Open 7 Days From 8:30 am to 6:00 pm
THE MUST-DO VISIT IN FRANZ JOSEF
Together, we can help protect New Zealand’s most unique and highly endangered wildlife – the world's rarest Kiwi, the Kororā penguins, and the ancient Tuatara.
Special – book all-day pass & save $2
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VIP Backstage Pass Tours, Includes your All-day Pass entry ticket
Includes your All-day Pass entry ticket. Tours at 10 am, 12 noon, 2 pm and 4 pm daily – Bookings essential
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All-day pass entry tickets
48-hour ticket to see live Penguins, live Kiwi, live Tuatara, and our incredible glacier attraction. Live Penguin feeding at 11 am and 3 pm daily. Time Required: 30 minutes to 2 hours. Remember, the more you put into the attraction, the more you will get out of it.
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Annual Pass - Unlimited Entry All Year
Make every visit unforgettable with our Annual Pass! Get 12 months of unlimited entry to the West Coast Wildlife Centre in Franz Josef — home to kiwi, tuatara, and rescued little blue penguins in a world-class habitat.
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Exciting New Ambassador Korora Encounter to open in Franz Josef, South Westland!
The award-winning West Coast Wildlife Centre is excited to announce the opening of a multimillion-dollar, groundbreaking extension to the existing facility in Franz Josef for injured little blue penguins that cannot be released back into the wild. We call these very special birds Ambassador Penguin! The extension was opened to the public on Saturday, 18 October 2025.
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The Must Do Experience on the West Coast
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What will you see at the West Coast Wildlife Centre ?!
The West Coast Wildlife Centre is the largest kiwi incubation & hatching facility in the South Island. We have released 141 Haast tokoeka and 353 rowi kiwi back into the wild in collaboration with the Department of Conservation and Ngāti Māhaki, the local sub-tribe of the Ngāi Tahu iwi. Together, and in partnership with other facilities across New Zealand, we have helped bring these kiwi back from the brink of extinction.
Don’t miss this great opportunity to see kiwi birds in-person & learn more than you’d expect
"We loved seeing the two kiwi birds shuffling back and forth, despite not usually being into animals on display. We learned so much about kiwis, other wildlife, glaciers, conservation efforts, and the history of the area. Visiting the wildlife centre was a treat made even more special by enjoying tea and delicious scones at the cafe. Too bad we were too full to order ice cream or a milk shake/smoothie because we saw someone else enjoying theirs. Our only suggestion: With so many videos playing and at relatively low volumes, it would be helpful to have subtitles."
Must do! Great for young families! Absolutely incredible experience
"Absolutely incredible experience! We saw two kiwi running around in the dark, all visitors respected the quiet rule which made the experience much better than other nocturnal habitat centers. We had a true "kiwi" hospitality experience from all the staff members, they wanted to interact with us as customers- it was great to see such genuine service. We would highly recommend this as a family activity."
Great experience, highly recommended.
"Highly recommend visiting the Centre. The kids spent ages watching the kiwi's and exploring the centre. We did a Guided Tour and also got to see the Tuatara up close which was really cool. The guides and staff were extremely helpful and kind. We visited in late June and it was very quiet, which was fantastic."
Educational backstage tour
"We've booked the backstage pass and got a very interesting look behind the scenes. Devin gave us a deep understanding of the important work that is done at the wildlife center and answered all our questions. That the price of the ticket directly contributes to the preservation of endangered species is another plus."
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Get up close to Aotearoa’s most endangered wildlife — from the world’s rarest kiwi to the charming kororā penguins and the ancient tuatara.
Meet New Zealand’s rarest kiwi, and discover our Haast tokoeka and rowi stories, at the West Coast Wildlife Centre in Franz Josef. See Live Tuatara and live Ambassador Penguins!
As a Qualmark Gold-accredited, we are identified as a leading business with a holistic commitment to sustainability and a genuinely welcoming atmosphere, aligning with global standards. We are also a fully accredited member of ZAA (Zoo Aquarium Association Australasia), independently validated as a quality tourism and wildlife business, ensuring a high standard of visitor experience.
We are also New Zealand’s most successful public-private partnership, collaborating with the Department of Conservation & Ngāti Māhaki, the local sub-tribe of the Ngāi Tahu iwi. We warmly welcome guests of all ages and abilities.
For more info, download our guide booklet PDF now
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Donate Now & Make a Difference!
All the highly endangered wildlife at the West Coast Wildlife Centre needs your help. Kiwi, Little Blue Penguins, and Tuatara are all under threat. The Rowi and the Haast tokoeka are also the two most endangered kiwi in the world, with fewer than 650 Rowi kiwi and fewer than 400 Haast tokoeka birds remaining alive today. Rowi are restricted to the Okarito Forest and the Omoeroa, north of Franz Josef Glacier, and the Haast tokoeka are limited to a small area of forest near Haast, South Westland.
Donating will help these highly endangered species step back from the brink of extinction. Your donation will help to fund husbandry costs, veterinary bills, as well as food, equipment, incubation equipment, and health and hygiene products. We will also donate on your behalf to the Tuatara and Penguin programmes, which volunteers throughout New Zealand primarily run.
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A Self-Guided 48-Hour General Pass
In addition to our unique indoor attraction, we also operate a popular local gift store. Looking for the best coffee in Franz Josef? Our guest tells us that our Café is a relaxing place to grab a drink, and our bakery can even make you a packed lunch for your day out exploring!
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