Stewart Island Collection, ‘A Walk in the Park’

We were all hoping to see a kiwi. The first night, we wandered quietly along the track at dusk until it got dark. On the way back to the hut, Katrina and George glimpsed one. I was a way behind with Felix asleep on my back. The next sighting was by a campsite long drop. Again, I missed it. Another night, Tyrell sat out in the bush and waited patiently. He was rewarded with a kiwi wandering through the undergrowth within arm’s reach. I was fast asleep in the tent. On our final nights, we camped behind the hostel as everything was full. We were exhausted, the boys already asleep, and I was ready for an early night. Just as I was about to crawl into the tent, a kiwi stepped out of the bush a few metres away. It seemed completely unconcerned, spending the next hour slowly foraging along the edge of the campsite.