Skip the Line: Franz Josef Wildlife Center Ticket with Optional Backstage Pass

Overview

Available languages

English

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

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

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 and Pickup

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.

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.

Admission Included

Options

10am VIP Backstage Pass Tour

VIP Backstage Pass Tour

12:00pm VIP Backstage Tour

VIP Backstage Pass Tour

4pm VIP Backstage Guided

2pm - VIP Backstage Guided

General Admission -48hr Pass

General Admission Entry: 48-Hour Admission Pass

Reviews

4.60

136 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

106

Worth a Visit!
dreamingofthegreen,
Nov 14, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
If you long to see some of the wildlife on South Island and also talk to conservationists who are working hard to protect New Zealand's wildlife, this is the place for you. They have little blue penguins and kiwis and tuaturas (often mistaken for a lizard but it is actually a unique species from the time of dinosaurs). You can't take pictures of the kiwis but a backstage tour will give you more information about the conservation work they've done to preserve this most unique bird that was close to extinction.
Amazing Nature Center-Take the Backstage Tour!
cherylsY6176GM,
Nov 11, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
The Backstage Tour at the West Coast Wildlife Center in Franz Josef is a must see! The admission was reasonable and the guests were limited which created a very personal tour of the facility with the ability to ask a lot of questions. Out guide, Devon, was passionate about the work and it translated into our experience. Seeing live Kiwi's and understanding the protective work they do was so amazing! They had a new hatchling the early morning hours of our tour! I can't recommend this place highly enough. Stop in!!!
Worthwhile visit to learn about and see the endangered Kiwi.
jenni bamford,
Nov 5, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Fantastic wildlife centre to learn about the endangered Rowa Kiwi, the Little Penguin and the Tuatara. Especially good on a rainy day. Very informative and encouraging to witness the amazing work the rangers are doing to care for these creatures. The Kiwi incubation and hatching facilities are a must. We saw two day old Carter being nursed. Great facility, good shop, toilets and small cafe - funded purely by sponsorship and visitors.
Fascinating and informative
brunagN9165AC,
Oct 17, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Great time seeing and learning about native animals and seeing a kiwi Devon was passionate about the preservation of NZ native wildlife and was great listening to. So wonderful to see live kiwi birds. Highly recommend
Visit to see kiwis
MairiF25,
Oct 12, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Excellent place. Devon was an excellent guide and very knowledgeable about Kiwis and Tuatara. We visited just too early for the penguins. We saw 2 kiwis which was great.
Educational backstage tour
Sightseer45099740321,
Oct 9, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We've booked the backstage pass and got a very interesting look behind the scenes. Devin gave us a deep understanding of the important work that is done at the wildlife center and answered all our questions. That the price of the ticket directly contributes to the preservation of endangered species is another plus.
Highly reccomend
Y6490YAchriss,
Oct 6, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Fun and educational, we had a wonderful time with the back stage part, we learned so much about the local Kiwi and the efforts to keep them up to a viable population
So much better than expected
Cat1232016,
Oct 1, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
The experience was very interesting. It wasn’t rushed and we learnt so much about the conservation of New Zealand’s rarest Kiwi’s. Highly recommend this behind the scenes tour.
Worth a stop for the VIP tour
aaronsY386SX,
Oct 1, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Devon gave us an amazing and informative behind-the-scenes tour - got to see 2 kiwi eggs incubating and both kiwi birds were up and active.
Awesome backstage visit
Y9507YVbarbaral,
Sep 30, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
I have been to NZ 4 times and after our Heli tour of the glacier was canceled due to weather I found my way here to learn about kiwis. Devin (sp?) spent an hour with me one on one telling me all about the techniques used to save kiwis from predation, incubate eggs, release kiwis to protected islands and follow their progress. He answered all my questions enthusiastically and picked the right level of science in his answers. I could have rolled up my sleeves and become a volunteer happily. He asked for my tuatara pictures so I dropped them off later - what a treat for an amateur photographer! A fine employee on a critical mission. The US could learn a lot from NZ conservation efforts.