15/06/2026
If Awaroa had a mascot, it would be the kererū - and it would be wholly unbothered by that honour.
New Zealand's native wood pigeon is, without question, one of the most gloriously indifferent birds on earth. Large. Iridescent. Unhurried. Moving through the canopy with the relaxed confidence of someone who has never once been told what to do.
We love them for it.
The kererū plays an essential role in the Abel Tasman ecosystem - one of the few birds large enough to swallow and disperse the seeds of native trees like tawa and karaka. Without them, whole forests would look different. They are not just beautiful. They are architects.
You'll spot them throughout the lodge grounds, often in the branches above the garden beds, occasionally crash-landing into things with magnificent inelegance, because kererū have never prioritised grace over enthusiasm.
Winter or summer - they're here year-round.
One of the many reasons Awaroa stays alive long after the season ends.