Stewart Is. Tokoeka Kiwi info please

[ourspot]

Hi all

I’m heading off to Stewart Island shortly for Xmas with the family and we’re hoping to see some Tokoeka Kiwi. Basically we can’t get on any of the kiwi tours (our kids are to young for the tours and they go late at night), so am looking for other potential options.

So does anyone know any semi-reliable spots near Oban where Kiwi could be found? Definitely going to Ulva Island so maybe we’ll luck one there.

Also are there any Little Owl on Stewart Island, or best to look around Invercargill?

Cheers Scott

[CMKMStephens]

If you're just after seeing a kiwi at night, kiwi semi-reliably show up around Traill Park at Oban: https://www.google.co.nz/maps/@-46.9007 ... .33z?hl=en

If you're after the awesome day time experience, Ulva is probably the easiest. I came across one kiwi in the day time on Ulva on December 2nd, partway between the West End and Boulder Beaches. Another party reported seeing one on the path from Sydney Cove to the main intersection. On a return trip to Ulva on the 5th, didn't see any. It's just luck, increased by time.

Raikura 2 425 (Custom).JPG (372.19 KiB) Viewed 2290 times

Raikura 2 380 (Custom).JPG (625.16 KiB) Viewed 2290 times

[ourspot]

Thanks for the great Kiwi tips. Lucked out on Ulva Island but saw 3 (and heard 3 more) at Masons Bay which was fantastic. Will also check out some of the spots around Oban inc Traill Park over the next few days. Cheers Scott

[David Riddell]

Went out to Traill Park on the evening of 3 December. Word seems to have got out, and there were a couple of dozen mostly backpacker types wandering slowly around looking for kiwi. There was also one local guy who had an infra-red scope through which he could easily pick out the people, glowing in the dark, but plainly there were no kiwi anywhere around by 10.30pm - he said he was out there every couple of weeks or so. He suggested we just do a slow wander around the tracks and back streets, and said covering a lot of ground was often the best option. One place he recommended was the area around the Bathing Beach. Nothing at the beach itself, but on the way back (Kamahi Rd) we heard one rustling in the roadside vegetation at about 11.20pm and had a nice close view. About 50m further along the road we met another group out kiwi hunting, and they'd found a separate one right there. A specially significant bird, as this was the only one I'd seen that Annette hadn't!

Also went out to Ulva Island the next day. No kiwi to be seen, but good views of plenty of other things, in spite of the rain. Amazing place.

[Grahame]

We had one within stroking distance for 3-4 minutes on Ulva island at about 1100 hours on 25th November, it didn't seem to notice we were there, and there was time to wave to others to come and see. Its pot luck, but well worth the chance. Yellowheads on the ground very close are also very likely.

Good luck, Grahame