As at Paradise Valley Springs, you’ll find water teeming with trout. But instead of lions, you’ll get kiwi and tuatara. Kiwi Encounter is unique in that it presents “conservation in action”—the raising of kiwi chicks from eggs for release into the wild. It’s the only purpose-built Operation Nest Egg Project open to the public. The excellent tour will give you insight into these rare birds and how they are being saved from extinction. Watching a kiwi hatch on video is a special experience. At time of writing, a NZ$10-million expansion program was underway for Rainbow Springs. This will include a complete makeover and the building of a new reptile encounter and a children’s playground that features a high-tech, interactive water slide ride. The revamped park is slated to open in early 2012.