From penguins and kiwi birds to dolphins and whales, New Zealand’s spectacular scenery is home to a dazzling array of wildlife. Swim with New Zealand Fur Seals in the shallow waters of the Kaikoura Peninsula on the South Island. Spring is lamb season in New Zealand, so during a drive in the countryside you’re sure to see lots of cute and fluffy lambs!
Take to the water with playful dolphins in their natural environment at Paihia in the Bay of Islands on the North Island and head to Akaroa Harbour on the South Island to see New Zealand’s playful Hector’s dolphin. It’s the only place on the entire planet where you can get up close and personal with the world’s smallest and rarest species of dolphin.
Plus, no visit to New Zealand would be complete without a sighting of the native kiwi bird! Spring is the time when the baby kiwis hatch but during the autumn, Stewart Island turns into a hive of activity for birdlife and this is one of the best places to view this ever so shy nocturnal feathered friend in its natural environment.