Trip report from Zealandia Sunday 1st June 2025
14 of us headed south from Masterton and Carterton, over the Remutaka Hill to the big smoke city of Wellington. It was a clear calm weather day a little chilly at times in the shade but great weather for the first day of winter.
All the car pooling worked out and we arrived in the car park at the same time, with trip leader Sandra managing to herd everyone inside, find the wharepaku and then up 2 flights of stairs to the Rātā cafe.
Following drinks and snacks and a check of the map and mini talks, we headed out into the ecosanctuary to begin exploring. A couple of the group branched out to higher tracks while the rest of us strolled along the main road track ticking off some of the birds to find including saddleback, cormorants and tui. Of course there were a huge flock of birds singing and calling at the ' birdsong valley' - where you can push a button and the pictured bird calls out. There was more than one person looking into the trees to spot the birds!
We continued along the track, visited the wetland where the cormorants were drying their wings perching on a log, and up to spot some Tuatara behind their mini-fenced enclosure. The bulk of the group listened to the weta talk and tuatara talks and went back to peak over the fence for tuatara. A male hihi (stitchbird) was busy getting nectar from the Fuschia (kōtukutuku) flowers while the kākā were guarding their feed station.
We headed to the Heritage Area for our group lunch (unfortunately some of us were a bit late having listened to the tuatara talk first!), stopping briefly to scratch up leaves and insects for a NZ robin (toutouwai).
After lunch, we climbed the lookout tower then headed back down the stairs to walk across the upper dam. Great views back down the valley. Thru the trees slightly down hill and a view from the swing bridge, watching a lovely bellbird. The group was divided into smaller groups now with people taking lots of different tracks and routes. Our group of 4 reached the main track and zig zagged to get onto the lower fuschia track heading back down the valley. We checked out the valve tower and the amazing history behind it.
The group met up again in the Rāta cafe to discuss stories and compare birds observed.
