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Whirinaki kākā field trip

East Coast region

North Island kākā

Map of New Zealand highlighting the East Coast region.

Kākā are threatened birds, so it is wonderful that you can see them first hand at Whirinaki Forest Park.

The park is about 100 km south east of Rotorua on State Highway 38. It is within a two hour drive of Rotorua, Taupo and Whakatane.

This teaching resource provides ideas for exciting and experiential learning activities involving kākā at Whirinaki, although you could adapt the activities in this resource to study a variety of other native birds.

Highlights:

Whirinaki Forest Park

There is something for everyone in the Whirinaki Forest Park, from mountain biking to hunting to exciting adventure races, all with a back drop of untouched forest beauty and amazing native birdsong.

Kākā

The kākā is a large parrot belonging to the nestorinae family, a group that includes the kea and the extinct Norfolk Island kākā.

Whirinaki Forest Park field trip

In Whirinaki Forest Park students can study the cultural history and many aspects of forest structure. It has amazingly tall trees, rushing rivers, a wide variety of habitats and a fascinating past.

Find out more

Publications

View and download all teaching resource publications

2012 Meridian sustainability calendar (PDF, 1100K)

Learn more

LEARNZ website Register for a conservation/biodiversity virtual field trip

Natural Heritage Collection website offers schools free images of NZ's native species

View the Wildtrack children's nature series on NZ on Screen

Contacts

For more information:

Contact your local DOC office

Or email conservED@doc.govt.nz