KnowKi

Learn the wildlife of national parks

Learn the wildlife of Nelson Lakes National Park

New Zealand

1,283 species have research-grade observations inside Nelson Lakes National Park on iNaturalist. KnowKi turns the most recorded into short lessons with real photos, so you know what you're looking at before you go.

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Āki the kiwi, KnowKi's guide

Most recorded here

The species with the most research-grade observations on iNaturalist, and how many each has. Most recorded doesn't mean native.

Birds

  1. Black-billed Gull Chroicocephalus bulleri101
  2. South Island Robin Petroica australis89
  3. New Zealand Bellbird Anthornis melanura73
  4. New Zealand Scaup Aythya novaeseelandiae55
  5. Black Swan Cygnus atratus53
  6. Tomtit Petroica macrocephala45
  7. New Zealand Fantail Rhipidura fuliginosa45
  8. Mallard Anas platyrhynchos39
  9. New Zealand Pipit Anthus novaeseelandiae39
  10. Weka Gallirallus australis38

Plants

  1. White Cushion Mountain Daisy Celmisia sessiliflora103
  2. Mountain beech Nothofagus cliffortioides102
  3. Silver beech Nothofagus menziesii97
  4. Haumakāroa Raukaua simplex96
  5. Giant vegetable sheep Haastia pulvinaris93
  6. Green Bird Orchid Chiloglottis cornuta92
  7. New Zealand Harebell Wahlenbergia albomarginata91
  8. Yellow cushionplant Phyllachne colensoi90
  9. Raoulia bryoides89
  10. Red Beech Nothofagus fusca85

Mammals

  1. Common Brushtail Possum Trichosurus vulpecula9
  2. Northern Chamois Rupicapra rupicapra5
  3. Brown Hare Lepus europaeus4

Insects

  1. Black Mountain Ringlet Percnodaimon merula36
  2. Sigaus collinus36
  3. Janita's Tussock Argyrophenga janitae23
  4. Cinnabar moth Tyria jacobaeae16
  5. Elephant Weevil Rhynchodes ursus15
  6. Isonomeutis amauropa14
  7. Red Damselfly Xanthocnemis zealandica13
  8. Common European Yellowjacket Vespula vulgaris12
  9. Native cranberry moth Poecilasthena pulchraria11
  10. Mecodema venator11

How a trip works

A trip has its own trail of lessons: meet six species, match them to new photos, then practice with four choices. Species you learn go into your Fieldbook, and starting a trip earns its Passport stamp. Your home place stays as it is.

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Species lists and counts from research-grade observations on iNaturalist, as of October 2026. Parks outside the U.S. are from the World Database on Protected Areas (UNEP-WCMC and IUCN, Protected Planet). KnowKi is not affiliated with the National Park Service or any park's managers. Free, with no ads, no account, and no purchases.