I know a place . . . Orokonui Ecosanctuary
Tucked into the forested hills above Waitati, north of Dunedin, is this 307 hectares of protected regenerating forest.
Thanks to the predator-proof fence, which was added in 2007, visitors can expect to see native birds, such as ka¯ka¯, tu¯¯ı and kereru¯ and South Island robin do their thing.
Yes, it’s a flagship biodiversity programme, but it’s also educational and a lot of fun.
Wander the boardwalks that cross the sanctuary, marvelling at the abundant wildlife and native forest, and see how many native birds you can see.
Afterwards, pop into the sanctuary’s Horopito Cafe for one of its legendary scones.