Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre
85379 State Highway 2, Mount Bruce, Manawatu-Wanganui, 5881
The Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre is a 2,327-acre (942-hectare) native bird breeding sanctuary on Mt. Bruce. Many rare New Zealand birds are hatched here and prepared for release into the wild across the country. Visitors can join a guided tour, take walks through the forest, check out the kiwi nursery and free-flight aviary, and see traditional carvers at work.
The basics
The Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre proudly declares that it is not a petting zoo: Visitors won’t be able to pose with kiwis or pet any takahes here, as it’s a place of conservation. However, they will be able to learn more about bird and wildlife conservation in New Zealand while seeing lots of interesting things.
In addition to ranger-led tours and self-directed walks and tramps (that’s hikes in New Zealand English) in the bush, visitors can see the eels being fed, encounter a giant weta in the forest, and meet the only kokako in captivity in the world, a beautiful bird named Kahurangi. Travelers typically visit independently.
Things to know before you go
The front desk has a mobility scooter and stroller available for borrowing. However, the Loop Track is not suitable for wheelchair users.
The onsite Kākā Café serves a range of snacks and meals.
Entry tickets are required; there are separate prices for adults and kids. Residents of Tararua or Wairarapa (from Norsewood to Featherston) get a 50 percent discount.
How to get there
The easiest way to reach the center is by private car. It’s just off State Highway 2, 6 miles (10 kilometers) south of Eketāhuna, 18.5 miles (30 kilometers) north of Masterton, and 80 miles (130 kilometers) from Wellington, which is about a 2-hour drive. There are also buses between Wellington and Masterton.
When to get there
The center is open daily from morning until early evening, with slightly extended hours during daylight savings (the last Sunday in September until the first Sunday in April). The cafe closes about an hour before the center. Night tours are also available with advanced booking; timings vary with the seasons.
A successful breeding program
The main goal of the Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre is to reestablish populations of native birds across New Zealand. To do this, the center actively breeds captive birds—with great success. Dozens of tuturuatu (shore plover), whio (blue ducks), kaka, kiwi, pāteke (brown teal), kakariki, and kokako have been bred and resettled so far. There’s a good chance you’ll come across some of Pūkaha’s alumni while traveling in other parts of New Zealand, too.
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