About | Katikati Bird Gardens
Go for an easy and peaceful stroll around the beautiful and tranquil Katikati Bird Gardens, located at the edge of the Tauranga inner harbour. There are beautiful mature trees, water lily ponds and wetlands to see and explore.
Enjoy a coffee or light meal at the cafe before or after your visit to the gardens, let the kids have a play in the children’s play area with a playhouse, swing set and outdoor checkers.
Don’t forget to grab some bird feed as this can be a real highlight for adults and children alike. As soon as you lay a foot on the grassy area all sorts of ducks, bantams, doves and birds will surround you, fighting to get a front seat and eager for a feed. Scatter the bird feed out or see if you’re brave enough to let them feed from your hand. It’s lots of fun and as you continue on you’ll most probably have a couple of birds coming along with you, keen to show you around.
See if you can spot some native birds flittering about like the tūī, heron, fantail, kererū, kakariki and grey warbler who are regular guests to the garden. You’ll also find parrots, pheasants and fancy bantams in aviaries and enclosures around the garden.
In ponds, spot little shags, teal, paradise shelducks and black swans.
Created in 1976, Chris Parker has transformed the bare land into the beautiful garden that it is with original plantings still remaining today.
The garden can be enjoyed all year round, with giant camellias and magnolias looking especially nice in the winter, azaleas and lilies in the spring and summer and beautiful shades of colour in autumn before it all starts over again.
Look out for birds in the winter, with Royal Spoonbill hanging out in and around the ponds, white-faced herons perched in trees and tui’s feasting on the flowering cherries.
Length: around 1.5kms of paths, wheelchair and pram friendly.
Time: 45 – 60 minutes.
Golf carts: available for those with limited mobility or if you just want to have a little fun.
Nearby
Haiku Pathway
Katikati Murals
Sapphire Springs Holiday Park & Thermal Pools
Location
Photos
Upon first entering Katikati Bird Gardens and you have birds all fighting for your attention, eager to get the food you hold in your hands. The kids loved this and it’s worth getting a few bags of food because they were quite content just feeding the birds. As we moved on we found lots of friendly ducklings that would come up and sit on the boy’s feet. Such a funny feeling, they absolutely loved it and thought it was the cutest thing ever.
Rose Garden
Lots of beautiful smelling roses, the kids enjoyed going from each one and smelling their beautiful scent to find their favourite.
Aviaries
There are several aviaries scattered along the route with different kinds of birds in them.
Pathways and ponds
Lots of winding pathways take you through the beautiful garden. There were heaps of different birds that had gathered around the pond under the trees. We enjoyed getting up close to them but then one flew right up to us and holding our arm out, perched itself there. Pretty amazing experience for the kiddos!
Treehouse
The treehouse was very cute and a huge hit with the kids.
