AusLeisure

A new interactive night-time experience at Rotorua’s Rainbow Springs Nature Park offers visitors the opportunity to explore the park after-hours this summer, in a relaxed ‘Kiwi backyard’ setting.

‘In the Shadows: Dine + Discover’ runs every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 5th January to 25th February 2017 and includes a stylish three-course BBQ-style dinner, guided night walks, entertainment, animal encounters and the chance to see kiwi as they wake from their slumber.

The experience also allows visitors the opportunity to explore the park by torch-light, feed eels, find native spiders and weta, listen to music and see sparkling glow worms.

Explaining that this is the first time Rainbow Springs has offered such an after-hours experience, Rainbow Springs Manager John Rippingham advises “we wanted to give locals and visitors of all ages something different to do this summer.

“This is an experience that is unlike anything we’ve offered before and is an excellent child-friendly night-time option in Rotorua.

“Children will love our playground and interactive games, and the night encounters with our creepy crawlies are sure to be a hit.”

Visitors will also be able to see the nocturnal kiwi as they begin to wake - usually between 9pm and 10pm - and see them forage for food and interact with other kiwi.

Rippingham adds “our kiwi have always been hugely popular and now park visitors can see them at their most active - at night.”

The three-course dinner is locally sourced and organic where possible, with something for everyone to enjoy.

Rainbow Springs’ 22 acres of native trees and bush is home to some of Aotearoa’s most iconic reptile and bird species, including New Zealand’s largest and most successful kiwi conservation centre.

Open since 1932, Rainbow Springs Nature Park is an icon of New Zealand tourism.

Set in acres of Rotorua parkland, Rainbow Springs has a strong conservation drive and is a breeding centre for endangered native species like the kiwi and tuatara. Features of the award-winning tourist attraction include New Zealand’s only “open to view” kiwi hatchery, Kiwi Encounter, the Big Splash water ride, free-flight bird show and a range of wildlife including trout, tuatara and native birds. Rainbow Springs is part of Ngāi Tahu Tourism's tourism portfolio.

17th June 2016 - NEW TOURISM SCHOLARSHIP ANNOUNCED 

6th December 2014 - NGĀI TAHU TOURISM BUYS NEW ZEALAND GUIDED NATURE WALKS

8th June 2014 -  NEW LAZER MAZE OPENS AT ROTORUA’S RAINBOW SPRINGS

29th November 2011 - DINOSAUR TO STAR IN RAINBOW SPRINGS’ NZ$10 MILLION BIG SPLASH WATER RIDE

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