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
Cancellation Policy
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
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.
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.
Options
2pm - VIP Backstage Guided
12:00pm VIP Backstage Tour
VIP Backstage Pass Tour
General Admission -48hr Pass
General Admission Entry: 48-Hour Admission Pass
10am VIP Backstage Pass Tour
VIP Backstage Pass Tour
4pm VIP Backstage Guided
Reviews
189 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
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.
Backstage tour of kiwi and tuatara
HWelly,Mar 19, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Excellent tour. Particular thanks to our guide, Steve, showing us the animals and explaining about the work they do to protect the kiwis and tuatara.
Very informative visit, learned about the various kiwis and blue penguin species.
Avigillett,Mar 16, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This is a wonderful place to visit while in Franz Josef. We went for the talk on Kiwis and then the blue penguin feeding. Really enjoyed learning about all the hands on work they do for kiwis and how they take care of wounded blue penguins. So cool to see them swimming around during feeding time.
Experience of a lifetime!
tjay0423,Mar 12, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Absolutely impressive and amazing what this small wildlife center has done to restore the kiwi population and other species. Devon was not only knowledgeable but his passion for kiwis and other wildlife was contagious. Beyond impressed with Devon and everyone here and their unconditional love for wildlife.
Outstanding. A must for nature lovers.
Explore51868670052,Mar 10, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Outstanding. The explanations on the kiwi life cycle were most interesting and fascinating. The info on the Tuatara amazing. Seeing the penguins up close , feeding and swiming - window to see undewater - was excellent. Hihly reccomend backstage tour. Worth every penny and minute. In total spentvalmost 2 hours. Tge echibits just did superficially. Almost forgot, saw live kiwi foraging in the dark.
From NZ$65.00
Want a private experience? Upgrade to a private tour
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Operated by Franz Josef Wildlife Centre