Auckland: Piha Native Bat Discovery Walking Tour
Nature & adventure
Outdoor activities
Neighborhood tours
Tours
Guided tours
Hiking
Educational activities
Twilight guided walk to spot NZ’s native bats in the wild. Learn their habits, listen for echolocation, and enjoy a rare, hands-on nature experience close to Auckland; small groups, great guides
Highlights
- Guided evening night tour to spot rare native bats after dark
- Learn echolocation & bat behaviour on a twilight forest walk
- Authentic nocturnal wildlife encounter – no baiting, no staging
- Small groups, great guides, wildlife-friendly lighting & pacing
- Unique Auckland after dark activity for couples, locals & families
Description
Wild Native Bat Walk – Evening Night Tour (After Dark Wildlife Experience)
Join one of Auckland’s most unique night tours and step into the forest after dark on our Wild Native Bat Walk — a guided evening tour timed perfectly for twilight, when nocturnal wildlife begins to emerge and New Zealand’s native bats (pekapeka) start hunting.
New Zealand has only two native bat species, and bats are our only native land mammals. They’re fast, rare, and incredibly elusive — making this after dark experience a true bucket-list encounter. Many people visit New Zealand without ever seeing a bat in the wild. On this guided night walk, we maximise your chances by visiting suitable habitat at the best time of day, led by expert guides who know how to interpret the forest and spot movement above the canopy.
What happens on the evening tour
Your evening nature tour begins at dusk with a short briefing before heading into prime bat habitat. As the light fades, you’ll learn the story of native bats and their role in a healthy ecosystem, including:
How bats use echolocation to navigate in darkness
Where they roost, what they eat, and when they’re active
Why predator control and forest restoration matter
The conservation work helping protect NZ’s nocturnal wildlife
As darkness builds, you’ll scan the treeline and listen for subtle signs. On suitable nights, bats appear overhead — darting and looping through the twilight as they hunt insects at speed. Seeing them in action is a rare, powerful wildlife moment and one of the most memorable after dark activities near Auckland.
Authentic after dark wildlife experience
This is not a staged attraction. There’s no feeding, no baiting, and no captive animals — just real nature, in real forest habitat. For conservation reasons the walk runs in small groups, with wildlife-friendly lighting and low-impact guiding.
Because it’s a wild experience, sightings can’t be guaranteed — but correct timing, location, and expert guiding significantly improve your chances compared with going alone.
Perfect for visitors wanting an unforgettable Auckland night activity, couples seeking a magical after dark tour, and families with older kids who love wildlife, learning, and adventure.
Includes
Night vision spotter
Bat Detector
Red head torches
Important Information
- Transport is an optional add-on at checkout
Easy cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund