National Kiwi Hatchery - Kiwi Encounter Guided Tour
Overview
Available languages
1 hour
Mobile ticket
See conservation in action at the most successful kiwi hatchery in the world!
The National Kiwi Hatchery is the national leader in kiwi husbandry, egg incubation systems, hatching techniques and kiwi chick rearing. During your guided tour of the National Kiwi Hatchery you’ll get to learn about New Zealand's renowned kiwi conservation program which has successfully hatched over 2,500 kiwi chicks. You’ll get to explore the interactive kiwi burrow, learn about egg incubation and hatching techniques. And see kiwi roam and forage in the Nocturnal House.
An educational, thought-provoking and truly unique experience, you'll get to see how we're helping kiwi at the largest and most successful kiwi hatchery in the world.
A non-for profit organisation, your ticket entry fee goes straight back to our kiwi hatching programme.
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Only suitable for 5 years and above
The facility is located onsite at the Agrodome
Hatching season is September to March. Outside of these dates, you may not see a Kiwi chick or egg, but still see live Kiwi in the norcturnal house
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
The chance to witness the kiwi chicks getting a health check, being weighed or fed (Sep to March)
Insight into an internationally renowned kiwi conservation programme
1 hour National Kiwi Hatchery guided experience in a state-of-the-art, purpose-built facility.
Return shuttle to the facility from the check-in zone at the Agrodome
See kiwi roam in our purpose-built nocturnal enclosure
Check out the interactive and immersive kiwi burrow experience
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Food and drinks
What To Expect
See conservation in action at one of the largest and most successful kiwi hatchery in the world! The National Kiwi Hatchery is the national leader in kiwi husbandry, egg incubation systems, hatching techniques and kiwi chick rearing. When you join one of our experiences, you'll get to see kiwi eggs being incubated, the hatching process and newly hatched kiwi chicks. Hatching season is September and March and the highest chance for you to see kiwi eggs and chicks. Outside of these months you will have chance to observe our resident adult kiwi foraging in our Nocturnal House. Your ticket entry goes straight back to our kiwi hatching program. The National Kiwi Hatchery is located at the Agrodome, Rotorua.
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National Kiwi Hatchery - Kiwi Encounter Guided Tour
Reviews
180 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
A truly special experience
Maps05686029011,
Nov 13, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Best experience of our trip - not only learnt a lot but got to see a chick just one hour old, was a very special moment - playing spot the Kiwi in their nocturnal habit was lots of fun and another ooh ahh moment.
Slightly disappointed
cindybH9352PA,
Nov 13, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00Although this is a marvelous place to go we really couldnt see the kiwis in the red lit area, so its a bit disappointing. Takes a while for eyes to adjust for this. Info was great & the photo I took pic of was in the gift shop so compliments to them
Must see!!
Melissa M,
Nov 12, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00This is a must do if you want to see kiwis. Very informative and you see them from egg to chick to adult and learn all about their lifecycle and why they are endangered and how they are trying to reverse that.
Informative and worthwhile
old-jogger,
Nov 11, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This is a well managed short tour of a facility that is helping to save New Zealand’s kiwis. Very informative about their conservation program and the kiwis that they are rearing. A chance to see adult kiwis in a dark habitat (they are only active at night, so you see them in low light), and also to meet the kiwi chicks (incredibly cute). Nice little gift shop. Price of tour is on the high end, but all profits go back to the conservation program.
Wonderful tour - informative guide.
Michael F,
Nov 7, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Wonderful tour - informative guide. Saw adult Kiwis and recently hatched chicks. A really great conservation project
Excellent work
Catherine O,
Nov 6, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00A wonderful experience. Seeing Kiwi’s from birth through to adulthood, thriving in their natural environment. The staff are doing an excellent job in saving them from extinction.
You need to go there!!
Su C,
Nov 5, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Even if you’re from New Zealand this is so worth going to. We learned so much and knew we would see kiwi but what a treat to see baby kiwi in the hatchery. Was fabulous.
Must Do For Kiwi Conservation
mrsbr2017,
Nov 5, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was an amazing introduction to kiwi conservation efforts. Our guide, Rebecca, was excellent! We visited at the right time since it was hatching season. We saw a chick that had just hatched that morning and an egg that was in process. Then we bought some things in the gift shop to help support the cause!
Kiwi educational experience
zoellerfam4,
Nov 3, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00What a great place that is 100% dedicated to helping the kiwi population to survive and hopefully one day thrive. Not government funded. Just private donations. You can learn about this very interesting species and see one in its nocturnal environment and what this facility is doing in cooperation with local farmers to help the Kiwi from extinction. Go, learn and you will be supporting the cause by showing up. Thanks Lawerence for your educational tour and dedication.
Well worth the visit
Jane G,
Oct 29, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great to see kiwis up close in their enclosure and to see successful conservation in practice! Interesting and unique birds.
From NZ$76.93
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Operated by National Kiwi Hatchery