Skip the Line: Franz Josef Wildlife Center Ticket with Optional Backstage Pass | 1 hour to 2 hours

112 Reviews | Franz Josef & Fox Glacier
From $23.18 per person Lowest Price Guarantee
Select Date and Travelers
You can select up to 8 travelers in total.
Senior (65-85) Minimum: 0, Maximum: 8
0
Adult (15-64) Minimum: 1, Maximum: 8
2
Youth (6-14) Minimum: 0, Maximum: 8
0
Child (3-5) Minimum: 0, Maximum: 8
0
Infant (0-2) Minimum: 0, Maximum: 8
0
Free Cancellation For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
12:00pm VIP Backstage Tour
2 Adults x $42.43
$84.86
Approx Total
$84.86
VIP Backstage Pass Tour
10am VIP Backstage Pass Tour
2 Adults x $42.43
$84.86
Approx Total
$84.86
VIP Backstage Pass Tour
2pm - VIP Backstage Pass Tour
2 Adults x $42.43
$84.86
Approx Total
$84.86
General Admission -48hr Pass
2 Adults x $23.57
$47.14
Approx Total
$47.14
General Admission Entry: 48-Hour Admission Pass
4pm VIP Backstage Tour
2 Adults x $42.43
$84.86
Approx Total
$84.86

Inclusions / Exclusions

  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English
  • GST (Goods and Services Tax)
  • Local taxes
  • Free car parking
  • Souvenir photos (available to purchase)
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • DVD (available to purchase)

Overview

Voted one of the 12 must-see things to visit in New Zealand by Lonely Planet, the West Coast Wildlife Centre is the largest kiwi hatching facility in the South Island and the foremost indoor, all-weather attraction in Franz Josef.  You are guaranteed to see live kiwi during the day inside our nocturnal house, including the world's rarest kiwis.  Discover the interactive glacier attraction and West Coast storytelling areas or go behind the scenes on the “Kiwi & Tuatara Backstage Pass Tour.”  Numbers are very limited on the 40-minute Backstage Pass Tour so advanced bookings are highly recommended.  You'll also find the best shopping in Franz Josef inside the all-weather facility and enjoy free Wi-Fi in the café. Recommended " best Coffee" in Franz Josef by Tripadvisor customers. If you purchase a VIP Backstage Pass Tour your general admission ticket is included in the price.

Itinerary

  • West Coast Wildlife Centre

    The centre is open every day from 8.30am.  Please set aside at least 1-2 hours for your visit.  A free takeaway learning booklet is provided at no extra charge.  All tickets purchased are valid for 48 hours. This means guests can come in and out of the attraction as often as they like.  During your visit, you'll be able to see live kiwi during the day inside the nocturnal house, See live Tuatara, and discover the interactive glacier attraction and storytelling areas/films as well as films and information around NZ's ambitious goal to become predator free by 2050. You'll also have the option to go behind the scenes on the VIP Backstage Pass Tour rated “highly recommended” by Lonely Planet and Tripadvisor Traveller's Choice Award winner for 2022. A fully guided 40-minute tour behind the scenes to see our kiwi incubation and hatching and Tuatara programmes.

Sample Menu

Additional Info

  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
  • All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Children must be accompanied by an adult
  • Main attraction is wheelchair friendly, but backstage pass tour is not wheelchair accessible
  • Photography is restricted inside the kiwi nocturnal house but available on the kiwi backstage pass tour
  • Proof of age require if purchasing a senior ticket (over 65 years of age)
  • Cafe with food and coffee available to purchase. All major credit cards accepted

Free Cancellation

June 10100% refund
June 11No refund

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
  • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews

4.5

112 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
  • 5 stars
    83
  • 4 stars
    15
  • 3 stars
    8
  • 2 stars
    2
  • 1 star
    4

Reviews by TravelOne travelers

Showing 1-5 of 83 reviews with 5 stars

Very cool endangered species exhibit.

Published on Feb, 2025

It was a pleasure to go through the wildlife exhibit and listen to the discussion about endangered New Zealand species. Very informative and we even got to see a kiwi close-up (red light night vision).

Educational and enjoyable.

Published on Feb, 2025

Our guide Steve was really informative. We learned more than we could possibly have hoped about both the Rowi Kiwi and the tuatara, a creature we had never previously have heard of. We then had a chance to see both creatures. Thoroughly professional and enjoyable.

Friendly and knowledgeable staff

Published on Feb, 2025

Friendly, knowledgeable staff. Nice gift shop with good food and coffee. I had the "invasive rabbit pot pie." You can do your part to reduce invasive rabbits in NZ and have a unique meal.

Worth a visit

Published on Feb, 2025

Great front desk personal. Very informative and friendly. 48 hour pass so you can wander back in anytime to see the 2 Kiwi , the history of the coast and the Tuatara. Well worth doing the back stage tour about Kiwi and Tuatara. Our guide was very passionate about her work. Would highly recommend .

Awesome tour

Published on Feb, 2025

Was an amazing tour , so privileged to see the kiwis , Tuataras and the staff ensured we saw clearly by taking us through with the infrared torch . Also making sure we took our time to take in the smells . The front counter gentleman was very informative and friendly , he does an awesome job . The back stage part of the tour was very good and the guide was so passionate and enthusiastic. . We learnt so much Fully recommend the full tour for value and experience

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