Visitor Experience

Unique visitor experiences

Visitors enjoying a bush walk

Through guided walks and educational tours the Sanctuary provides opportunities for New Zealanders and overseas tourists to see and hear the delights of New Zealand's natural heritage in an accessible location.

The Sanctuary also offers the activity that international visitors request most: a short, safe, authentic bush walk with the opportunity to see our rare native wildlife.

Four major themes are presented to visitors:

• Charles & Mary Todd Heritage Trail
• Keith Taylor Wetland Trail
• Fletcher Trust Kiwi Trail
• Karori Wildlife Sanctuary Education Programme

Each visitor trail provides a carefully constructed set of experiences for visitors of all age groups and encourages them to keep returning to the Sanctuary for repeat visits.

The education and general visitor experience at the Sanctuary is merged through the development of extensive walking trails and interpretation displays.

A guided tour through the Sanctuary		Picnic at the lower dam

Charles & Mary Todd Heritage Trail

Historic valve tower and boatshed in the Charles & Mary Todd Heritage Trail

The Charles & Mary Todd Heritage Trail is found just inside the main entrance to the Sanctuary and presents the history of the water supply reservoirs and the history of Wellington's development. It is represented by the lower dam and lake, the valve tower, the boat shed, the water valves and stop cocks, the gold mines and by personal recollections of human involvement in the valley.

Visitors can walk on the fully restored valve tower bridge and admire the view of waterfowl and bush birds in close proximity. Walking through the Governor-General's Boat Shed, built in 1875, they learn of the human impact on this ancient valley. The Valley View track takes them deep into the pine forest to explore a gold mine shaft.

Keith Taylor Wetland Trail

		The Keith Taylor Wetland Trail is only a short stroll up the Lake Road from the main entrance. Picture shooing cheeky weka from your picnic basket while watching shags gracefully land on the mirrored waters of the lower dam. Visitors may also be lucky enough to spot one of New Zealand's rarest ducks - the brown teal - in this picturesque wetland environment.
Keith Taylor Wetland Trail

Fletcher Trust Kiwi Trail

Boardwalks along the Fletcher Trust Kiwi Trail

The Fletcher Trust Kiwi Trail provides the only opportunity to hear wild kiwi in their natural habitat within a major city. Forty little spotted kiwi have already been released in the Sanctuary. Many have established lifelong pair bonds. The population in the Sanctuary is expected to increase to over one hundred birds. The Fletcher Trust Kiwi Trail is alive with activity from dusk to dawn. The early morning is characterised by the sound of the dawn chorus featuring tui and bellbirds. Nocturnal tours provide the opportunity for visitors to hear the call of nocturnal species like kiwi and morepork and to view dazzling displays of New Zealand glow worms. Many lucky visitors have already seen kiwi probing for grubs in the leaf litter.

Karori Wildlife Sanctuary Education Programme Contact Energy sponsor the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary Education Programme. The Education Programme provides a safe, fun, hands-on opportunity for students to explore and learn about our natural environment.
		School group visiting the Sanctuary