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
Children must be minimum 5 years old to participate
Check-in 15 minutes prior to the tour departure time
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 nocturnal house
The facility is located onsite at the Agrodome Farm, Rotorua
Children under 5 years of age are unable to take part in this experience
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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.
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
Options
National Kiwi Hatchery - Kiwi Encounter Guided Tour
Reviews
260 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Fun and informative
granarygirl2016,,Feb 22, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Exceeded expectations. Interesting and informative. A big shout out to guide Theresa- enthusiastic, thorough and great fun to be with. ( Theresa if you read this it's Paignton Zoo in UK that has a North Island brown kiwi called Manu!) .
Outstanding experience
Gill B,,Feb 22, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Brilliant tour. Would highly recommend. Loads of great info and opportunity to see Kiwis close up in an unobtrusive way.
Brilliant trip.
royf196,,Feb 20, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Excellent, informative trip. Great staff and saw adult and baby Kiwis. Would highly recommend.
NZ Icon
Tn S,,Feb 18, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Excellent little experience, informative, great for adults and children alike. Chance to see these wonderful little creatures doing there thing
Very nice
DennisPaul K,,Feb 18, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00It exceeded expectations. Very well located and organized. If you want to see kiwis, that's the place. But there are many more varieties of birds to watch.
The money for entrance is a donation
Manuela S,,Feb 17, 2026
- Review from Viator
2.00You learn quite a bit about raising kiwis, but seeing a fully grown kiwi walking was impossible. There was one kiwi that you could vaguely make out, if you really fancied it. That was it. Nevertheless, it's impressive how much effort they put into raising kiwis. Therefore, I see my entrance fee as a donation to this cause.
Loved this place
Nasinleeds,,Feb 17, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We really enjoyed our visit here. Carole was a great guide and we learned a lot. It’s ok for kids ( hopefully seeing kiwis), but probably better for adults, as there is a lot of information about kiwis, their endangerment, and the centre’s work. Some youngsters’ attention span might not cope with that detail.
We were able to see kiwis!
O609NHbeckyt,,Feb 16, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was a great tour and gave us a chance to see the elusive kiwi. It was fun seeing the adults as well as the baby kiwi! We appreciate the time spent with us and the work being done by the scientists and others to keep this bird from going extinct!
Interesting and informative!
msales55,,Feb 16, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a great visit to The National Kiwi Hatchery. Our guide Kayleigh was interesting to listen to and gave us a very detailed insight into the work that goes on in the hatchery to support the baby Kiwis back into the wild when they are big enough to defend themselves. We saw a male and female kiwi, as well as a baby. Highly recommend!
Wonderful opportunity to see great animals protection work.
karlalQ8659JX,,Feb 14, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Really lovely tour and so interesting to hear how the Kiwis are being protected. Amazed they don't have Government funding, so they need all the visitors they can get to keep this excellent work going.
From NZ$76.93
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Operated by National Kiwi Hatchery