The valve tower
On the lake.
Judi Lapsley Miller — CC BY 4.0 · Pseudopanax at English Wikipedia — Public domain · Daderot — CC0 · Gertrude206 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Judi Lapsley Miller — CC BY 4.0
Zealandia is a nature sanctuary in a green valley inside the city of Wellington; its Māori name means «the garden of Tāne». Dense forest and an old reservoir with a small red-roofed valve tower are threaded with paths among rare birds. It was the world's first fully fenced urban ecosanctuary, its pest-proof fence protecting 225 ha of forest under restoration. The area was once part of Wellington's water catchment. Introduced mammals have badly harmed New Zealand's native birds, and the fence lets the original ecosystem recover. Thanks to it, birds such as tūī and kākā are now seen far more often in the city's suburbs, and it has inspired similar projects around the country. You walk the paths around the lake and through the forest, watch birds at the feeding stations, and can join a guided night tour. It is about 2 km in a straight line west of central Wellington, linked by a free shuttle from the city. Bring binoculars.
On the lake.
In the forest.
With a guide.
Waiapu Road, Karori, Wellington
By the free shuttle from the city centre.
Two to four hours.
