A "spine tingling" Kiwi experience - see video

Ian Cooper owns and operates Okarito Kiwi Tours

It all began one night out in the bush when Ian was looking for kiwi. He was sitting quietly enjoying the night sky. From the bush a kiwi emerged. Ian was hooked.

Ian came to New Zealand in 1998 as a backpacker. He was visiting all the small towns around the Country. Late 1998, Ian was dropped off at the turnoff to Okarito. It was raining, however, the first car picked Ian up and bought him into the village.
Intending to stay 2 nights then move on to the next small place something captured his heart. The love of Okarito life began.


Ian was lucky to be able to earn his board and keep, helping out at the local Motel/Backpacker.
11 years later and Ian has now built a house, bought out his long term partner and little Daisy is running round with the proud knowledge of being born on the West Coast.

In 1999, Ian became involved with the Department of Conservation after seeing his first kiwi. He started to volunteer his time on the local kiwi program. Since those beginnings he has gone onto to work with the majority of the kiwi species. He has had stints working on many remote Islands. One of them - Codfish Island, working with the 'Rarest' Parrot in the world, the Kakapo.

Ian and Wendy bought a small piece of land in Okarito in 2000. Not being affluent people, they had to return to the UK for 18 months for work their socks off. Arriving back at Heathrow with only 5 pounds between them, they both found work quickly and worked solid with the ultimate goal to return to Okarito in a year and a half. Working 3 jobs each, the goal was reached.

After returning to Okarito, Ian and Wendy set about building their house. Starting at the end of April 2004, they moved in by August !

Ian worked as a kayak guide for a couple of years, he decided he wanted to be self sustaining. Always a dream to take people out into the bush at night he approached DoC with his plans. Expecting to be laughed at and told to go away, he was surprised to be told that he was the right person to be undertaking the rarest job on the South Island!

Concessions in New Zealand are required to work in a National Park. They are notoriously slow to obtain and usually full of red tape and legal jargon. Ian applied for his concession in July 2006. His concession was granted by the Minister and he opened for business in September 2006. An incredible start to an incredible journey.

With a professional approach and the emphasis on low-key, low-impact guiding, Ian was hoping to achieve a 50% rate in seeing the rarest kiwi in the world. In the Season 2008-09 his success rate was an impressive 98%.

This year Ian was approached by the Oiled Wildlife Response Team. He has since taken up the position as 'Wildlife Expert' on the West Coast.

His passion will remain sharing the special environment with tourists and travellers. His main focus will always be the welfare of the kiwi. His trip involves not only seeing this rare bird but learning about what makes New Zealand the perfect home for these iconic birds.



Many of Ians visitors have shared their experiences on www.rankers.co.nz

Ian's tours operate all year round. His trips start around 1 hour prior to sunset at his office/house.

Bookings are essential as Ian takes a maximum of 10 people per night. Trips cost $60 per person

Please bring :
Warm, but, Quiet clothes ( NO WATERPROOFS )
Sturdy boots
Insect repellent
Great Attitude
Patience
Patience
Patience

A Match Made in Heaven

“Swade” Finch, born and raised in Titahi Bay near Wellington, NZ, has been living on the West Coast of the South Island for over 30 years. He spent 10 years as head guide at the Wilderness Lodge Lake Moeraki south of the glaciers near Haast. Prior to that, he spent many years deep sea fishing in Alaska as well as crayfishing in the most interesting fashion off the West Coast of NZ with long time friend Barry Wyber (ask him how they launched the boat – that’s a great story!).

Guiding at the Lodge he spent much of his time with guests from around the world, showing them the rare Fiordland Crested Penguin, leading them on walks through the magnificent rainforest and entertaining them in the evenings as he transformed into chief bartender!

Paula Sheridan, born and raised in the extreme climes of Canada, came to New Zealand as a tour guide. Having spent some years in a remote part of British Columbia working at a luxury Helicopter Ski Resort, her interests moved to guiding guests through the Canadian Rockies by bicycle. She arrived on the shores of NZ in 2001 and she, along with many guests over the years, travelled by bicycle around the South Island, spending time at the Wilderness Lodge Lake Moeraki along the way. You can see where this is heading!

Three years later, a gleam in Swade’s eye and a sparkle in Paula’s led them to agreeing to spending some time exploring the little known village of Okarito together. The quiet, remote village with its long stretches of beach along the wild coast was a haven for two guides to relax and yes, fall in love!

The next few years ensued with Paula’s return to Canada and back again and a few too many farewells being said on those same beaches of Okarito, so she decided to uproot from CanadaNew Zealand. Leaving the cycle tour business somewhat behind, she worked as a kayak guide in Okarito and set up home in a wee bach. It didn’t take long for her and Swade to combine forces and seize the opportunity to work together when the small eco-tourism based business of Okarito Boat Tours came up for sale.

Swade and Paula now live happily in a somewhat larger bach on the beach at Okarito. Running Okarito Boat Tours keeps them both in the guiding business sharing with their guests the magnificence of the scenery of the west coast and the birdlife on the Okarito Lagoon and River.

Paula, a yoga teacher and massage therapist, is also furthering her studies in natural therapies with reflexology, aromatherapy and Reiki and works out of her studio at home. She and Swade round out their busy schedule by managing the local campground in Okarito, and a holiday home for others looking to explore this quiet little village and the wonderful experiences it offers up.

They welcome you to come and explore this “magic” part of the coast of New Zealand and maybe even learn where “Swade” got his name – and that’s another story!