About us

Ian Cooper owns and operates, along with his guides, Okarito Kiwi Tours. Ian originally came from Hertfordshire in England. He came to New Zealand in 1998 as a backpacker.

Ian Cooper with Brown Kiwi Okarito Kiwi Tours New Zealand
LICENSED OPERATOR

Only licenced operator in South Island that can take you looking for kiwi in the wild

UNIQUE EXPERIENCE

Experience the Okarito Brown Kiwi in the wild

GUIDED TOURS

Experienced guides explain the flora, fauna and history

During his tour of New Zealand he got dropped off in the tiny village of Okarito. He loved the village so much he stayed. During his stay in Okarito he became fascinated by the local Kiwi that inhabits the bush around the local area.

Ian spent many nights out in the bush and found an un-canny knack of being able to read the behaviour patterns of kiwi.

He had a long term dream. His dream was to share his night-time experiences and start a lifestyle business guiding in kiwi environment. In 2006 he approached the Department of Conservation with his idea.

The Department were very positive and encouraged Ian to apply for the only Concession in the South Island to guide people looking for kiwi.
Within 4 months Ian was operating Okarito Kiwi Tours. Since then, Ian has been honing his technique to minimize any possible disturbance on any kiwi he encounters.

Ian leads the trips with a passion and enthusiasm that rubs off and develops in others. The major goal of a trip is to see a kiwi behaving naturally in its own environment with no idea it is being watched by fascinated humans.