The Solo Traveller
Your independence, passion, and lifelong memories.
Nature and Wildlife
Southern Brown Kiwi, South Island, New Zealand. Photographer: Oscar Thomas.
New Zealand’s ‘dawn chorus’ revival
By Geoffrey Williams
Briefly …
Australian Geographic Travel makes its first move beyond Australia with two immersive birding tours across New Zealand’s North and South Islands. Led by acclaimed birder and ecologist Oscar Thomas, the small-group expeditions combine rare species encounters with firsthand insight into the country’s world-leading predator-eradication and conservation efforts.
Australian Geographic Travel has announced its first international tour offerings, launching two birding expeditions across New Zealand’s North and South Islands, marking a significant expansion for the conservation-focused travel company.
For 40 years, Australian Geographic’s adventurers, photographers, writers and filmmakers have travelled Australia, and the inaugural 10-day tours of New Zealand, led by acclaimed New Zealand birding expert Oscar Thomas – a Dunedin-based birder, photographer, and ecologist who authored the acclaimed ‘A Naturalist’s Guide to the Birds of New Zealand’ – offer birdwatching enthusiasts unprecedented access to some of the world’s rarest and most spectacular bird species in their natural habitats.
Oscar Thomas on Macquarie Island, a remote, World Heritage-listed subantarctic island in the Southern Ocean, southeast of Tasmania. Photographer: Oscar Thomas.
“These tours represent an exciting milestone for Australian Geographic Travel as we venture beyond Australia for the first time,” Bryan Arnicar, General Manager for Australian Geographic Travel told The Solo Traveller. “New Zealand’s extraordinary birdlife and world-leading conservation efforts align perfectly with our commitment to meaningful, educational travel experiences.”
New Zealand’s Predator Free 2050 initiative is widely regarded as one of the most ambitious conservation experiments in the world. For birders, it means the country is not a static museum of endangered species, but a dynamic landscape where populations are changing, ranges are expanding, and once-rare encounters are potentially more common. Areas where rats, stoats and possums have been removed or tightly controlled are experiencing a quiet but remarkable revival, with birdsong returning to forests and endangered species breeding successfully on the mainland.
“Areas where rats, stoats and possums have been removed or tightly controlled are experiencing a quiet but remarkable revival, with birdsong returning to forests and endangered species breeding successfully on the mainland.”
On predator-free islands and intensively managed mainland sanctuaries, species once confined to remote offshore refuges are re-establishing themselves. Kiwi are being reintroduced to forests near towns, kākā now fly over Wellington’s suburbs, takahē populations are growing steadily, and kōkako, tīeke (saddleback) and kākāriki are reclaiming habitats they disappeared from generations ago.
Birding tours that engage with these programs offer more than just tick-list sightings. Guides often explain why certain species are present, how trapping lines and monitoring stations work, and what it takes to protect nesting sites year-round. In some locations, visitors walk through landscapes where predator control is active, gaining insight into how conservation science, community volunteers and iwi stewardship (the traditional and contemporary management of natural resources by Indigenous peoples [iwi in Māori]), intersect on the ground.
For travellers, this context adds depth to every sighting. Spotting a rare endemic bird is no longer just a moment of luck but part of a much larger recovery story unfolding across the country. To travel here as a birder now is to witness a nation actively reshaping its ecological future and to understand that every dawn chorus you hear has been hard-won.
New Zealand Kaka, North Island, New Zealand. Photographer: Oscar Thomas.
North Island: Kiwi to Kōkako
The North Island tour takes participants through diverse ecosystems from coastal mudflats to predator-free island sanctuaries. Highlights include the chance to encounter iconic species such as the North Island brown kiwi, takahē, kōkako, blue duck (whio), and the unique wrybill. Visits to renowned conservation sites, including Tiritiri Matangi Island, Kapiti Island, and Zealandia, will provide insight into New Zealand’s groundbreaking predator-eradication programs and species recovery efforts.
Buller’s Albatross, South Island, New Zealand. Photographer: Oscar Thomas.
South Island: Albatrosses to Kiwi
The South Island expedition showcases New Zealand’s most spectacular seabird and alpine species, featuring world-class pelagic crossings with albatrosses and petrels, alpine encounters with kea, and the rare opportunity to search for the critically endangered black stilt, one of the world’s rarest birds, with only approximately 130 adults remaining. The journey culminates on remote Stewart Island with unforgettable night walks to search for the Southern brown kiwi and the exploration of predator-free Ulva Island.
Malherbe’s Parakeet, South Island, New Zealand. Photographer: Oscar Thomas.
Limited to seven guests per departure, the tours ensure intimate wildlife encounters and are designed for birders of all experience levels. Travellers can book both tours consecutively for a comprehensive 20-day New Zealand birding experience.
To learn more, visit the Australian Geographic Travel website here. You can also follow these direct links to the North Island: Kiwi to Kōkako tour here and the South Island: Albatrosses to Kiwi tour here.
Geoffrey Williams is The Solo Traveller Group’s Founder and Publishing Curator.