Creatures of the night
Night tours at Rotokare scenic reserve offer an often unseen look at nature by night.
Rotokare environmental educator Melissa Jacobson said the Friday July 15, August 26 and September 16 tours offered reserve visitors the opportunity to see and hear the unique nocturnal creatures living in the bush.
‘‘Just the feeling of being out in the bush is really different at night.’’
Invertebrates, glow worms, geckos, nocturnal birds including morepork and kiwi, eels and freshwater crayfish are all on the hunt-and-watch list. While Jacobson said they could never guarantee kiwi would be seen or heard, some groups have been lucky enough to spot them.
‘‘It’s another way of giving back to the community, sharing what is going on here and it is a completely different experience to coming out here during the day. We are one of the only countries in the world with all these nocturnal birds... it’s another way of introducing a whole other world.’’
Jacobson said numbers were limited to 40 at each tour and while the first one was full, the August and September tours could take about 20 more people each. ‘‘We like to have it split into smaller groups, it just guarantees a potentially better experience. The group’s quieter and the guides can interact and talk to them a bit more,’’ she said.
To attend a tour email educator@rotokare.org.nz or call 06 764 8500. There is no age limit but bookings are essential.