Arthur's Pass National Park
🇳🇿 New Zealand
🐦 Bellbird Chorus Over the Alpine PassArthur's Pass National Park sits in the heart of New Zealand's rugged Southern Alps, protecting a dramatic landscape of steep mountain passes, rocky riverbeds, and high-altitude grassland. This alpine terrain differs from coastal reserves through its harsh weather and dramatic elevation changes, creating an exposed, windswept environment shaped by jagged peaks and sweeping valleys rather than dense lowland forest.
-42.859° S 171.821° E
Wildlife
⭐ Iconic Species
★ 
Kea
Nestor notabilis
★ 
South Island Robin
Petroica australis
★ 
New Zealand Fantail
Rhipidura fuliginosa
★ 
New Zealand Bellbird
Anthornis melanura
📊 Most Spotted
Miromiro
Petroica macrocephala
Chaffinch
Fringilla coelebs
Grey Warbler
Gerygone igata
Eurasian Blackbird
Turdus merula
Silvereye
Zosterops lateralis
Rifleman
Acanthisitta chloris
Song Thrush
Turdus philomelos
Common Redpoll
Acanthis flammea
Welcome Swallow
Hirundo neoxena
Dunnock
Prunella modularis
Dominican Gull
Larus dominicanus
Common Brushtail
Trichosurus vulpecula
📊 Most Spotted
Common Brushtail
Trichosurus vulpecula
Brown Hare
Lepus europaeus
Red Deer
Cervus elaphus
Northern Chamois
Rupicapra rupicapra
Common Hedgehog
Erinaceus europaeus
⭐ Iconic Species
★ Kea
Nestor notabilis
★ South Island Robin
Petroica australis
★ New Zealand Fantail
Rhipidura fuliginosa
★ New Zealand Bellbird
Anthornis melanura
📊 Most Spotted
Miromiro
Petroica macrocephala
Chaffinch
Fringilla coelebs
Grey Warbler
Gerygone igata
Eurasian Blackbird
Turdus merula
Silvereye
Zosterops lateralis
Rifleman
Acanthisitta chloris
Song Thrush
Turdus philomelos
Common Redpoll
Acanthis flammea
Welcome Swallow
Hirundo neoxena
Dunnock
Prunella modularis
Dominican Gull
Larus dominicanus
Australian Magpie
Gymnorhina tibicen
📊 Most Spotted
Common New Zealand Skink
Oligosoma polychroma
McCann’s Skink
Oligosoma maccanni
📊 Most Spotted
Recent sightings in Arthur's Pass National Park
LIVEiNaturalistAnimal Events
1Kea Breeding and Playful Displays
During late spring, kea engage in elaborate courtship, building nests in alpine scree and performing playful aerial antics.
2South Island Robin Territory Songs
Males establish territories with melodic songs and defend nesting sites in the forest understory.
3Alpine Skink Activity in Meadow
Common New Zealand Skink emerges to bask and forage as alpine grasses bloom, showing heightened activity.
Sighting Calendar
Average chance of spotting the park's most-spotted species, month by month
- 1Kea Breeding and Playful Displays
- 2South Island Robin Territory Songs
- 3Alpine Skink Activity in Meadow
Sighting Zones
Warmer areas are where all species together are recorded most often.
Essentials
Climate
What visitors saw
Quick answers
What animals can you see in Arthur's Pass National Park?
The most likely sightings are New Zealand Bellbird (seen by about 90% of wildlife watchers), Miromiro (seen by about 90% of wildlife watchers), Chaffinch (seen by about 90% of wildlife watchers), Grey Warbler (seen by about 80% of wildlife watchers), Eurasian Blackbird (seen by about 80% of wildlife watchers) — among 192 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.
When is the best time to visit Arthur's Pass National Park for wildlife?
December has the highest combined sighting rate for the park's top species in our month-by-month GBIF data. The full sighting calendar on this page shows each species' best months.
Can you see Kea in Arthur's Pass National Park?
Yes — about 70% of wildlife watchers report a Kea sighting in Arthur's Pass National Park, based on 1,585 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see South Island Robin in Arthur's Pass National Park?
Yes — about 70% of wildlife watchers report a South Island Robin sighting in Arthur's Pass National Park, based on 1,309 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see New Zealand Fantail in Arthur's Pass National Park?
Yes — about 70% of wildlife watchers report a New Zealand Fantail sighting in Arthur's Pass National Park, based on 865 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see New Zealand Bellbird in Arthur's Pass National Park?
Yes — about 90% of wildlife watchers report a New Zealand Bellbird sighting in Arthur's Pass National Park, based on 1,561 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Where Wildlife Score
How good is this park for seeing wildlife?Biodiversity
GoodHow rich is the wildlife?
Sighting
GoodHow likely to see animals?
Experience
GoodHow easy and pleasant is the visit?
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