New Zealand
Lower Karori Reservoir

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    • Day 316

      Die Vögel von Zealandia

      February 22 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

      English version below🇬🇧

      🇩🇪
      - Takahē: Der Takahē ist ein seltener Vogel aus Neuseeland mit leuchtend blauem Gefieder und einem kräftigen roten Schnabel. Einmal für ausgestorben gehalten, wurde er 1948 in Fiordland wiederentdeckt. Die flugunfähige Art ist stark gefährdet und wird durch Schutzmaßnahmen und Erhaltungsprogramme geschützt. Der Takahē bewohnt alpine Graslandschaften und ist ein Symbol für den Naturschutz in Neuseeland. Lies mehr über den Takahē: https://findpenguins.com/embo11/footprint/6598d…
      - Pūkeko (nicht Takahē): Der Pūkeko ist ein neuseeländischer Vogel, der zur Familie der Kraniche gehört. Er zeichnet sich durch sein auffälliges blaues und schwarzes Gefieder, rotes Schnabelschild und langen Beinen aus. Pūkekos sind oft in Feuchtgebieten, Sümpfen und Ufern zu finden. Diese Vögel sind sehr anpassungsfähig und ernähren sich von einer Vielzahl von Pflanzen, Insekten und kleinen Tieren. Mit ihrem lauten und charakteristischen Ruf sind Pukekos häufige Bewohner der neuseeländischen Landschaft und werden oft als Teil der einheimischen Fauna geschätzt.
      - Kākā: Der Kākā ist ein neuseeländischer Papagei mit auffälligem rotem Gefieder und einem verspielten Charakter. Diese intelligente Vogelart ist für ihre Fähigkeit bekannt, menschliche Worte nachzuahmen. Der Kākā bewohnt einheimische Wälder und ernährt sich von Früchten, Nüssen und Nektar. Als einheimische Vogelart Neuseelands spielt der Kākā eine wichtige Rolle im Ökosystem und steht unter Schutzmaßnahmen, um sein Überleben zu sichern.
      - Toutouwai: Der Nordinselrobin, auch Toutouwai oder Neuseelandrobin genannt, ist ein kleiner Vogel, heimisch in der Nordinsel Neuseelands. Er hat schwarzes und weißes Gefieder, ist zutraulich und ernährt sich von Insekten. Schutzmaßnahmen sind wichtig, um sein Überleben angesichts von Lebensraumverlust und eingeführten Raubtieren zu sichern. Der Vogel ist kulturell bedeutsam und steht unter Schutz.
      - Pīwakawaka: Der Fantail, auch als Pīwakawaka bekannt, ist ein kleiner Vogel in Neuseeland. Er zeichnet sich durch seinen fächelförmigen Schwanz und sein gefächertes Flugmuster aus. Der Fantail hat ein auffälliges Gefieder, oft schwarz und weiß. Diese Vögel sind geschickte Insektenjäger und bewohnen eine Vielzahl von Lebensräumen, von Wäldern bis zu städtischen Gärten. Der Pīwakawaka hat eine kulturelle Bedeutung für die Maori und gilt als Symbol für Fruchtbarkeit.
      - Tūī: Der Tūī ist ein neuseeländischer Vogel mit einem auffälligen schwarz-glänzendem Gefieder, weißen Federschmuck am Hals und einem charakteristischen weißen Kragen. Diese Vögel haben eine vielfältige Palette an Melodien und können auch menschliche Laute nachahmen. Tūīs ernähren sich von Nektar, Früchten und Insekten und sind häufig in neuseeländischen Wäldern anzutreffen. Aufgrund ihres bunten Gefieders und ihrer einzigartigen Lieder sind Tūīs beliebte Vögel und haben kulturelle Bedeutung für die Maori.
      - Pōpokotea: Der Whitehead, auch als Popokotea bekannt, ist ein kleiner Vogel aus Neuseeland. Sein Gefieder ist überwiegend weiß, daher der Name. Er hat jedoch einen charakteristischen schwarzen Fleck zwischen den Augen und einen schwarzen Streifen auf den Flügeln. Der Whitehead bewohnt hauptsächlich Wälder und ernährt sich von Insekten und Früchten. Diese Vögel sind für ihre lebhafte und soziale Natur bekannt. Der Whitehead spielt eine Rolle im Ökosystem und wird von Erhaltungsmaßnahmen unterstützt, um sein Überleben zu sichern.
      - Hihi: Der Hihi, auch als Stitchbird bekannt, ist ein kleiner Vogel aus Neuseeland. Sein Gefieder ist auffällig mit schwarzen und gelben Streifen, und er hat einen markanten weißen Fleck über den Augen. Hihi sind für ihre verspielte Natur und ihre Fähigkeit, schnelle Flugmanöver auszuführen, bekannt. Sie ernähren sich von Nektar, Früchten und Insekten. Aufgrund von Bedrohungen durch eingeführte Raubtiere sind Erhaltungsmaßnahmen erforderlich, um das Überleben des Hihi zu unterstützen.
      - Tīeke: Der Tīeke, auch als Saddleback bekannt, ist ein neuseeländischer Vogel mit auffälligem schwarzem Gefieder, das an der Rückseite wie ein Sattel aussieht. Er hat oft einen braunen Streifen auf dem Rücken. Der Tīeke ist für sein melodisches Singen bekannt und bewohnt hauptsächlich Wälder. Diese Vögel ernähren sich von Insekten, Früchten und Nektar. Der Tīeke war früher stark gefährdet, aber dank erfolgreicher Erhaltungsprogramme konnte seine Population wieder zunehmen. Dennoch bleibt der Schutz seiner Lebensräume wichtig, um seine langfristige Überlebensfähigkeit zu sichern.

      🇬🇧 - **Takahē:** The Takahē is a rare bird from New Zealand with bright blue plumage and a strong red beak. Once thought to be extinct, it was rediscovered in Fiordland in 1948. This flightless species is critically endangered and is protected through conservation measures and preservation programs. The Takahē inhabits alpine grasslands and is a symbol of conservation in New Zealand. Read more about the Takahē: [Link](https://findpenguins.com/embo11/footprint/6598d…)

      - **Pūkeko (not Takahē):** The Pūkeko is a New Zealand bird belonging to the crane family. It is characterized by its striking blue and black plumage, red bill shield, and long legs. Pūkekos are often found in wetlands, swamps, and shores. These birds are highly adaptable, feeding on a variety of plants, insects, and small animals. With their loud and distinctive call, Pukekos are common inhabitants of the New Zealand landscape and are often appreciated as part of the native fauna.

      - **Kākā:** The Kākā is a New Zealand parrot with vibrant red plumage and a playful character. This intelligent bird is known for its ability to mimic human words. The Kākā inhabits native forests and feeds on fruits, nuts, and nectar. As a native bird species of New Zealand, the Kākā plays an important role in the ecosystem and is under protection measures to ensure its survival.

      - **Toutouwai:** The North Island Robin, also known as Toutouwai or New Zealand Robin, is a small bird native to the North Island of New Zealand. It has black and white plumage, is friendly, and feeds on insects. Conservation measures are important to secure its survival in the face of habitat loss and introduced predators. The bird is culturally significant and is protected.

      - **Pīwakawaka:** The Fantail, also known as Pīwakawaka, is a small bird in New Zealand. It is characterized by its fan-shaped tail and fanned flight pattern. The Fantail has striking black and white plumage and is a skilled insect hunter, inhabiting various habitats from forests to urban gardens. The Pīwakawaka holds cultural significance for the Maori and is a symbol of fertility.

      - **Tūī:** The Tūī is a New Zealand bird with shiny black plumage, white feather adornments on the neck, and a distinctive white collar. These birds have a diverse range of melodies and can mimic human sounds. Tūīs feed on nectar, fruits, and insects and are often found in New Zealand forests. Due to their colorful plumage and unique songs, Tūīs are popular birds and have cultural significance for the Maori.

      - **Pōpokotea:** The Whitehead, also known as Popokotea, is a small bird from New Zealand. Its plumage is predominantly white, hence the name. However, it has a distinctive black spot between the eyes and a black stripe on the wings. Whiteheads mainly inhabit forests and feed on insects and fruits. These birds are known for their lively and social nature, playing a role in the ecosystem and being supported by conservation measures.

      - **Hihi:** The Hihi, also known as Stitchbird, is a small bird from New Zealand. Its plumage is striking with black and yellow stripes, and it has a prominent white spot above the eyes. Hihi are known for their playful nature and ability to perform rapid flight maneuvers. They feed on nectar, fruits, and insects. Conservation measures are necessary due to threats from introduced predators to support the Hihi's survival.

      - **Tīeke:** The Tīeke, also known as Saddleback, is a New Zealand bird with distinctive black plumage resembling a saddle on its back. It often has a brown stripe on its back. The Tīeke is known for its melodious singing and primarily inhabits forests. These birds feed on insects, fruits, and nectar. While the Tīeke was once critically endangered, successful conservation programs have led to a population increase. However, protecting its habitats remains important for its long-term survival.
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    • Day 31

      Zealandia

      February 4, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

      Enfin de retour sur l'île du nord par le ferry avec notre mammouth à bord. La traversée, de jour cette fois, est l'occasion d'admirer le Queen Charlotte Sound et le détroit de Cook.
      Et comme le réveil fut de nouveau un peu dur quelqu'un s'est assoupi en cabine...
      Une fois arrivés à Wellington nous avons visité la réserve Zealandia. Il s'agit de 225ha protégés par une barrière anti-nuisibles. C'est le premier de ce genre en Nouvelle-Zélande qui a été construit en 1990.
      Nous avons pu y voir (dans l'ordre des photos, vidéos) des Tuatara (petit reptile endémique de nouvelle-zelande), Weta (grandes sauterelles), des Kakas (perroquets), des Tuis, des Takaes... Puis sur la route nous nous arrêtons dans une réserve similaire au lac Rotokare où l'on peut camper (et faire du jet-ski ce qui est encore assez étonnant).

      Endlich sind wir im Nordinsel zurück !
      Das Durchqueren mit dem Ferry war zwar sehr angenehm. Wir könnten den Charlotte Sound und die Straße von Cook nochmalerweise sehen aber eine Person ist eingeschlafen.
      In Wellington besichtigten wir das Zealandia Schutzgebiet. Es handelt sich im 225ha mit einem Gitter gegen Nagetiere um herum.
      Dieses Schutzgebiet wurde 1990 gegründet. Dort könnten (in der gleiche Reihenfolge wie die Fotos): Tuatara (kleinen Reptilien von Neuseeland), Weta (einer der größten Heuschrecken), des Kakas (Papagei), Tuis, Takaes...
      Für die Nacht führten wir zu einem ähnlichen Schutzgebiet aber dort könnten mit dem Van parken und einige Leute hatten sogar ihrem Jet-ski mitgebracht (was wir nicht richtig verstehen konnten).
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    • Day 244

      Zealandia - Wellington J1

      October 30 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

      Enfin un peu de beau temps !
      Nous avons profité de la magnifique réserve naturelle de Zealandia
      En plein cœur de la capitale néo zélandaise, Zealandia est une réserve immense de 225 hectares entièrement clôturée pour que les prédateurs ne puissent pas y pénétrer.
      Un havre de paix pour les espèces endémiques qui y ont été réintroduites comme certaines qui y sont menacées.
      C’est l’exemple du Kākā, qui est l’exemple parfait de la success story de Zealandia. Ce perroquet natif était fortement menacé et quasiment éteint. A l’ouverture du parc en 1999, 14 kākā y ont été introduits, depuis leur nombre ne cesse de croître 🦜 ils étaient 750 en 2016 et bien plus maintenant. Les kākā sont présents partout dans la ville de Wellington et sont maintenant un véritable symbole de la capitale.

      En soirée nous avons retrouvé Romain (un ancien collègue de promo de Thibaut) et Sarah qui vivent à Wellington pour 2 ans. Nous avons bu un verre assis confortablement dans les gros poufs du parc. Très sympa
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    • Day 19

      Zealandia (by day and night)

      February 15, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

      Zealandia is such a wonderful natural valley - unbelievable that it is located not even three km away from downtown Wellington. Once more, I enjoyed the forest with the only noises coming from birds and insects. I tried to spot some birds (even had my binoculars with me) and, every now and then, was succesful. I could observe some tuis, saw some whiteheads, as well as some kakas, but that was at a place where they get additional food. Furthermore, walking around in this peaceful nature was so nice. For dinner I went shortly back in the city before I had to be back at Zealandia at a quarter to eight at Zealandia because I had booked a night tour, mainly in the hope of spotting a kiwi. The night tour was gorgeous. We started in dusk, so we could still see pretty much. The guide showed us a shack colony, as well as something very special, two Takahe. Takahe are very threatened. Only 418 birds are known to be still living in New Zealand, so the takahe is much more threatened than the kiwi. It got darker every minute, but we were equipped with torches. We saw several tuataras, reptiles similar to lizzards, but in fact tuataras date back to the time of the dinosaurs. We passed by the kaka feeding station and our guide explained to us, that the reason of feeding them is to bind them to the area and to make them more visible for the visitors. They would find way enough food all around Wellington without the additional feeding and they do live all around the capital again - a success of Zealandia. We made our way through the forest, but had no kiwi spotted yet. In a creek we saw two huge eels. Their size was quite impressive. In some part of the forest we could see glowworms on both sides of the trail, almost more formidable than in the cave in Waitomo. And then, it happened. A kiwi on its search for food appeared😁 We could observe it for some minutes. What an amazing moment. Some minutes later we passed by a second one, but that one dissappeared again quite qickly. What an experience, this night tour in Zealandia, but after 2.5 hours it came to an end. I could have stayed much longer. Since the cable car does not operate after 10 p.m. I walked the three km down to the city. I passed by the university with some beautiful buildings. Actually, I had planned to check out the bars in Cuba Street, but I simply was too tired.Read more

    • Day 76

      Up to the Top in Wellington’s Cable Car

      February 24, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

      In most Wellington brochures, there is a photo of the historic Wellington Cable Car. Today we decided that we were going to take a ride on it and find out what is at the top of the hill.

      Opened to the public in 1902, the cable car is still running strong and has become a city icon. It links the fancy Kelburn suburb with Lambton Quay, the city’s main shopping area near the harbour. The cable car serves as more than just a tourist attraction as locals use it as part of their daily commute.

      The track climbs 102 metres over the city and we found out that it brings passengers, in 5 minutes, to a beautiful landscaped botanical gardens which overlook the city. There is also a small museum that gives a great overview of the history of cable car use in hilly Wellington.

      At the top is the location of the former 'Kelburn Victorian Tea Rooms' which was a special destination for Wellingtonians and visitors for over a century. The views from this location are great. The Tea Rooms burned down in 1982, but in its place arose another building which for 30 years was a popular restaurant called the 'Skyline'. Now, it is called the Kowhai Cafe.

      Besides a cafe, the building also houses the “Fragrifert Parfumeur, the Victorian Perfumery” and what a fascinating place that is!

      All around the perfumery we found items relating to Gustave Fragrift's (the perfumer who the shop is named after) life. The sea chest that contained some of his belongings, including two of his encrypted formula diaries, a perfume organ with raw materials and ingredients used in creating the perfumes, scales and weighing equipment of the period, a range of perfumery ingredients that we could smell as well as two stills for extracting essential oils. It was a very unusual place with a lot of history.

      But that is not all that is at the top of the cable car run. I have mentioned the gardens but there is also another amazing place close by called Zealandia that Time Magazine declared as “One of the Greatest Places to Visit in 2019”. It was a must-see for us.
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    • Day 76

      Zealandia, a Trip Back in Time

      February 24, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

      New Zealand was once an isolated land free from mammals, except for bats, which meant native plants and birdlife flourished, including flightless kiwi. When humans came, so did the pests and predators that they brought with them. This left a lot of the original wildlife extinct and many species endangered. Zealandia, a pest-proof ecosanctuary in Wellington is the closest thing in New Zealand to be like what the country was like before humans were here.

      Introduced predators almost wiped out New Zealand's native and endemic species, that had evolved without needing defence from mammals for millions of years. Since human arrival, at least 51 bird species, three frog species, three lizard species, one freshwater fish species, one bat species, four plant species, and a number of invertebrate species have become extinct.

      Zealandia is Time Magazine’s 2019 pick for one of the World’s 100 Greatest Places to Visit in 2019.

      The entire 500+ acre area, around a pretty reservoir, is surrounded by a 8.6 km predictor-proof fence that we could see in some areas on the hill. There is a 500-year (!) long range plan to restore the valley’s forest and freshwater ecosystems as closely as possible to their pre-human state. Can you imagine?!!! 18 species of native wildlife have been reintroduced back into the area, some of which were previously absent from mainland New Zealand for over 100 years.

      A visit to Zealandia can be done in two ways, with or without a guide. We chose to do it on our own and follow the map with the bird/animal guide that was giving to us. The plants were identified in signs on the way.

      There were several trails to chose from, some harder than others. We were always surprised when we turned a corner and there was a rare bird feeding at a station or on the ground in front of us. At one point, we questioned if the creators had installed speakers and were running a sound track of birds singing. There were so many birds in those woods.

      One of our favourites was the little New Zealand Robin, Toutouwai, which is a very friendly and curious little bird. Another beautiful one was the Stitchbird, Hihi, that eats nectar from plants.

      We saw an unusual lizard with a third eye and spines on his back called a Tuatara. This lizard has been around since the dinosaurs.

      A little list of some of the unusual birds that we saw - Tui, Kaka, Kereru, Tieke, and Hihi . There are kiwis, but since they are night birds, we didn’t see them. There is a night tour at Zealandia that is supposed to be very popular but has to be booked weeks in advance.

      Anyways, we wandered around the reservoir and in the forest for a few hours and loved the peacefulness. A nice break from the business of the city which is only a short distance away.

      At 4 p.m., we had to pick up a new rental car from the Apex office downtown so we took the cable car down and walked the rest of the way. We ended up with a different car this time, a Toyota Corolla.

      We had a restful evening, just getting caught up with news and footprints. We were a little tired today after walking 12 km up and down on trails, but it was a good day and the cooler weather was perfect.
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    • Zealandia II

      June 13, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C

      We went to Zealandia for a second time, as like the zoo it's free until the end of June. We had a nice time walking around and spotting some of the rare birds. This time there is the cute North Island Robin and Kakas in the pictures.Read more

    • Brooklyn Hill

      September 12, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 10 °C

      We hiked up Brooklyn Hill to see some old WW2 bunkers and the Brooklyn wind turbine. The original wind turbine was the oldest operating wind turbine in New Zealand. 🌬
      Great view over Wellington from up there!Read more

    You might also know this place by the following names:

    Lower Karori Reservoir

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