PAPAROA TRACK’S LITTLE FIVE

1Kiwi

Elusive, nocturnal and rare, these fluffy ground-dwelling birds are by no means easy to spot, but by staying in one of the huts, you are likely to hear their distinct shrill cry when night falls. 2Blue

duck Another rare bird. Keep your eyes peeled for this waterfowl if headed to Garden Gully, as a pair is often spotted fishing in the water where the creek forks. 3Fantail

Curious and bold, these little blackand-white birds are known to follow hikers as their boots disturb insects on

the ground. Getting them to pose with their fans out for photos is a little trickier… 4Weka

You’ll often hear these ground-dwelling birds described by locals as a ‘false kiwi’, owing to the number of reported kiwi sightings by tourists that turn out to be these brown speckled woodhens. 5Westland

petrel Once you reach the coast, keep your eyes peeled for this large black sea bird ( pictured), which only breeds high in the foothills of Punakaiki. Flocks in their hundreds appear between March and November.