You will see a variety of birds feeding along the lake edge including kakīānau (black swans), kawau (black shags), matuku moana (white-faced heron) and poaka (pied stilts). The adjacent Barton’s Lagoon, lined with raupō (bullrush), has good breeding and nesting habitat for waterfowl. Native bird species (many of which are threatened) that you may spot include: pūkeko, weweia (New Zealand dabchick) and pāpango (New Zealand scaup). If you’re lucky you may see matuku (Australasian bittern) hiding amongst the raupō.

If you continue along the lakeshore, you’ll come to the delta of the Tauwharenīkau River. You’re likely to get your feet wet here! This area is visited by tarāpuka (black billed gulls), pohowera (banded dotterel) and kuaka (eastern bar-tailed godwits).

Find out more about Lake Domain

An 800 metre walk from the carpark takes you to a bird hide. From here you may see kawau tūī (little black shags), kawau (black shags), pāpango (New Zealand scaup), weweia (New Zealand dabchick), tētē moroiti (grey teal), kōtare (kingfisher) and pūkeko. The secretive matuku (Australasian bittern), pūweto (spotless crake), and koitareke (marsh crake) also live here, although you’ll be lucky to see them!

Find out more about Boggy Pond

Wairio wetland and the eastern lake shore

The eastern lakeshore is a popular feeding area for migratory birds. They visit the shore from as far away as the Arctic between October and April. These international travellers include kuaka (bar-tailed godwit), kuriri (Pacific golden plover) and huahou (red knot). You’re also likely to spot matuku moana (white-faced heron), kōtuku ngutupapa (royal spoonbill) and pūtangitangi (paradise shelduck).

Wairio wetland is home to matuku (Australasian bittern), pohowera (banded dotterel), weweia (New Zealand dabchick) and kawau (black shag).

Find out more about Wairio

Wairarapa Lake Shore Scenic Reserve

This is the only part of Wairarapa Moana where the forest meets the lake, so you’re likely to encounter birds common in the New Zealand bush such as tūī, korimako (bellbird), kererū, riroriro (grey warbler) and piwakawaka (fantail).

Find out more about Wairarapa Lake Shore Scenic Reserve

Pounui Lagoon is on the north-western corner of Lake Ōnoke. The Lagoon is separated from Lake Ōnoke by a stopbank which provides for great walking and bird watching.

Birds you may see include: kuruwhengi (Australasian shoveler), pāpango (New Zealand scaup), tētē moroiti (grey teal,), pūkeko and matuku (Australasian bittern). The lagoon also provides breeding habitat for black-fronted dotterel.

Find out more about Pounui Lagoon

The spit is a nesting site for several native birds such as taranui (Caspian terns), karoro (black-backed gull), tarāpunga (red-billed gull), pohowera (banded dotterel) and tōrea (variable oystercatcher). You may see the rare notoreas moth on the mats of pinatoro (pimelia) which grow here. Ōnoke Spit is also home to the endangered katipō spider.

Find out more about Ōnoke Spit.

If you want to see and learn more about the birds of Wairarapa Moana, then check out Te Rakau Birding & Cabins.