Otorohanga Kiwi House

Auckland was a beautiful city. How could it fail to be anything else with its perfect waterfront location? But there was more to explore, so I headed south to Otorohanga, just north of Waitomo.

New Zealand’s famous flightless bird, the kiwi. Photo courtesy: Allie_Caufield – wikimedia.org

Kiwi house however, was depressing because native birds were confined in cages but I was desperate to see a real kiwi. I ventured past brown teals that flittered nervously when I approached. In the aviary, a large wood pigeon watched me cautiously. When it flew to a higher branch, it was as if it could barely lift its enormous body. Red crowned parakeets cooed in continual conversation. I spied the reclusive kiwi half hidden in the dim environment. It was time to leave.