Can't find the Kiwi Guardian post? Report a missing or damaged post/plaque to kiwiguardians@doc.govt.nz.
Get the regional Kiwi Guardian booklets
Escape the city as you cross through lush farmlands into this beautiful native forest. This iconic feature of the Whangārei landscape offers a moderately difficult, but enjoyable walk through stunning native bush that is home to many precious native species.
With coastal forest, spectacular views and WWII gun emplacements as well - there is plenty to see on this short, easy walk.
This beautiful regional park has everything you need for an awesome family adventure. Discover farm animals to meet, fascinating volcanic history, heaps of bird life and beautiful views over the Manukau Harbour. The best part is this park is right in the heart of Auckland.
Explore one of the best gardens in the country, filled with all sorts of weird and wonderful things to see and do. Free fun for the whole family and located right in the heart of South Auckland.
Splash about in rock pools, discover a hidden forest or dive in to get up close with thousands of fish on Goat Island (Motu Hāmure). Beneath the waves you may see seaweed forests, sponge gardens, snapper/tāmure and crayfish/koura.
Discover the beautiful views, wonderful coastal treasures and amazing history of O Peretu/Takapuna Head, right on the doorstep of the North Shore.
This unique island paradise is packed with fun for the whole family! Take in the amazing views, enjoy a stroll through the forest, relax on the beach, try to spot a wallaby, explore the historic Mansion House or enjoy a break at the café.
Explore an underwater world – stare face-to-face at sharks, have sting rays fly above you, and see penguins in their freezing, icy home.
Maungauika/North Head is an important historical site but it’s also a totally awesome place to explore. There are forts with interlinking tunnels, spooky caves, massive old guns, trees to climb, hills to run down – it’s got everything!
Feel like you’re a world away from Auckland City, as you discover one of the best playgrounds around, native bird species, farm animals, amazing views over the Waitematā Harbour and rich Māori history.
Treat yourself to an escape from the city and step into this native slice of paradise. A perfect stop to stretch the legs and get some fresh air if you're heading away with the family.
Discover the rugged beauty and rich history of Auckland’s west coast. This challenging walk takes you through native bush, over clifftops with amazing views and down to a beautiful secluded piece of west coast beach.
All aboard! Keep an eye out for marine life from the boat to Tiritiri Matangi. On the island there are no pests so you'll see some of New Zealand's most endangered birds in the wild, including takahē, kōkako, saddleback/tīeke and stitchbird/hihi.
Kauaeranga Valley has it all - camping, walking and tramping, swimming and more!
Where in the world can you play eels and ladders, mudfish scrabble, or guess “Whose poos”? At Lake Rotopiko of course!
Experience an ancient, vibrant pest-free forest - alive with native wildlife including many of New Zealand’s rarest and most endangered insects, birds and fish.
See the 55 m Wairēinga/Bridal Veil Falls from both the top and the bottom.
This short walk boasts beautiful scenery and spectacular mining remnants including disused gold mining tunnels - kids will love it!
Follow the Okere River as is cascades between narrow, steep ravines to enter the tranquil waters of Trout Pool.
Immerse yourself in a ‘living museum’, a small remnant of what use to be, before the Gisborne plains were changed forever.
Explore this urban oasis with native bush and birds.
Discover a wealth of marine life up close in a protected environment in Te Tapuwae o Rongokako (“the footprint of Rongokako”.)
Combine a walk to a beautiful lake with a picnic and maybe even a swim.
Spa Park is Taupō’s largest park and has a wide variety of family-friendly features.
Something fishy is going on here, but you’ll have to drop in to see! Step into our freshwater paradise and frolic with our fascinating friends - native fish, trout and even whio.
The Waipahihi Botanical Gardens are a piece of paradise close to Taupō town centre. Walking tracks take you through beautiful native bush and forest trees as well as flowering plants from faraway lands.
Wharewaka to Waipahihi hikoi is a fantastic journey along the shore of Lake Taupō. Be amazed by the natural environment and amenities to cater for all age groups and abilities.
We may not be the largest zoo in New Zealand but at Brooklands Zoo we really pack some punch with our diverse range of species.
Go through the mysterious goblin forest and discover trees with antifreeze leaves! And if you’re really keen, tramp to the swing bridge high above the river for awesome views!
See four volcanoes, adventure through the goblin forest, visit the oldest building in a National Park - what tales would it tell?
Explore subtropical rainforest with amazing native trees. Find out what makes the pukatea tree so special. Guess how old the biggest nikau palm is. Look for fish splashing in the river.
Are you ready for an adventure? Rotokare is a Taranaki treasure just waiting to be discovered. Find a weta, spot the native fish and discover the secrets of this special place.
A hidden patch of forest so close to Whanganui! Cool off in the shade of the tall trees and see what you can discover. Enjoy the short walking track and see how many types of plants you can name.
Learn about early logging history and see some breathtaking views on this adventure to Alice Nash Memorial Heritage Lodge.
Robert Cunningham Bruce, an early conservationist gifted several patches of forest and this is one of them – good on ya Bruce! Check out the mighty trees – is that a bellbird up there? Stay until dark for a chance to see long tailed bats, yes bats!
Visit the largest estuary in the lower North Island. It's home to a diverse range of birds, and is popular for fishing and whitebaiting too!
From coastal wetland that's home to waterfowl and wading birds, to mature, dry terrace forest – Papaitonga Scenic Reserve is a rare habitat and there's lots to see!
An adventure thousands of years in the making! Manawatu Gorge was made when the river carved out a route through a mountain range. Now it's a great place to spot kārearea, glow worms at night, and kōura in the stream. You might even find a perfect hiding spot in a hollow totara!
Walk around the bend! Hundreds of years ago Puketapu Hill stood at the end of a long narrow-necked peninsula, forcing the river to flow in almost a complete circle around it. Get your boots on and check it out!
Over 70 species of waterbirds feed and nest in this estuary! Many of these birds, like the godwit/kuaka, knot and golden plover fly all the way here from the northern hemisphere to enjoy a well deserved holiday in the sun.
Ancient trees, raucous birds, Hawke’s Bays highest waterfall – Boundary Stream has got it all! Arrive earlier to hear the incredible dawn chorus or stay late to hear dusk chorus. Bring your togs if you want to swim in the pool under the waterfall (you’d be mad not to!).
Behind a predator-proof fence lies an idylic bush clad lake. Go through the ingeniously designed gate, which stops pesky pests sneaking in but still allows for kayaks.
Enter the strange land of giant moths, plants that sting, Nīkau palms and ancient kahikatea trees. The trees are full of singing birds, the streams are full of water creatures - imagine what it was like when much of New Zealand looked like this.
Discover New Zealand's unique wildlife and learn about them in daily ranger talks and feeds.
Combine past and present at Battle Hill Forest Park - visit the site of one of the last battles in the region between Maori and early colonial forces, where traditional hill country farming, forestry, recreation and environmental restoration now blend.
This pleasant and easy walk begins below the car park area, just beyond the bridge across Catchpool Stream. It leads upstream through a nikau grove and mature podocarp/broadleaf forest to another bridge and the Ōrongorongo Track.
Explore our ancient rainforest with it’s 1,000 year old trees. Discover the real location of Rivendell, a refuge and rallying place for elves in the The Lord of the Rings movies.
Discover the wonders of our native flora and fauna at this idyllic bird sanctuary - explore Kapiti’s precious ancient forest remnant and look out for tui, bellbird, fantail, grey warbler and kereru; spot the kiwi and tuatara in their enclosures; get up close to kaka, kea and kākāriki in the walk-through aviaries.
Explore a forest reserve that is the only public botanic garden in New Zealand dedicated solely to native plants. It's only 5 km from Wellington’s city centre.
The reserve is the most significant saltmarsh in the lower North Island, containing a variety of vegetation from tidal mudflats to coastal forest. The area is home to many native plants and birds - you might even see some mud crabs!
Connect with friendly animals, native birds and natural beauty - meet piglets, goats, rabbits and deer. There’s a a trout and eel pool too! Don’t forget to bring your togs!
This reserve is only 6 km from Wellington's city centre. It's very accessible and offers snorkelling, diving and walking opportunities.
The paved paths are just the beginning at Wellington Botanic Garden. As a Kiwi Guardian discover new paths and hidden surprises.
Get up close to native and exotic wildlife at New Zealand's first zoo. Explore Wellington Zoo's love story to New Zealand, venture into an Aussie backyard, or even look eye to eye with a giraffe!
Venture through this old, but still working, sheep and beef farm and recreation reserve for stunning views of the Kapiti landscape, to see restoration work in action and learn about the local wildlife.
Visit the world’s first fully-fenced urban ecosanctuary - discover the 18 species of native wildlife that have been reintroduced into the area, 6 of which were previously absent from mainland New Zealand for over 100 years!
Matiu/Somes Island, known as Matiu to Maori, has long a pre-European history dating back to Kupe. Discover native wildlife, visit the lighthouse and WWII bunkers for a journey back in time, and meet the local sheep on the island’s farm.