Originally posted by Kiwizinho I think I'm convinced I'll have to organise a family trip to Zealandia.
I highly, highly recommend!
You can get quite a lot out of it simply by sticking to the "main drag" called Lake Road. However, I have a few tips to really make the most of it, depending on how adventurous you are (or can be, given medical status etc).
* The best value "other track" to take is Te Māhanga Track. It's easy going and runs somewhat parallel to Lake Road but is very different, being in the trees, alongside a stream. I'm struggling to think of any species I've seen at Zealandia that I
haven't seen on this track. It also, at the north end, takes in the Takahe area and the lower lake wetlands and pontoon walkway. Just be aware of quite a few stairs at that end, though very sturdy and with railings. If you've come north along Te Māhanga and these look too challenging, you can back track for some other exits to Lake Road. Or go down them for starters and come back along Lake Road. For a quick visit, I usually scoot up Lake Road to the upper Kaka feeders, then head back along Te Māhanga.
* If you're up at the upper Kaka feeders, look for the Beech tracks, off Lake Road, just north of the far end of Te Māhanga on the opposite side. Barely a few metres along this track there is a feeder which is probably the most successful single spot I have found in the park. And there is a seat there, too.
* If you continue to the top of Lake Road past the upper Kaka feeders, it gets a little steep, but a walk across the upper dam is pretty spectacular — if you have a head for heights — and it leads to the suspension bridge (which is way wider, way lower, and amongst the bush, so less scary). This will bring you down the Beech tracks. Still easy going for most, but definitely steeper than the others so far mentioned.
* One of the steepest tracks, but very much worth it if able, is from the end of Lake Road (pretty much adjacent to the dam entrance) up to the Heritage Discovery Area. It's not a long track, but it will test your lungs on the way up and your coordination on the way down. The heritage stuff is interesting, but more so, I feel, is this is where you're most likely to see Hihi. Of the three times I've been up there, I've seen them twice and both of those times there were multiple and up really close! They're one of the rarest species in the park and I find them amazing to watch. You'll have seen my photos. The only other place I've seen Hihi, and that fleetingly, is on the Te Māhanga Track.
You can study
the map ahead of time to get a feel for where the tracks are. Lake Road is just over 1km long