Lake Mapourika Cruise & Rainforest Walk: Kiwi Sanctuary

Ancient kahikatea and rimu trees, a private trail, and the chance to listen for native birds in a predator-free sanctuary.

A small-group boat cruise and guided rainforest walk near Franz Josef that combines a scenic float across Lake Mapourika with access to an exclusive trail through the Okarito Kiwi Sanctuary. The 2.5-hour tour includes a skipper who shares local stories and conservation insights while you walk beneath towering 1,200-year-old trees on a natural track with some uneven sections. Walking poles and guide support are provided, and coffee or tea is included.

The experience

How do you get to a rainforest that's only reachable by boat? You start with a cruise across Lake Mapourika, a calm expanse ringed by Southern Alps peaks and untouched forest within the Franz Josef Glacier valley. The water is mirror-like on most days, and the boat carries you to the trailhead of a private path that exists nowhere else in the region. The only way in is the way you're arriving. Once ashore, your skipper becomes your guide for the walk itself, moving at a pace that lets you listen for native birds and watch the shoreline for rare kōtuku.

The trail winds through the Okarito Kiwi Sanctuary, a predator-free zone where the forest floor is as old as the trees above it. You'll walk beneath kahikatea and rimu that have stood for 1,200 years, their scale making the canopy feel like a cathedral. The path follows a natural track with uneven sections (not a boardwalk, not manicured), so walking poles are provided and your guide stays close. The skipper shares local stories and explains what the sanctuary means for kiwi conservation as you move through the forest, turning the walk into something more than just a hike through old growth.

The whole experience runs 2.5 hours from start to finish. Coffee or tea waits for you at the end, a small anchor after the quiet of the rainforest. The boat ride back across the lake gives you time to settle into what you've just walked through: the scale of the trees, the sound of the birds, the fact that you were in a place most people never reach.

What’s included

• Boat cruise across Lake Mapourika.
• guided walk along the exclusive rainforest trail in the Okarito Kiwi Sanctuary.
• walking poles and guide support.
• coffee and/or tea.
• live guide in English.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00, 13:00 and 17:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (17 and older) · Child (3 to 16 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 16

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical effortInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Franz Josef Wilderness Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a small group and a guide who knows the forest intimately: the skipper shares local stories and conservation insights as you walk, turning the rainforest into something more than scenery. The private trail and the boat-only access mean you're not on a crowded path, and the 2.5-hour length fits easily into a morning or afternoon without eating your whole day.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 16 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's the walk actually like on the ground?

The trail follows a natural track with some uneven sections, so it's not a smooth path. Walking poles are provided, and your guide stays with you the whole way. The walk is part of the 2.5-hour tour, so it's not a long trek. It's the centerpiece of the morning or afternoon, but not an all-day commitment.

Will I actually see kiwis or other birds?

The Okarito Kiwi Sanctuary is a predator-free zone where native birds live, and your guide will point out what to listen for and watch for along the shoreline: rare kōtuku are spotted here. Kiwis are nocturnal and shy, so sightings aren't guaranteed, but the forest itself is alive with bird calls and movement.

How long is the boat ride across Lake Mapourika?

The boat takes you from the starting point to the rainforest trailhead on the lake's far side. The whole tour is 2.5 hours, which includes the cruise, the guided walk, and time to settle in at the end with tea or coffee.

Is this tour suitable if I'm not a strong hiker?

The walk is short and follows a natural track at a pace your guide sets. Walking poles are provided and your skipper stays with you, offering support. The tour requires at least a moderate level of physical fitness because of the uneven ground, so contact the operator if you're unsure whether it suits you.

What do I need to bring or wear?

Wear layers and waterproof gear. You're in a rainforest near a glacier valley, so weather changes quickly. The operator provides walking poles. Infants must sit on an adult's lap during the boat ride.