Franz Josef - West Coast Wildlife Centre VIP Guided Backstage Pass Tour

4.6
175
Experience the amazing West Coast Wildlife Centre, home of the rare kiwi, complete with a guided backstage tour and fascinating Tuatara Encounter!

Experience the amazing West Coast Wildlife Centre, home of the rare kiwi, complete with a guided backstage tour and fascinating Tuatara Encounter!

The VIP Guided Backstage Pass Tour is a combo ticket including West Coast Wildlife Centre entry PLUS a guided 30-45 minute informative tour with one of our Kiwi Rangers through the incubation and chick rearing facility. You'll also enjoy a fascinating Tuatara encounter where you can view up-close the prehistoric tuatara that is endemic only to New Zealand.

The Backstage Pass is hugely popular – especially during the summer months - and is classed as a ‘Top Pick’ by Lonely Planet Travel Guides.

Visitors will see where and how eggs are processed when they first arrive at the West Coast Wildlife Centre. They will learn about incubation procedures and take a look at the room where the eggs are cared for. Finally, visitors will get a chance to view the Brooder Room where the kiwi chicks are housed and reared during their time with us.

The West Coast Wildlife Centre is an all-weather visitor attraction located in Franz Josef. The centre is the sole provider of the BNZ Operation Nest Egg TM incubation and captive rearing programme for New Zealand's rarest Kiwi, the Rowi and Haast tokoeka. Since opening in 2010 the West Coast Wildlife Centre has successfully raised and released over 240 Kiwi Chicks.

West Coast Wildlife Centre entry gives visitors the very special chance to view juvenile Rowi in a natural walk through Nocturnal House setting. This self-guided attraction also includes educational and interactive displays and wildlife films offering an opportunity to learn about the Glacier and the unique West Coast region.

Adult $69.00
Child $30.00 (5 - 15 years)

What's included

  • Wildlife Centre Entry
  • 30 - 45 Minute Guided Tour
  • Tuatara Encounter

Location

  • Cnr Cowan & Cron Streets, Franz Josef

Notes

  • Conditions: All children must be accompanied by an adult. Child age is 15 years and under.

    Please Note: The Backstage Pass requires a good level of understanding of English and is not suitable for children under 8 years of age.

    Please ensure that you arrive ten minutes prior to your tour as the tours depart on time and if you are late, you will miss out.

  • Non-flash photography is permitted on the Backstage Pass under close supervision by your Kiwi Ranger guide. All kiwi chicks will be viewed behind glass.

    Kiwi chicks will be available to view on the Backstage Pass tour from October to March (subject to change and breeding season)

Available Bookings from 19 Dec to 1 Jan 2025

All prices are shown in NZD ($)

Change Dates
Thu 19 Dec
Fri 20 Dec
Sat 21 Dec
Sun 22 Dec
Mon 23 Dec
Tue 24 Dec
Wed 25 Dec
Thu 26 Dec
Fri 27 Dec
Sat 28 Dec
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Mon 30 Dec
Tue 31 Dec
Wed 1 Jan

Bookings close in 8 hours...

  • Adult$62.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$30.00

  • Adult$62.00
  • Child$30.00

  • Adult$69.00
  • Child$30.00

  • Adult$62.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$30.00

  • Adult$69.00
  • Child$30.00

  • Adult$62.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$30.00

  • Adult$62.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$30.00

  • Adult$62.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$30.00

  • Adult$69.00
  • Child$30.00

  • Adult$62.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$30.00

Bookings close in 10 hours...

  • Adult$68.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$30.00

  • Adult$69.00
  • Child$30.00

  • Adult$69.00
  • Child$30.00

  • Adult$68.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$30.00

  • Adult$68.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$30.00

  • Adult$68.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$30.00

  • Adult$69.00
  • Child$30.00

  • Adult$68.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$30.00

  • Adult$69.00
  • Child$30.00

  • Adult$68.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$30.00

  • Adult$69.00
  • Child$30.00

  • Adult$69.00
  • Child$30.00

  • Adult$69.00
  • Child$30.00

  • Adult$69.00
  • Child$30.00

  • Adult$69.00
  • Child$30.00

  • Adult$69.00
  • Child$30.00

  • Adult$69.00
  • Child$30.00

  • Adult$69.00
  • Child$30.00

  • Adult$69.00
  • Child$30.00

  • Adult$69.00
  • Child$30.00

  • Adult$59.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$25.00

  • Adult$59.00
  • Child$25.00

  • Adult$59.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$25.00

  • Adult$59.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$25.00

  • Adult$59.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$25.00

  • Adult$59.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$25.00

  • Adult$59.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$25.00

  • Adult$59.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$25.00

  • Adult$59.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$25.00

  • Adult$62.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$25.00

  • Adult$62.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$25.00
Kiwi Encounter Come for the kiwi, stay for the tuatara! Informative VIP Tour Superb. 2 live kiwi 🙏❤️ A Great day out in Franz Josef
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4.6

175 reviews

Showing all 175 authenticated Bookme reviews

Michael from Germany wrote on 10 June 2019

sehr schöne und wichtige Einrichtung!

Also das Wildlife Center ist an sich zwar nicht so sehr groß aber man erfährt sehr viel über die Kiwis und kann diese auch viel besser beobachten als an anderen Orten! Außerdem unterstützt man damit die Aufzucht dieser mittlerweile bedrohten Tiere!? Daher jeden Cent wert und gut investiertes Geld.

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Michael from Germany wrote on 07 April 2019

Glück im Unglück

Trotz schlechtem Wetter und kaputter Brücke nördlich von Fox Glacier, haben wir uns entschieden vom Norden her nach Franz Josef zu fahren, um das Wildlife Centre zu besuchen und waren froh zu erfahren, dass noch zwei erwachsene Kiwi und ein 38 Tage altes Kücken gepflegt wurden. Der normale Eintritt ermöglichte es uns, die beiden ausgewachsenen Kiwi im Nachthaus zu besuchen, aber mit dem Backstage Pass durften wir die Brutstation im Keller besichtigen, wo das Küken zu sehen war. Es war aber durch die Scheibe des Brutkastens nur als Fellknäuel zu sehen. Die Informationen, die wir durch eine sehr kompetente Mitarbeiterin bekamen, war aber sehr aufschlussreich. Den recht hohen Preis für die Karte sehen wir gerne als unseren Anteil an die Aufreichterhaltung der tollen Arbeit an, die für den Wiederaufzucht dieser überaus fanszinierenden Tiere, geleistet wird.

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Leon Gieselmann from Germany wrote on 29 January 2019

Teuer aber toll

Das Kiwihaus selbst ist recht klein, dafür aber anschaulich und toll um sich über Kiwis zu informieren und einmal welche hautnah zu sehen. Die Backstage Tour, welche wir machten, bietet auf jeden Fall nochmal mehr Informationen und zeigt die Mission des Kiwihauses deutlicher. Wir sahen die Ausbrütstation und sogar einen kleinen Kiwi, welcher leider ein Nickerchen machte als wir dort waren. Alle Mitarbeiter waren super nett und hilfreich. Ich würde die Tour jedem empfehlen, auch wenn der Preis recht hoch war. Bei einem Rabatt auf jeden Fall lohnenswert. Weiter so Kiwihaus!

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Céline from Germany wrote on 26 November 2017

Schöner Eindruck, aber nicht für den vollen Preis

Die Führung hinter den Kulissen war sehr kurzweilig und informativ. Man konnte sowohl Eier sehen, die gerade ausgebrütet wurden als auch kleine Babys, die dort zur Aufzucht sind. Für den vollen Preis wäre ich allerdings nicht hingegangen. Die Informationen im Wildlife Center sind beinahe ebenso ausführlich.

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Julie Marx from Germany wrote on 10 February 2017

Wertvolle Arbeit zur Erhaltung der bedrohten Kiwis

Die Führung war informativ und spannend, die Sicherheitsvorkehrungen, um die Kiwis so wenig wie möglich zu stressen (keine Fotos oder Videoaufnahmen im Gehege, keine Fotos mit Blitz in der Aufzuchtstation) völlig angebracht. Es lohnt sich auf jeden Fall, das zusätzliche Held für den Backstagepass auszugeben, da die Rangerin Fragen beantworten konnte und aktuellere Infos geben konnte, als in den Filmen und auf den Schautafeln der Dauerausstellung.

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Booking

10:00 a.m.Thursday 13 July

12

Adult

Child 5 - 15 years

*This option must be made together with another price type.
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