RealNZ

RealNZ Stir up something new inside. Come with us and experience nature in New Zealand's south. A realisation, a different perspective, a connection.
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When you experience the wonder of nature with us, you're on your way to seeing the world through new eyes. We've been exploring energetic places in New Zealand's South Island with guests since 1954, and we're proud to still stoke your energy today. Read more about our own journey here - https://www.realnz.com/en/about-us/our-story/

Come to life with us in:
🌿Pātea Doubtful Sound
🌿Piopiotahi Milfo

rd Sound
🌿Te Anau
🌿Whakatipu Waimāori Queenstown
🌿Walter Peak High Country Farm
🌿Rakiura Stewart Island

Lil’ Puku just crossed into a whole new chapter of his roadtrip 🥝⛴️ Hello South Island! After a week zooming all around ...
11/09/2026

Lil’ Puku just crossed into a whole new chapter of his roadtrip 🥝⛴️ Hello South Island! After a week zooming all around the North Island, he’s officially made the crossing south with the incredible team at Interislander
He set off on the 3:30am sailing today (very on brand for a nocturnal bird, might we add), leaving a trail of new friends and amazing memories behind him as he says thank you and see you later to everyone who’s hosted him on his North Island leg.
Every stop is another chance to vote Kiwi Pukupuku for Bird of the Year. Vote now at www.birdoftheyear.org.nz/?bird=little-spotted-kiwi, and don’t forget to check your email and validate your vote once you’ve cast it, otherwise it won’t count!

09/09/2026

Lambing season has arrived at Walter Peak 🐑✨ Fresh faces, wobbly legs and all the fluff. Spring on the farm doesn’t get much cuter than this. Thank you Ashley Tikitiki for always providing the cutest updates from the farm!

Lil' Puku is on the move again! He's currently at Redwoods i-SITE and needs to make his way south to Wellington, ideally...
07/09/2026

Lil' Puku is on the move again! He's currently at Redwoods i-SITE and needs to make his way south to Wellington, ideally arriving by the morning of 10 September to then continue his journey to Fiordland.

If you're heading that way over the next couple of days, or know someone who is, we'd love your help getting him on the road (he's a very easy passenger, we promise 😉).

Tag a friend, family member, or fellow road tripper who might be able to lend a hand! 👇

Follow Lil' Puku's full journey and vote Kiwi Pukupuku / Little Spotted Kiwi for Bird of the Year 2026 at realnz.com/great-kiwi-roadtrip.

Vote now - https://www.birdoftheyear.org.nz/?bird=little-spotted-kiwi

Lil' Puku's road trip just got a little longer (in the best way) 🥝✨ On Friday, Lil' Puku set off from Cape Reinga on his...
06/09/2026

Lil' Puku's road trip just got a little longer (in the best way) 🥝✨

On Friday, Lil' Puku set off from Cape Reinga on his big journey south, campaigning hard for Kiwi Pukupuku / Little Spotted Kiwi in Bird of the Year 2026.

Along the way, the crew looking after him couldn't resist showing Lil' Puku a bit more of the country, so he ended up on a little side adventure around the Coromandel and Hobbiton for a taste of Middle Earth. Can't blame them, there's a lot of beautiful country to see between here and Fiordland. Huge thanks to everyone who stepped in to get him back on track to catch his photo ops with Ethically Kate , ZM's Fletch, Vaughan & Hayley, and Duck Island Ice Cream.

Next stop: Duck Island, Hamilton, just after 11am today. Pop into the store to meet him, vote Kiwi Pukupuku for Bird of the Year, and go in the draw for spot prizes 🍦🥝

Vote now at realnz.com/great-kiwi-roadtrip

04/09/2026

Lil’ Puku is officially on his journey 🥹
 
Follow his travels on our social channels, and if you’re in the Bay of Islands - Auckland region, keep an eye out for him! Don’t forget to vote Kiwi Pukupuku for Bird of the Year 2026 - voting is officially open now. Link in bio 🔗
 

03/09/2026

Meet Lil’ Puku. He can’t fly and he’s not exactly built for hitchhiking - but he’s on the road and about to be passed hand to hand from Cape Reinga to Fiordland, picking up new company at every stop as he climbs the Bird of the Year leaderboard.
 
Behind the ride is something much bigger: the translocation of kiwi pukupuku to Ao-ata-te-pō Cooper Island, where RealNZ has spent almost a decade helping prepare a future home for one of our rarest birds.
 
Now, we need your help.
 
We’re looking for members of the public to help deliver Lil’ Puku from Cape Reinga to his new home in Fiordland. Keep an eye on our social channels to find out how you can get involved - and how to vote for Bird of the Year 👀
 
Every vote helps put kiwi pukupuku further into the spotlight and closer to the future they deserve.
 

Farewell to a Walter Peak legend 🐾On Monday, Joseff ran his last show as a shepherd at Walter Peak, and he went out with...
03/09/2026

Farewell to a Walter Peak legend 🐾
On Monday, Joseff ran his last show as a shepherd at Walter Peak, and he went out with a first: running both his dogs, Echo and Fleur, together in the same show. A great success, and a fitting send off after 1.5 years as an absolute asset to our rural team.
But the hardest goodbyes aren't always to people. As Joseff left for the final time, Echo and Fleur paced the wharves, sensing something was up. When the boat pulled away, they refused to leave the beach, still searching for him.
Joseff is now headed home to Wales, but he leaves behind a legacy (and two very good dogs) that won't be forgotten.
Safe travels, Joseff. Walter Peak won't be the same without you. 💛
📍 Walter Peak High Country Farm
📸

02/09/2026

Nature is loud. We’re just not always listening.

For over 70 years RealNZ has been doing quiet conservation work across Aotearoa: trapping on Ao-ata-te-pō / Cooper Island, funding predator control for the dotterel, planting at Walter Peak. Real work, easy to scroll past.

This year we stopped being quiet about it.

Our new short film follows Tamati into Tamatea Dusky Sound, off season, no tourists, just the crew checking predator traps on an island that’s been predator suppressed for over a decade so Kiwi Pukupuku / Little Spotted Kiwi can finally come home. That homecoming isn’t until 2028. This is what the work looks like in the meantime.

Keep it Real is our way of saying: pay attention to what matters. Not just today, but for the next decade, and the ones after that.

🔗 Lhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuHCXxc-jr0&t=1s

Something little is coming…Keep a close eye on our socials 👀
01/09/2026

Something little is coming…

Keep a close eye on our socials 👀

Night for Nature 2026: another extraordinary night in the books. This year, over $240,000 was raised, adding to more tha...
31/08/2026

Night for Nature 2026: another extraordinary night in the books. This year, over $240,000 was raised, adding to more than $833,000 raised over the past decade for New Zealand species under threat.

Against the spectacular backdrop of Walter Peak, the night shone a light on New Zealand's moar inspiring conservation stories - celebrating the people, places and species that make Aotearoa unlike anywhere else on Earth, and to help protect their future.

This year's funds are helping establish a brand new population of Kiwi Pukupuku / Little Spotted Kiwi on Ao-ata-te-pō / Cooper Island, a new chapter made possible by years of predator suppression work and backed by everyone in this room tonight.

None of it happens without the people who show up for it. Thank you to Heritage Expeditions, our major prize sponsor, to all of our other partners who help the night happen, and to everyone who came along, ten years running.

See you next year.

Address

RealNZ Visitor Centre, Steamer Wharf, 93 Beach Street
Queenstown
9300

Opening Hours

Monday 6:30am - 8pm
Tuesday 6:30am - 8pm
Wednesday 6:30am - 8pm
Thursday 6:30am - 8pm
Friday 6:30am - 8pm
Saturday 6:30am - 8pm
Sunday 6:30am - 8pm

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