These endemic New Zealand birds are truly special and deserve some attention during whio awareness month. Here are 5 places to see whio in their natural setting.
New Zealand has so many special birds – from the iconic kiwi to kea and tiny rifleman. I love them all and it’s impossible for me to pick a favourite. However, I would say that every time I see a whio in the wild I am more than a little bit stoked. These birds may not be as well known as kiwi, but they are getting more famous and for good reason. Here are a few places that you may see whio in the wild.
5 Places To See Whio In The Wild
First, a quick note on these places to see whio – remember these birds live in fast flowing streams, so all of these locations are rivers or streams. There are whio living on these waters, but these are wild animals and there is no guarantee that you will see one. Head to these areas, be patient, and hope luck is on your side.
Route Burn – This is the lovely river that flows along the eastern end of the famous Routeburn Track. After completing the walk in 2019 we were lucky to spot some whio hanging out in the stream just below the final bridge crossing.
Manganui-o-te-ao River – This is a spectacular river located to the west of Mt. Ruapehu. It flows from the mountain and heads into the Whanganui River. The river can be easiest visited at Ruatiti Domain where there is a camping ground. I spent two nights here in 2021 and saw several whio on the river.
Wangapeka River – This is another beautiful, large river that is located at the top of the South Island. It flows from Kahurangi National Park towards the east and empties to the top of the South Island.
Mt. Taranaki’s Rivers and Streams – Thanks to great work being done by DOC whio can now be seen on many of the streams coming off of Mt. Taranaki. The best place to spot them is when those streams/rivers are still up in the National Park. I’ve seen whio on the Stony River and Kapuni River.
Tongariro Forest: Whanganui River, Whakapapa River, and Mangatepopo River – Tongariro Forest is an area to the north-west of Mt. Ruapehu in the central part of the North Island. These are three main rivers in the area around the area that will give you a good chance of seeing whio. This area has the highest number of pairs protected and the highest density of birds in the country.