Okarito Boat Tours from WestCoastFilm on Vimeo.
Okarito – West Coast – South Westland – New Zealand
Okarito Boat Tours
Okarito offers nature, bird and eco enthusiasts tremendous diversity – from the wild beaches of the Tasman Sea to the pristine Okarito Lagoon and wetlands and towering rainforest.
Join “Swade” of Okarito Boat Tours who, having lived on the West Coast for 40 years, will help you identify the variety of wading birds, native forest birds, and the ancient plants of the rainforest on a small and personalized tour exploring the magnificent and untouched serenity of New Zealand’s largest unmodified wetland, over 3000 hectares and part of the South Westland World Heritage area.
The open air boat allows a total sensory experience with 360 degree views as you drift quietly amongst feeding birds including the graceful Kotuku – Great White heron, Royal Spoonbills, the intrepid godwits from Siberia and Alaska, the leggy Pied Stilts, and many others. The towering Southern Alps, Mount Cook and Mount Tasman and Franz Josef Glacier make for a spectacular backdrop to the coastal and rainforest environment on clear days.
It was a really lovely afternoon out on the lagoon (13 January), and we want to thank you very much indeed. Your friendly and welcoming service was fantastic and our hopes to see the White Heron were topped with added extra sitings. Thank you!
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Okarito Guided Walks
Endowed with breathtaking scenery, an intriguing history and colourful characters both past and present, our guided walks offer a unique look into The Nature of Okarito.
Okarito is a remote coastal village of just 30 residents. Your local guides, Paula and Swade, will reveal Okarito’s stories, weaving a path through the past and present of its people, buildings (The West Coast’s oldest – Donovan’s store), beaches, wetlands, rainforest, and native flora and fauna.
