There are whales in Kaikoura, and a number of points about the coastline where you might see hector’s dolphins. There are penguins great (yellow-eyed, at Oamaru, Dunedin and Curio Bay in Southland) and small (little blues, at Oamaru). There’s royal albatross at Taiaroa Head, Otago, kea in the high country, and white herons and kiwi at Okarito (and even more kiwi on Stewart Island), takahe at the Te Anau Wildlife Centre, and kakapo on Ulva Island.