Te Anau - Fiordland National Park activities

Te Anau Bird Sanctuary , Te Anau Overview

Te Anau Bird Sanctuary is run by the Department of Conservation of New Zealand. This bird sanctuary has many different species of birds that are looked after by the staff. This bird sanctuary is excellent for families and kids as they allow their visitors to feed the birds. Situated on the shores of Lake Te Anau, the largest lake in South Island, you can’t help but sit on the jetty and admire the beautiful lake and the mountains.

Te Anau Bird Sanctuary is great for school groups as there are guides who are very informative about the birds and the sanctuary itself. Out of the different species of birds present at the bird sanctuary, some are even left free to walk around and accompany the visitors. The Te Anau Bird Sanctuary is a small park that takes less than an hour to explore, but the visitors can spend more time around the lake, picnicking, taking pictures or just admiring the stunning view.

Birds at the Sanctuary

Some of the birds that must not be missed:
Scaup Papango- These are a type of ducks that are highly social in nature and especially love diving. They are usually found on lakes that are deeper.

Takahe- These birds are the stars of Te Anau Bird Santuary. One must not leave the place without taking a look at the historical birds. The modern takahe is about 63 centimetres in height and weighs around three times the weight of the pukeko. The eggs take about thirty days to hatch and the birds are able to breed only after around three years.

Kaka- These native parrots are adorable to look at. Once the chicks are hatched, the sanctuary releases them into the wild in order to boost their population.

How To Reach Te Anau Bird Sanctuary

Te Anau Bird Sanctuary is located in the town of Te Anau.
This bird sanctuary is a 15-minute walk from the Te Rua-o-te-Moko/Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre.
From the town’s centre, the bird sanctuary is situated 2.6 kilometres in distance.
The best way to get there would be via State Highway 5.