Skip the Line: Franz Josef Wildlife Center Ticket with Optional Backstage Pass
4.5
Full view
Skip the Line: Franz Josef Wildlife Center Ticket with Optional Backstage Pass
By West Coast Wildlife Centre
from per adult
$22.27
from per adult
$22.27
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 0-85, max of 8 per group
Duration: 1–2 hours
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
English
- GST (Goods and Services Tax)
- Local taxes
- Free car parking
- Entry/Admission - West Coast Wildlife Centre
What's not included- Souvenir photos (available to purchase)
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- DVD (available to purchase)
- Return details
- Returns to original departure point
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Near public transportation
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 47570P1- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Main attraction is wheelchair friendly, but backstage pass tour is not wheelchair 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
- Most travelers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 8 travelers
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- What you can expect during your visit
- Paid stay-at-home policy for staff with symptoms
- Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
- Guides required to regularly wash hands
- Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Community- Safety precautions are provided by the property and are not checked by Tripadvisor for accuracy.
- How much is Skip the Line: Franz Josef Wildlife Center Ticket with Optional Backstage Pass?
- Skip the Line: Franz Josef Wildlife Center Ticket with Optional Backstage Pass price starts from $22.80. Discover and book Skip the Line: Franz Josef Wildlife Center Ticket with Optional Backstage Pass on Tripadvisor
- What is the Skip the Line: Franz Josef Wildlife Center Ticket with Optional Backstage Pass cancellation policy?
- Skip the Line: Franz Josef Wildlife Center Ticket with Optional Backstage Pass cancellation policy: For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience. Discover and book Skip the Line: Franz Josef Wildlife Center Ticket with Optional Backstage Pass on Tripadvisor
- Which company provides Skip the Line: Franz Josef Wildlife Center Ticket with Optional Backstage Pass?
- Skip the Line: Franz Josef Wildlife Center Ticket with Optional Backstage Pass is hosted by West Coast Wildlife Centre. Read reviews, discover additonal experiences or contact West Coast Wildlife Centre on Tripadvisor. Discover and book Skip the Line: Franz Josef Wildlife Center Ticket with Optional Backstage Pass on Tripadvisor
- How much time do I need for Skip the Line: Franz Josef Wildlife Center Ticket with Optional Backstage Pass?
- On average, this experience will take approximately 1h. Discover and book Skip the Line: Franz Josef Wildlife Center Ticket with Optional Backstage Pass on Tripadvisor
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 47570P1
About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator.
Jstine4
00Go see the Kiwi!
We got to see the Kiwi!! It was so exciting to get the chance to see one of the rarest kiwi species!
9LC9
00Loved seeing the kiwis and learning from the interesting information signs
Loved this place! Wasn’t planning on going but then it rained, so I ended up here, and spend a few hours haha. I’m …
tiny400au
00A definite learning experience!
This was our first time seeing a Kiwi, and doing the backstage tour was amazing. Our guide was extremely knowledgea…
tecksiewc
00Need to improve
Only 2 kiwi for viewing in the dark. Better to view them elsewhere. Manage to view some Kiwi in the wild at Hokitik…
Janice C
00Informative tour about the kiwi
We booked the backstage pass to see the live kiwis up close. The DOC had temporarily suspended the program so the C…
julieheron
00Kiwis if you can see them
Quite pricey for a below average experience. Only 2 kiwis and could hardly see them as so dark. Rest of the indoor…
Cariadda
00Dissapointing
Excited to see the kiwis. $25 entrance fee after4pm. However it was really disappointing. It was so dark that you …
mele
00Great backstage tour experience - it's worth it!
After reading other reviews, we signed up for the backstage VIP tour. I was initially hesitant about price, but am …
Sightseer28991027416
00Support the Kiwis!!
We did the VIP tour and our guide Linda was very knowledgable and sweet! I loved learning about how they rescue the…
Trish_East
00Underrated experience - go!
Decided to visit the Wildlife Centre to see some kiwis and had no regrets. We spent a good deal of time observing t…
korm_13
00Expensive, and more of a museum than wildlife centre
The facility is well designed and the kiwi and tuatara displays are professionally presented, but this wildlife cen…
Alison H
00How to spend two very interesting hours…
We enjoyed a coffee, followed by a visit to the Kiwi encounter and then the glacier and tuatara exhibit. We have n…
Lawrence C
00Positive: See Live Kiwis. Negative: Expensive
I was expecting a lot more from this “must do” experience in Franz Joseph. This small museum is nicely laid out an…
Sherridan63
00Not to be missed.
Highly recommend visiting this centre. We had to organise a PlanB when the weather turned and our scenic flight was…
sharrons711
00Great indoor activity.
We had a great tour through the wildlife centre. The staff came through with a special torch and showed us where th…
Contribute
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
52 reviews
Excellent
33
Very good
11
Average
3
Poor
2
Terrible
3
Alex-Edwards
69 contributions
Oct 2022
Visited the Wildlife centre on the day. Didn't bother booking online. Seeing the 2 kiwis was lovely first thing in the morning (9:00am). Running and bumbling around in front of you. First time my girlfriend had properly seen kiwis in the 6 years we've lived here. Arriving first thing in the morning, also saw the Tuataras being fed including the 'big boy' coming out for his prawns. The cafe was a real bonus with some of the tastiest wild-meat pies and some of the best souvenirs I've seen in NZ. Staying in Franz Josef was great too - with Keas out and calling with 'meows' at night.
Written October 19, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rich651000
Thanks so much for sharing your review and delighted that you enjoyed your visit and our home-baked food and souvenirs inside our retail shop.The local Keas fly around our centre most mornings which is a real bonus! Enjoy the rest of your time here in beautiful Franz Josef and thank you again for making the time to share your review.
Written October 21, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Chris B
Nelson, New Zealand8 contributions
Oct 2022
We dropped in to the centre as our son is into wildlife. We weren’t sure about the extra cost for the behind the scenes tour but it was really worth it. I think we might have been disappointed with the value of the general admission price by comparison. It was quiet so there were only 6 of us and we saw tuatara up close and lively, best encounters we’ve had anywhere. The tour was informative and around 30 mins or so.
We were lucky the kiwi were very active, actually chasing each other! One was within arms reach!
We were lucky the kiwi were very active, actually chasing each other! One was within arms reach!
Written October 5, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks Chis for the 5 ⭐️ review and delighted that you all enjoyed your visit and seeing the rowi kiwis and the Tuatara’s on the Backstage Pass Tour.Appreciate you taking the time to share your experiences 🙏👍
Written October 5, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Nicky
9 contributions
We really enjoyed our visit, staying for over an hour. We spent quite a long time watching the kiwi who were very active, watching the videos and reading the glacier and local information panels.
Was only about 10 other people around while we were there but they didn’t stay as long as us. If there was more people/children around it would likely be less enjoyable and not as worth the entry price.
Was only about 10 other people around while we were there but they didn’t stay as long as us. If there was more people/children around it would likely be less enjoyable and not as worth the entry price.
Written September 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rich651000
Thanks for the 4 star review and delighted that you enjoyed your visit.Your entry ticket is valid of course for multiple entry for 24 hours so it allows you to come back as many times as your like representing excellent value for money -if you prefer a quieter environment.Enjoy your time in Franz Josef .
Written September 17, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Valleybaby89
Thames, New Zealand18 contributions
This is definitely a must do in franz josef. We went with 3 young kids and firstly the understanding from the staff of what toddlers are like was well appreciated! The perfect amount of time for an informative chat about the kiwi and what they do at the center. Then we got an up close look at the tuatara which was awesome! Such friendly and knowledgeable staff and really good coffee! Definitely recommend
Written July 10, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank You Sarah Jayne for taking the time to place a review and delighted that the family enjoyed your visit !
TripAdvisor reviews do say that we also make the best coffee ☕️ in Franz Josef and so pleased that we lived up to your expectations!
Written July 15, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Josephine H
13 contributions
Oct 2020
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.
The bigger kiwis in the nocturnal house were also very active and cute. The signage was very informative around kiwis and rowi.
Written November 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for taking the VIP Backstage Pass Tour and the 4 star ⭐️ review !
Our customers tell us that this is their favorite ticket and represents the very best value for money.
Really appreciate your business to help us continue our conservation work 👍
Written January 1, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
kelseys386
Katherine2 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
Paid nearly $160 for four adults to view one kiwi and a lizard. All we could see of the kiwi was a disembodied beak pecking at a dog food bowl. Complete waste of money.
Written January 19, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kia ora Kelsey
That is such a disappointing review for the dedicated team and myself - but i guess seeing and respecting highly endangered NZ wildlife was certainly not for you.
We are the largest kiwi hatching facility in the South Island and in partnership with the Department of Conservation -have helped bring the rowi kiwi back from the very edge of extinction.
I'm thinking you were looking for a more man made experience as its a bit harsh to refer to our national bird as having a disembodied beak ?
Kiwi forrage naturally in the environment here and search out meal worms and native insects in the soil found inside our wooded area.
Our attraction best suits the guests who are genuinely interesting in endangered NZ Wildlife ( the rowi kiwi is rarer than the Giant Panda ) and honestly prepared to invest time to stop, look,listen and engage in the facility - a bit like investing time in life really.
Tuatara are also highly endangered reptile ( not a lizard - the only living member of the order Rhynchocephalia, which flourished around 200 million years ago during the age of the dinosaurs ! ) with a 3rd eye which makes them incredibly rare and has helped us all to better understand Sudden Infant Cot Syndrome ( for example ) - information we share throughout our facility and on our Backstage Pass Tours.
So sorry this experience and information was of no interest to you.
Do enjoy the rest of your time in NZ ..
Written January 22, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Laura Anderson
2 contributions
Nov 2020 • Couples
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!
Written December 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rich651000
Thanks so much for the 5 star review and the team and I are delighted that you enjoyed your visit.
Really appreciate the recommendation and so pleased that we exceeded your expectations.
Written January 2, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
RandiFayeC
Longwood, FL1,027 contributions
Feb 2020
Happy to support the wildlife center - recommend the kiwi behind the scenes tour.
Start by touring upstairs - if lucky, you can see a kiwi or two in their "habitat" as one stage of the rescue process. There are also exhibits on glaciers and the Tuatara (there is a behind the scenes tour for them as well).
We were able to also see some kiwis in incubators and learn more about the rescue program from a lovely and knowledgeable guide.
The gift shop is very good too - and further supports the center!
Buy tickets online for a small discount
Start by touring upstairs - if lucky, you can see a kiwi or two in their "habitat" as one stage of the rescue process. There are also exhibits on glaciers and the Tuatara (there is a behind the scenes tour for them as well).
We were able to also see some kiwis in incubators and learn more about the rescue program from a lovely and knowledgeable guide.
The gift shop is very good too - and further supports the center!
Buy tickets online for a small discount
Written March 18, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rich651000
Thank you both for the 5 star review and delighted that you enjoyed your experience with us.
To date we have hatched over 320 rowi kiwi and with less than 500 left alive in the wild today-and In partnership with the Department of Conservation- we are all making a significant conservation difference.
By visiting today you are also helping -as funds from your entry ticket go directly back into helping us continue the work required.
Thanks again for placing a review and safe travels home ...
Written March 20, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
kiwisahoy
Auckland, New Zealand144 contributions
Oct 2020
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 done
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 done
Written October 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rich651000
Thank you so much for the 5 star review and delighted that you enjoyed your fully guided VIP Backstage Pass Tour.
In partnership with The Department of Conservation and Te Runanga o Makaawhio we have hatched over 329 rowi kiwi - helping bring the worlds rarest kiwi back from the very edge of extinction.
Your visit to day has helped us to continue this valuable work.
Written January 3, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Matt W
9 contributions
Oct 2021 • Couples
We learnt lots about two of New Zealand’s most unique wildlife, the kiwi and the tuatara. The center had two kiwi to visit as part of the general admission and then a thorough exhibit on them, glaciers and the tuatara. The backstage pass included a tour of the egg incubation area, with one 16 day old chick being raised. The tuatara area had 6 adults and a separate juvenile.
Written October 23, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rich651000
Thank you for the 5 star ⭐️ review and delighted that we were able to share highly endangered NZ Wildlife with you to enrich your knowledge. and experience.🙏
Written October 25, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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Skip the Line: Franz Josef Wildlife Center Ticket with Optional Backstage Pass provided by West Coast Wildlife Centre
Product Overview: Skip the Line: Franz Josef Wildlife Center Ticket with Optional Backstage Pass
| Prices From | $23 |
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| Number of Reviews | 52 |
| Number of Photos | 23 |