern

• Paradise Shelduck

• Pukeko

• White heron

• Kiwi

• Oystercatcher

• NZ Dotterel

• Fairy tern

• Tomtit

• Whitehead