Skip the Line: Franz Josef Wildlife Center Ticket with Optional Backstage Pass
Overview
If you purchase a VIP Backstage Pass Tour your general admission ticket is included in the price.
Inclusions
- GST (Goods and Services Tax)
- Local taxes
- Free car parking
- Entry/Admission - West Coast Wildlife Centre
What to expect
The centre is open every day from 8.30am. Please set aside at least 1-2 hours for your visit.
A free takeaway learning booklet is provided at no extra charge. All tickets purchased are valid for 48 hours. This means guests can come in and out of the attraction as often as they like.
During your visit, you'll be able to see live kiwi during the day inside the nocturnal house, See live Tuatara, and discover the interactive glacier attraction and storytelling areas/films as well as films and information around NZ's ambitious goal to become predator free by 2050.
You'll also have the option to go behind the scenes on the VIP Backstage Pass Tour rated “highly recommended” by Lonely Planet and Tripadvisor Traveller's Choice Award winner for 2022. A fully guided 40-minute tour behind the scenes to see our kiwi incubation and hatching and Tuatara programmes.
Additional information
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Wheelchair accessible
- Main attraction is wheelchair friendly, but backstage pass tour is not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Photography is restricted inside the kiwi nocturnal house but available on the kiwi backstage pass tour
- Proof of age require if purchasing a senior ticket (over 65 years of age)
- Cafe with food and coffee available to purchase. All major credit cards accepted
- Near public transportation
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 8 travelers
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Ticket delivery
Cancellation
We choose to do the backstage pass and it was very worth it. Amazing experience to see how they rare the kiwi from eggs into adults, saved from predators. Then the tuatara, to see them up close and learn about them was insane. Best enclosure of tuatara we have ever seen.
We choose to do the backstage pass and it was very worth it. Amazing experience to see how they rare the kiwi from eggs into adults, saved from predators. Then the tuatara, to see them up close and learn about them was insane. Best enclosure of tuatara we have ever seen.I did a full round trip around the South Island and easily found going to the Franz Josef Wildlife centre to be the highlight! We were able to see two young kiwis playing and speaking to each other and it was the most beautiful, magical thing I have ever seen. The tour was really informative and ...
I did a full round trip around the South Island and easily found going to the Franz Josef Wildlife centre to be the highlight! We were able to see two young kiwis playing and speaking to each other and it was the most beautiful, magical thing I have ever seen. The tour was really informative and we even got to see a recently hatched baby’s kiwi and the guide was so lovely. The cafe is delicious and staff really helpful. Honestly everything was so great and I recommend going to everyone I know!It was great to do for a rainy day. We did the backstage because we heard there were baby kiwis and THERE WERE! We saw 6- and 14-day old kiwis. So cute! The bigger kiwis in the nocturnal house were also very active and cute. The signage was very informative around kiwis and rowi.
It was great to do for a rainy day. We did the backstage because we heard there were baby kiwis and THERE WERE! We saw 6- and 14-day old kiwis. So cute! The bigger kiwis in the nocturnal house were also very active and cute. The signage was very informative around kiwis and rowi.Loved our tour and saw things and leant things I never would have known. Well worth it, Staff fabulous and friendly . Tour guide kept it light and interesting, Loved seeing the kiwi eggs under light ready to hatch and incubation area etc. Thanks...will recommend to anyone to do. Cafe and shop go...
Loved our tour and saw things and leant things I never would have known. Well worth it, Staff fabulous and friendly . Tour guide kept it light and interesting, Loved seeing the kiwi eggs under light ready to hatch and incubation area etc. Thanks...will recommend to anyone to do. Cafe and shop good also. Well doneVery much enjoyed seeing the kiwi and tuatara. Great place to visit on a very wet west coast day. I would go again.
Very much enjoyed seeing the kiwi and tuatara. Great place to visit on a very wet west coast day. I would go again.What a very informative tour behind the scene. We were very lucky to see a kiwi be born and there were 3 other Kiwi's only 3 days old. Then when we went into the adults area, they were running around and making noises. It was lovely to see.
What a very informative tour behind the scene. We were very lucky to see a kiwi be born and there were 3 other Kiwi's only 3 days old. Then when we went into the adults area, they were running around and making noises. It was lovely to see.