Pu¯ kaha goes live with online tours
Join a ranger on virtual one-hour visit
Pu¯kaha National Wildlife Centre has a new Online Experience available. Pu¯ kaha is one of only seven Online Experiences based in Aotearoa New Zealand on Airbnb and the only one in the Tararua/Wairarapa regions.
Domestic and international guests can now join a knowledgeable ranger on a one-hour online exploration of the ngahere (forest) at Pu¯kaha National Wildlife Centre via Airbnb.
Guests can sit in their own home, office or classroom and explore Pu¯kaha. The experience consists of professionally captured video footage of the wildlife, hosted by a live guide, via Zoom. Guests can interact with their host, ask questions, and engage with each other.
Guests will learn about the conservation work undertaken at Pu¯ kaha and the untold stories behind the native New Zealand manu (birds) and wildlife.
What can guests expect on a virtual tour of Pu¯ kaha National Wildlife Centre?
■ Hear traditional local Ma¯ori stories from Rangita¯ne
■ Watch a kiwi chick hatch
■ See kiwi in the nocturnal house
■ Observe tuna (long finned eels) in their natural habitat
■ Laugh with the cheeky ka¯ka¯ while the rangers monitor them
■ Meet the charming North Island ko¯kako, Kahurangi.
The idea for an Online Experience came about during the Covid-19 pandemic. With New Zealand’s borders closed to international tourists, Pu¯kaha went looking for a way to retain revenue.
Pu¯kaha National Wildlife Centre marketing manager and Online Experience host Sarah Watkins says, “This is such an exciting opportunity for us to share all the best bits of Pu¯ kaha with people who aren’t able to visit. Be it people who live overseas or further afield in Aotearoa New Zealand; or people from all walks of life who might not be able to visit physically.
“It’s a great taster session that will hopefully spark an in-person visit to Pu¯ kaha and New Zealand one day. It’s great for the Tararua/Wairarapa regions.”
Moira Paewai was one of the first Online Experience guests and says in her feedback, “What a wonderful experience, just like being there in person, thanks so much for your hosting and knowledge Sarah.”
Pu¯kaha will target the North American market with the initial offering of the experience, the online format being ideal for families, couples, and corporates (as a team building activity). Guests have a selection of dates and times to choose from, and private group bookings are also available.