It is delightful to meet nature on nature’s terms, not a zoo! Orokonui has brought back species that have been locally extinct for 100’s of years and native species already in the sanctuary are thriving. Our first re-introduction was the South Island kaka in 2008 and the most recent the Otago skink. Many more are in the planning stages.
The bellbird forms a significant component of the famed New Zealand dawn chorus of bird song
Endemic
This small bird moves through the canopy in noisy flocks searching for insects.
Endemic, South Island only
New Zealand is not renowned for its butterflies but it has a large number of moths, many of them active in the day. The endemic red admiral butterfly can be seen on warm sunny days
This is a very bio-diverse forest type. Here are found the oldest trees in the valley with some of the mountain cedar (Libocedrus bidwillii, pahautea), rimu (Dacrydium cupressinum), and totara (Podocarpus totara) being 450 to 500 years of age
Ten species of native fish, an extraordinary diversity, are found in the Orokonui Stream: four galaxiids (whitebait species), three bullies, two eels and the lamprey, as well as the native freshwater crayfish or kōura
A wonderful variety of fungi abounds although they are mainly an autumnal delight. Stinkhorns, however, can be seen at any time of year after rain
A long feathered, flightless bird with
a distinctively long beak may be seen
after dark probing for worms, grubs and other invertebrates in the
soil
Endemic, Reintroduced
A population of more than 100 is breeding well at Orokonui
Native
Lichens thrive in the clean-air environment. A previously undescribed species was found in 2012 and named Megalaria orokonuiana.
As a top predator it has a large territory and numbers are relatively low. The removal of some prey items (mice and rats) from within the sanctuary has had little or no effect on the numbers of these night owls
The largest of the pigeon species today, this bird is most often heard as it flies with noisily beating wings.
Endemic
A number of orchid species are found in the valley including the wonderfully fragrant Easter orchid and the rare Drymoanthus flavus which was recognised after a kākā dislodged a specimen from a branch in the canopy
They inhabit a specially designed
enclosure containing flat schist rocks
trucked in from inland Otago for
them to bask on and use as a thermal
refuge in winter
Endemic, Central Otago
Our ponds are fed by natural springs. On a sunny day in spring and summer you can see hundreds of tadpoles of the Australian whistling tree frog and flying above will be the wonderfully coloured red and blue damselflies
A garden showcasing the many weird, wonderful and threatened plant species of the wider Otago region can be seen just a couple of minutes walk from the main entrance
A tiny tail-less bird, flitting along
branches and twigs, flicking wings. NZ’s smallest bird and of ancient lineage. It weighs a mere 6-7g
Endemic
A friendly bird with long spindly legs
foraging for insects in litter disturbed
by your feet
Endemic, Reintroduced
Self introduced from Australia in the early 1840’s these birds can sometimes be seen at the sugar water feeders or flitting through the canopy after insects.
Native
This big brown parrot with a red underwing and long hooked beak is often heard first as it tosses bits of bark, rotten wood, leaves and twigs from the treetops and makes soft whistling, clucking noises
Endemic, Reintroduced
The Orokonui Stream has ten different species of native fish, including galaxiids/kōkopu/inanga (adult whitebait), bullies, eel/tuna and lamprey/piharau as well as kōura, the freshwater crayfish.
A blue and green heavy flightless bird
with a strong red beak may be seen
eating grasses and tussocks
Endemic, reintroduced
The Eucalyptus forest is home to
the tallest tree in New Zealand. It is
a Eucalyptus regnans or mountain
ash which is the tallest flowering tree
species in the world and naturally
occurs in Tasmania and Victoria
Introduced
This whakairo (carving) depicts Tāne Mahuta god of the forest. His korowai or cloak is made up of sea and land dwelling birds and he he holds a koru or fern frond, symbolising new life and our infinite connection to te whenua, the land
Tomtits are often seen as they dive off a branch to grab a spider or similar from the path. The female is a nondescript brown but the South Island male (pictured here) is a glorious black and yellow.
Endemic
There are a number of free ranging tuatara that were reintroduced in 2012.
Two young captive-reared tuatara in a special viewing pen may be seen basking in spring and summer when it is sunny. They perform a valuable role as ambassadors for tuatara conservation.
Endemic, reintroduced
This blue-black bird with a white tuft at the base of its neck, sings a loud melodious song interspersed with harsh clicks and rattles. It flies with noisy wing beats and is often seen at sugar water feeders
Endemic
The building features timbers such as macrocarpa milled from old farm trees in the Ecosanctuary, rimu recycled from a town hall in a neighbouring settlement, and plywood made from sustainably grown plantation trees. Recycled shipping containers have been used in the building.
Open Saturday, Sunday, Monday 9:30am to 4:30pm
Top of Blueskin Road (Rapid No. 600) Waitati, Dunedin
Ph +64 3 482 1755 info@orokonui.nz