Took the ferry to Somes Island, a scientific and historic reserve in Wellington Harbor. We saw red-crowned parakeets, giant weta beetles, skinks, and great views of the harbor. Later that day we took a night hike at the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary, home to the new Zealandia exhibit.
Both reserves endeavor to recreate native New Zealand habitats. Prior to the arrival of Europeans, New Zealand had no mammalian predators. No rats, mice, bears, wolves, foxes, rabbits, cougars, possums, etc. Abundant ground-dwelling animals, like kiwi and tuatara, the closest living reptile to the dinosaurs, were quickly gobbled.
The Karori Wildlife Sanctuary, which is walkable from our Kelburn home, is surrounded by an 8.6 kilometer pest-proof fence. On our night hike, we saw several tuatara and heard but did not see kiwi. The glow-worms, larvae of the fungus fly, lit up the trails like fireworks.
View from the west side of Somes Island. That's Wellington behind us.
View from the east side of Somes Island.
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