Orokonui Ecosanctuary - Te Korowai o Mihiwaka

17/09/2026

We are thrilled to celebrate kōanga with our friends from Barre Base with spring yoga at Orokonui.

Get you tickets on our website or head to the link in the comments.

Celebrate kōanga spring and join us for a yoga class at Orokonui Ecosanctuary 🌳

Enjoy some of the best views in Dunedin looking across the protected Orokonui valley, while we lead you through a yoga session that will prepare you for the day ahead. This session will be targeted at a wide range of experience so beginners are encouraged to come give it a go.

Following the session there will be a beverage buffet and a light morning tea available then participants can ever go for a complementary explore of the sanctuary or head off to seize the day.

Every ticket supports Orokonui to continue its work to help wildlife thrive in the valley and across Ōtepoti Dunedin. 🌱

Doors open at 8.30am, and class will begin promptly at 9am.

Every ticket purchased puts you in the draw to win a custom-made pair of Felix Conscious Design | Yoga & Activewear | Made to order | NZ pants. Based in Ōtepoti, Felix Conscious Design creates thoughtfully made, sustainable clothing as an alternative to conventional activewear, designed to move with your body while treading lightly on the planet.

Special thanks to Almighty for supplying us with cold beverages too! Legends.

Get your tickets here (link also in bio)

https://orokonuiecosanctuary97.rezdy.com/774897/barre-base-x-orokonui-morning-yoga

13/09/2026

Want to get out into nature this evening?

We still have some spots available on tonight's night tours. These are a special opportunity explore Orokonui at a new time of day, and have the chance to see wildlife who is seldom seen during the day.

Here are just a few neat things spotted by staff during our practice walks in the last week.

Head to our website or follow the link in the comments to book your spot.

04/09/2026

Feathered, scaled, or otherwise, it's worth celebrating Dads. Come celebrate Father's Day with us at Orokonui.

Dads will get free entry to the sanctuary Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th of September. A perfect oppportunity to get out into nature this weekend.

The sanctuary will be open 9:30am-4:30pm and the cafe will be open from 10:00am-3:00pm. See you and your dad there 🌿

30/08/2026

There is a decent sprinkle of snow across the sanctuary at the moment. Our operations team are out amongst it ensuring snow doesn't impact the biosecurity of the sanctuary.

A reminder that due to the weather we are closed all day today the 31st of August.

If you want to watch the weather at Orokonui you can always check in on the Port Otago live valley camera. Check it out by following the link in the comments or by heading to our website.

30/08/2026

❗Orokonui Ecosanctuary closed 31st August❗

Due to the forecast weather overnight and Monday morning we have decided to close the sanctuary and cafe for the whole day Monday 31st August.

Stay warm and we will see you when we are back open our regular hours on Thursday.

27/08/2026

Nau mai ki te pō! Orokonui night tours are returning this Spring. These special walks lead visitors under moon and torchlight to discover the unusual (and often hidden) ecologies of te pō. Night tours run just once a year over September and October, and offer a rare chance to both support and explore conservation in a different light.

This season we are also running special tamariki focussed night walks. Perfect for young explorers aged 5-12 who want to get out and see what creatures are in the forests after dark.

Follow this link to book your spot on our adult or kid-friendly night walks. https://orokonui.nz/night-tours/

22/08/2026

❗Wind Closure Alert❗
Due to high winds currently being experience at Orokonui we are closing the sanctuary for the remainder of the day.

Strong winds can cause issues with tree and branch fall bcoming a risk to staff and visitors.

The cafe and visitors's centre remains open to stop by at grab a coffee or bite to eat.

14/08/2026

Did you know six fantastic species of lizard call Orokonui home 🦎

To celebrate world lizard day here are those scaly taoka who live in our valley.

Otago skink - The biggest lizard in the sanctuary. Check them out basking in groups in their specialised enclosure. Some of these residents might be 30-40 years old!

Moko kākāriki/jewelled gecko - Translocated in the early 2010s these masters of camouflage now live throughout the sanctuary. The easiest spot o get a glimpse is in the open air enclosure on the grasslands.

Otago Green Skink - The most recent lizard arrival from 2016. These iridescent beauties prefer more vegetated basking spots. Research has shown they are now becoming established here and now can be seen basking on the sides of tracks.

Kōrero gecko - A nocturnal gecko species which sometimes basks in cryptic places during the day. Living in cracks in rocks and logs they have persisted here with a big recovery since the fence was built.

Tussock skink - The most commonly seen lizard in Orokonui. On a sunny day any trackside, log, or rock pile could be a good spot to see them. In Dunedin these are the most likely lizard to be holding on in your backyard, building a lizard garden and doing some trapping can be a great way to help them.

Herbfield skink - These incredibly cryptic lizards are rarely seen. They were not detected in the sanctuary for many years until in increase in numbers following the protection of the fence revealed their presence.

13/08/2026

Looking for a hospitality role with a difference? We are seeking a new chef/cafe 2IC to join the team at the Horopito Cafe.

Located within our visitor centre and with some of the best views in Dunedin, the cafe is part of the hospitality we show to visitors while also helping wildlife thrive with revenue from the cafe going to conservation.

We are looking for someone with chef and leadership experience to support day to day running of the cafe. As well as opportunities to develop menu, support catering events, and guide the future of this well loved venue.

This role is for 30-35 hours and includes weekends. Check out the link in the comments to see all the details, or get in touch if you have any questions.

10/08/2026

Last week Orokonui was a winter wonderland of sorts. With one of the largest snow dumps we have had in years ❄

While the wildlife didn't seem to mind too much, with takahē leaving their tracks across the snow. This did create a unique task for our staff, sweeping the fence hood. When snow builds up their is a risk that it could create a snow bridge that would allow predators like rats and stoats into the sanctuary. It's thought that this is how a previous incursion in 2015 could have happened.

Now, whenever enough snow builds up staff head around sweeping the hood to keep it clear. Just another of the sometimes strange things our team does rain, snow, or sunshine to help wildlife thrive here at Orokonui.