Skip the Line: Franz Josef Wildlife Center Ticket with Optional Backstage Pass
Overview
Available languages
Mobile ticket
Discover one of New Zealand’s most unforgettable wildlife experiences at the West Coast Wildlife Centre — voted one of Lonely Planet’s 12 must-see attractions.
Located in Franz Josef, this award-winning indoor, all-weather facility is home to Little Blue Penguins (kororā), the world’s rarest kiwi, and living Tuatara. Get guaranteed daytime kiwi viewing in our nocturnal house, explore the world-class Ambassador Penguin Encounter, and meet New Zealand’s iconic “living fossil.”
Enjoy interactive glacier storytelling zones, the best shopping in Franz Josef, free Wi-Fi, and Tripadvisor-recommended coffee in our café.
Perfect for all ages and any weather, this is a must-do experience for wildlife lovers, families, and travellers looking to connect with Aotearoa’s unique natural world.
Additional Info
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Public transportation options are available nearby
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Children must be accompanied by an adult
Main attraction is wheelchair friendly, but backstage pass tour is not wheelchair accessible
Photography is restricted inside the kiwi nocturnal house but available on the kiwi backstage pass tour
Proof of age require if purchasing a senior ticket (over 65 years of age)
Cafe with food and coffee available to purchase. All major credit cards accepted
What To Expect
West Coast Wildlife Centre
The centre is open every day from 8.30am. Please set aside at least 1-2 hours for your visit. A free takeaway learning booklet is provided at no extra charge. All tickets purchased are valid for 48 hours. This means guests can come in and out of the attraction as often as they like. During your visit, you'll be able to see live kiwi during the day inside the nocturnal house, See live Tuatara, and discover the interactive glacier attraction and storytelling areas/films as well as films and information around NZ's ambitious goal to become predator free by 2050. You'll also have the option to go behind the scenes on the VIP Backstage Pass Tour rated “highly recommended” by Lonely Planet and Tripadvisor Traveller's Choice Award winner for 2022. A fully guided 40-minute tour behind the scenes to see our kiwi incubation and hatching and Tuatara programmes.
Options
4pm VIP Backstage Guided
2pm - VIP Backstage Guided
General Admission -48hr Pass
General Admission Entry: 48-Hour Admission Pass
10am VIP Backstage Pass Tour
VIP Backstage Pass Tour
12:00pm VIP Backstage Tour
VIP Backstage Pass Tour
What‘s Included
GST (Goods and Services Tax)
Local taxes
Free car parking
Souvenir photos (available to purchase)
Hotel pickup and drop-off
DVD (available to purchase)
Meeting points
West Coast Wildlife Centre
Cnr Cowan & Cron Streets, Bright Green Building Franz Josef New Zealand
End points
This activity ends back at the meeting point.
Cancellation Policy
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
Reviews
194 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
It’s wild! You’ll love it
CRUISERAILTRAVEL,Jun 3, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This wildlife centre is an absolute must do whilst in the township of Franz Josef. I did the VIP Backstage Pass because I think I’m a bit of a legend and consider myself to be a VIP- like doesn’t everyone. Anyways, best decision I could have made because I learnt SSOO much about those fluffy little critters - the Kiwis. The work they do to help conservation of these beautiful birds is commendable. The informative talk on how they help build the Kiwi population was succinct, flowed really and blew me away. Then upstairs we got to meet their Jurassic friends the Tuatara and also their friendly penguins. Not to mention the informative glacier display with heaps of info. You can easily spend 2.5+ hours here.
Must Visit
Resort20603204213,May 31, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We loved our visit. The guide who took us through the Kiwi hatchery was very knowledgeable. The penguins were just delightful and the man who took the session was great. This is a must visit.
Small but mighty venue
littlemcfarr,May 13, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Well worth the stop. This small venue is packed with interesting information about the kiwi bird and its struggles, along with little penguins and tuataras. There’s also information about the glaciers, and of course a great gift shop. Sales go to help preservation efforts so make sure to stop. If you can time it to take in penguin feeding you will learn some interesting facts. Highly recommend the backstage pass to find out what is being done to help preserve the kiwi and tuatara population.
Way too expensive for a family
raymondmY3418PE,Apr 29, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
2.00Your webpage says opening time is 8.30am. Animals cant be viewed until 9.00am Way overpriced, especially when on a tour when you can't use your ticket again. Could only just make out the Kiwi birds, saw no eggs , only one lizard and about 8 penguins. Lucky I went on my own and not with the whole family.
Interesting
GleBec13,Apr 29, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Very interesting. Especially enjoyed seeing the tuatara up close.
Up close encounter. Family friendly. Kids loved it.
C M,Apr 25, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Up close encounter with 2 active Kiwi’s I could almost touch the female. Loved being this close and learning about Kiwi’s. Close action to watching penguin feeding. Penguins rescued from boat strikes and dog attacks. Interactive experience First time meeting a Tuatara- New Zealand reptile. Did not know they existed prior to this. Friendly staff.
Great day
Y4706OOlynm,Apr 17, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great tour learned so much Staff and facilities so nice Very interesting to see how they are helping the native birds
Visit hatched Kiwi’s at the West Coast Wildlife Center, Franz Josef
Olivers01,Apr 4, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00On a rainy day we bumped into the WC Wildlife Center and booked the tour incl. Backstage visit. We can say that this visit was one of highlights of our travel in NZ. You get a detailed explanation of the Kiwi situation, facts very interstingly explained in the hatching station, later on you can visit Kiwis that are to be set free in the coming weeks in a darkened room. There is also a very well prepared part of the glaciers, pinguins (that have had accidents), and details about the goldrush on the westcoast. This privately run (as far as we understood in cooperation with the Dept. Of conservation) is passionately run and the guides are super. If it is a sunny or rainy day, we would return.
Fun and interesting
Curiosity783285,Mar 29, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The staff was very knowledgeable and friendly. It was a great experience and I have a much better understanding of endangered New Zealand wildlife.
Helping to Save Endangered Species
clairemC5031KQ,Mar 22, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a prearranged group tour with Devon. He was excellent, enthusiastic and very knowledgeable about what the center is doing. We went down to the incubation room and learned about how they are saving the kiwi and increasing its numbers. They have tagged the birds and are rescuing the eggs, one per bird, bringing them to the center and incubating them till they hatch. The eggs are huge. For a human, it would be like giving birth to a five year old child. They monitor the egg till it hatches, and provide the bird with food until it is old enough and big enough to be released back into the wild. The bird parents don’t even feed the chick…it is left to fend for itself. We then visited the tuatara pen. The animal is a lizard, but not a reptile. They were extinct on the mainland and were only found on some small outer islands. They are not quite ready to release the animals back into the wild. There are other nice exhibits in the center. At 11:00 am and 3:00 pm you can see the little blue penguins being fed. Your ticket allows you to return the next day. A must see for anyone interested in endemic wildlife.
Related Experiences
Operated by Franz Josef Wildlife Centre