New Zealand White Heron (Kotuku) Nesting site

Trips depart for the only White Heron nesting site in New Zealand from Whataroa on the West Coast of New Zealand. Access to the site is over private land and is a DOC restricted access site. So, the only way to access the site is on a tour from https://www.whiteherontours.co.nz/

They take you by minivan to the nesting site. There is about an 800 meter walk through the bush at the end of the drive. Allow 2.5 hours for the tour.

Nesting season from September to February. We went in November and got to see some recently hatched chicks.

Marked location is for the departure point. Actual spot is in the bush near the coast

You are in a hide across the river about 30-40 meters from the nesting site. I used a 100-400mm lens on a 46mp sensor. That allowed for some heavy cropping.

Use a fast shutter speed (1/1500 +) and if your camera is less than 5 years old, don't worry too much about the ISO. Noise correction in post will clean it up.

The West Coast gets a lot of rain - so be prepared. That said, I have been done the coast over 20 times and only been hammered once. The hide is well protected.

There aren't a lot of accommodation and dinner options in Whataroa. Doing a tour just after leave or just before arriving for a night in the Glaciers is the best option.