White Heron Sanctuary Tours
A truly unique experience! The White Heron Sanctuary Tours is located on the West Coast of the South Island 30 km north of Franz Josef Glacier, 100 km south of Hokitika, Whataroa is the start point for White Heron Sanctuary Tours
White Heron Sanctuary New Zealand
A great day at the White Heron Sanctuary New Zealand. Starting with an exhilarating ride on a jet boat to the sanctuary. The birds were amazing, well worth the money, would highly recommend anyone to do this trip.
Dion from White Heron Sanctuary Tours chats about this award winning experience.
Dion from White Heron Sanctuary Tours chats about this award winning experience in Whataroa.
New Zealand White Heron on my roof!
I was super lucky to spot this White Heron sitting on our roof as I was getting back from the hardware store. I mistakenly called it a stork in the video, my bad. Still a very beautiful bird to see.
The White Heron or Kotuku is revered by both Māori and pakeha(a pakeha is a white person)for its elegant white feathers. This graceful bird has long, slender legs and a long, thin S-shaped neck, which has a distinct kink when flying.The kōtuku is common in Australia, the South Pacific and Asia.
In New Zealand it only breeds near Whataroa, South Westland, between September and January. This colony is in the Waitangiroto Nature Reserve and guided jet boat tours take visitors to view the birds from an observation hide.
During the breeding season time, the birds feed in the large coastal lagoons in the area, particularly the nearby Ōkārito Lagoon.
After breeding, the birds disperse widely and may be seen at coastal freshwater wetlands or estuaries throughout the country.
Okarito Boat Tours South Westland New Zealand
Okarito Boat Tours offer an experience into the largest unmodified wetlands area of New Zealand - from one to two hour tours - visit OkaritoBoatTours.co.nz for times and bookings.
Whataroa - New Zealand February 8th 2014
Whataroa is a small township in southern Westland on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island. It is located on the western bank of the Whataroa River, with the village of Te Taho on the other side
Geoffs highway View : Whataroa to Hokitika New Zealand
Whataroa Highway through Mt. Hercules - New Zealand
On our recent trip to New Zealand we drove over 2000 kilometers on some of the best roads out there. This is a short clip of me having fun driving one of these roads and my motion sick wifey Kerstin making her usual comments.
South Westland A+P Show Whataroa 2018
South Westland A+P Show Whataroa 2018
The Two Trees in Whataroa, New Zealand
The Two Trees in Whataroa, New Zealand
Camera: Sony A99
Lens: Sony-CZ 50 mm
ISO 100
Whataroa 2012
An awesome part of the world I frequent with the Family. Happy Birthday Mackenzie!! A few old fisherman can be found here also :-)
A quick skid in Whataroa
Husqvarna TXC310
Helicoptering up to one of the old Whataroa glaciers, South Island, New Zealand.
Weird to get the ticket, and then have them put an ID bracelet on your wrist, just in case...... and she said, Happy New Year! Then the pilot said, Just give me a sec to put in more petrol. Fine, fine, go right ahead. No rush!
Kotuku
Kotuku (White Heron or Eastern Great Egret) in Petone Today - I hear it's good luck to see one of these endangered birds. The NZ $2 coin has a pic of one of these on it too.
The Best River in NZ - The Whataroa
The Best Rafting Trips in New Zealand
Kotuku on Kotuku Whakaoho
White heron/Kōtuku
The white heron has always been rare in New Zealand and it has gained almost mythical status.
It is revered by both Māori and pakeha for its elegant white feathers. This graceful bird has long, slender legs and a long, thin S-shaped neck, which has a distinct kink when flying.
Where are they found?
The kōtuku is common in Australia, the South Pacific and Asia.
In New Zealand it only breeds near Whataroa, South Westland, between September and January. This colony is in the Waitangiroto Nature Reserve and guided jet boat tours take visitors to view the birds from an observation hide.
During the breeding season time, the birds feed in the large coastal lagoons in the area, particularly the nearby Ōkārito Lagoon.
After breeding, the birds disperse widely and may be seen at coastal freshwater wetlands or estuaries throughout the country.
White heron facts
The kōtuku colony is located in tall kahikatea-dominated swamp forest. Birds make their nests in the crowns of tree ferns or in kōwhai or kāmahi trees.
During breeding seasons, they grow long, loose breeding plumes from its back and wings. The normally yellow bill turns dull black, and the facial skin between the eye and bill brightens to a bluish-green.
They are solitary feeders. At night when not feeding, they roost in trees. Their voice is the typical heron croak in flight or when disturbed.
They feed mostly on small fish (such as whitebait), eels, frogs, shrimp, aquatic insects, mice and small birds (such as silvereyes). They may grab prey with their sharp, dagger-like beak.
It is believed that the colony was formed by the natural introduction of birds from Australia several hundred years ago. Australian birds are still occasionally blown over in some years and augment the New Zealand population.
The white heron is specially adapted for wading in shallow, muddy waterways: it has long legs that are bare of feathers to well above the ankle joint and long spreading toes.
White herons have elaborate courtship displays. Males build small platforms from which they advertise themselves to females. Male displays include a spectacular raising of the nuptial plumes, with the neck erect, the bill snapping and the wing feathers flicking. Once a female is attracted, the pair preen each other and intertwine their long necks, wings and bill.
As a symbol of things both beautiful and rare, the kōtuku occupied an important place in Māori myth and folklore, and to compare a visitor to a kōtuku was a compliment of the highest order.
Butler Hut Whataroa.AVI
Scenic Views of Butlers Hut, Whataroa Franz Josef
Whataroa Trailriding Part1
Trailriding in the bush around Whataroa, South Westland.
Rider:Steven Kelly
Bike:2013 Husqvarna TXC250R
Deer farm in Whataroa, New Zealand
Feeding a red deer on a deer farm in Whataroa, New Zealand