Learn about conservation work at Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre and possibly see New Zealand’s best native inhabitants with their chicks in the aviaries.
Enjoy a day out at Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre, an unfenced sanctuary for native wildlife! Experience a 942-hectare forest home to wild kōkako and kākā, while the centre’s aviaries breed endangered birds for release across Aotearoa.
Learn about conservation work, possibly see birds with their chicks in the aviaries and you may also come across wild birds in the forest such as the tītipounamu (rifleman), kārearea (New Zealand falcon) and the kererū (wood pigeon). You might also glimpse advocacy birds like Kahurangi the kōkako!
Grab a spot of lunch and refuel at the Kākā Café which serves fresh kai (food) overlooking the takahē! Enjoy a range of freshly baked goods and favourites including wraps, paninis and toasties. Kākā Café includes a special children’s menu and caters to a variety of dietary requirements.
Pūkaha (at Mount Bruce) has been breeding wildlife since the early 1960s and is a partnership between Rangitāne o Wairarapa and the Department of Conservation. Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre are a non-profit and all proceeds go back into our conservation projects.
Explore the native wildlife at Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre, perfect for the whole family!
Join in on the following daily talks, free with every entrance ticket:
12:00pm: Kiwi
1:30pm: Longfin Eel
3:00pm: Kākā
Please Note: Last entry is at 5:00pm (summer) and 3:30pm (winter).
Access to the loop lookout track closes at 4:00pm (summer) and 2:30pm (winter).
Looking for more excitement? Check out the private tours Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre has to offer:
All prices are shown in NZD ($)
Sehr freundlichen nettes Team, welches auf viele Fragen eingegangen ist. Viele sehenswerte Tiere und alle Fütterungszeiten sind gut abgestimmt. Man kann gut einen ganzen Tag darin verbringen.
Der Park ist wirklich sehr schön, man merkt, dass die Mitarbeiter Spass an ihrer Arbeit haben und es Ihnen ums Tier wohl geht. Man kann hier viel lernen und sehen, wenn es nicht gerade in Strömen regnet, kann man auch einen großen Spaziergang machen und einige Vögel entdecken. Ausserdem gibt es die Möglichkeit, Kiwis zu sehen, sogar einen weißen. Wir hatten hier trotz Regens einen schönen Tag und empfehlen es aufjedenfall weiter.
We were short on time and didn't take the long walks but would have liked to. We got there when it opened and felt like we had it all to ourselves. Hard time seeing most of the animals, especially ones in the aviaries so that was a bit disappointing. But the staff was very nice and helpful. We weren't able to stay for feedings either, would like to have seen that.
Kia ora Stephanie, Thanks so much for your review! We're sorry you weren't able to stay for a longer visit and experience the daily talks or longer walks. It is so special having the whole Reserve to yourself. Hope to see you again soon!
Great day out at Pūkaha wildlife centre. From active Kiwi, ravenous eels, cheeky Kaka, mesmerising Tuatara, giant redwoods, and friendly staff - highly recommended for an outing.
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Pia from Germany wrote on 10 December 2017
Sehr informativ und interessant!
Ein sehr schöner Park mit vielen Vögeln und Reptilien, die man sonst eher nicht zu Gesicht bekommt. Hilfsbereite Mitarbeiter und viele interessante Infotafeln und Vorträge. Zur Zeit gibt es leider keine braunen Kiwis zu sehen, aber der weiße Kiwi ist auch absolut sehenswert!