Travellers to New Zealand would be forgiven for thinking that their budget doesn't go very far when it gets spent by the $00's on adrenaline activities. However, for those times when the budget won't stretch to another adrenaline activity, for balance between such activities or for the traveller who isn't interested in the adrenaline-fuelled attractions, this article lists some free or low-cost natural activities across the main islands of New Zealand.
Far South New Zealand – Birdwatching and Rainforest Trails on Ulva Island
Ulva Island is situated in the Paterson Inlet of Stewart Island, which is itself the third largest of the islands that make up New Zealand. It's tiny size, relative isolation and status as an open wildlife and natural plant sanctuary mean that it's one of the best places to see endangered species such as the South Island saddleback (Tieke), yellowback (Mohua) and Stewart Island robin (Toutoutwai). Costs $NZ20 (US$13) for a water taxi from Oban (Stewart Island) and optional but well worth-while $NZ2 ($US1.30) donation for the guidebook to the birds and trails of Ulva Island.
South-eastern South Island – Yellow-eyed Penguins and Petrified Forest of Curio Bay
Curio Bay is slightly off the beaten track, being just off the Southern Scenic Route (which runs from Te Anau to Dunedin through the Catlins Region) but the yellow-eyed penguins and petrified forest of Curio Bay are definitely one of the highlights of the route. Free to visit for the traveller to New Zealand who's hired a car, bike or motorhome, (public transport is very limited through the Catlins region) the yellow-eyed penguins come ashore one by one at any time from late afternoon to dusk. Visitors are expected to respect a 10m distance between themselves and the yellow-eyed penguins to avoid scaring or otherwise disturbing them. There are also the curious remnants of an ancient fossil forest in the beach bedrock. This is extremely rare as it needs exceptional conditions for plant matter to form fossils.
Central Northern Island – the Natural Arch by the Waitomo Caves
Unlike the busy and expensive show caves and black-water rafting of Waitomo, there is a free way to see glow-worms in the dark. By day, the walking trail to the Natural Arch is a pleasant stroll on a well-made, if sometimes fairly steep, path through the typical temperate rainforest of New Zealand, but at dusk glow-worms become visible on the path to the cave. The two viewpoints into the cave itself are also worth a look.
North-western North Island – the Muriwai Gannet Colony Near Auckland
Just 40 minutes drive from Auckland, on the west coast, the Muriwai Gannet Colony is one of only a handful of Australasian gannet nesting sites on New Zealand mainland. The best time to see the gannets is between September and March. Between September and December is best for mating ritual displays, and December to March for various stages of chick growth. After March most of the chicks have fledged and gone to Australia for their first few years of adulthood, before returning home to mate and breed.
This article lists some of the best budget anti-dotes to New Zealand's high-cost adrenaline attractions – free or low-cost natural attractions and views. Information on other places to see near Auckland, and affordable budget accommodation are available in separate articles by the same author.
Chiz Dakin - A keen mountain walker, scrambler, cyclist and occasional climber and sea kayaker for several years, Chiz Dakin has carried a camera with ...
