New Zealand Kea around French Ridge Hut, Mount Aspiring National Park

The kea is a protected parrot species that lives in forests and mountainous areas across the South Island. Especially in high alpine and cold areas you can find them. The French Ridge Hut is famous for a couple of Kea. They are around nearly every day in the morning and evening. So wake up early and take an eye on them. They are super beautiful. Less than 5000 are still existing.

Bring your tele-zoom lens with you. Place yourself at one point around the hut near the Kea. If they recognize you they will come closer by themself cause they are curious.

Please don't feed the Kea and take care of your personal items! They are pretty cheeky and not that shy.

Start your hiking at the Rasperry Flat Carpark. This 34 km out-and-back trail has around 1579 meter of elevation and is a very long and challenging hike. The last three kilometers are very steep and sometimes slippery. You definitely need experience in the mountains to get to this hut. Don´t go in bad weather and check this almost in advance.

You need to reserve the hut before you go. The department of conversation as a professional homepage with all important informations: https://www.doc.govt.nz/