In spite of the kiwi being a national symbol, being an endangered species, you’ll have to be very lucky to spot the shy and elusive kiwi out in the wild. The best way to get a glimpse of this are bird is by visiting Queenstown’s Kiwi Birdlife Park, where you will get the chance to see it up close and learn more about New Zealand’s national symbol, as well as more of the region’s avian life.

The park itself is set in large, lush grounds, making this great attraction popular with visitors to the city who come to get away from it all for a while.

The main draw is of course the chance to see the kiwi. Four kiwi feeding sessions are held throughout the day, and these are your best chance to see the famous birds for yourself. The sessions are held in the kiwi houses just past the entrance to the park, and each one lasts just 15 minutes, after which you can explore their houses and observe them in their own habitat.

Conservation presentations are also held every day, offering you insights into the efforts being made to try to preserve the species as well as protect the environment. With trained conservationists on hand to answer your questions, it’s the ideal way to find out more about what can be done.

Of course, when you wander around the 20,000 square metres of bush land across the park, you’ll encounter many other species, including the parakeet and the morepork, which is the only surviving native owl species in the country. There are also reptiles and marsupials calling the park their home.

The park has its own café offering a range of snacks, but there are some great spots to enjoy your own picnic too. Just five minutes’ walk from the heart of town, parking is widely available if you’re driving too. The Kiwi Birdlife Park is open daily except Christmas Day, and charges for entry.