Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre is an unfenced sanctuary for native wildlife. Our 942 hectare forest is home to wild kōkako and kākā, while inside our aviaries we breed endangered birds for release across Aotearoa New Zealand. Pūkaha (at Mount Bruce) h...

Products and specialities

national wildlife centre
adults- $20
children- $6
Entice Too cafe
guided talks & tours
Kiwi house
eel feeding
70 mile bush

Hours

  • Mon -
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  • HolidaysClosed
Reviews

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To be able to see some of New Zealand’s wildlife up close and learn about our wildlife, flora and fauna from the amazing interactive displays.

I loved visiting Mount Bruce as a kid and I think I love it even more now! Seeing the Kiwi up close is a real treat and something everyone should do at least once if you live in New Zealand. I can't wait to visit again soon!

Celebrating spring and as a fundraiser, the wildlife centre holds the Wairarapa Garden Tour which includes entry to see real live Kiwi and other native birds and animals as well as entry to 18 of Wairarapa’s most spectacular gardens. Some are private gardens that you wouldn’t see otherwise. It’s also Kaka month there, the inquisitive birds start hanging around the deck of the cafe and at 3pm everyday, you can watch them being fed.

This a great place for kids who love nature and native species like the kiwi. As well as walking tours, and interactive displays, there special kids activities that are fun as well as informative. Native eels, bird sanctuary and kiwi feature as well as Manukura, the rare white kiwi. There’s also a great cafe to take a break in.

A great outing for everyone, Pukaha Mount Bruce is a spectacular wildlife reserve and home to the world’s only little white kiwi in captivity, Manukura. It’s great for kids as this Easter, from Good Friday to Easter Monday (18 – 21 April) there are special egg-related activities happening. Come along and see if you can tell a kaka egg from a hihi egg, run in the Henergy egg & spoon race and help find the golden moa egg hidden in the park to get a prize. In the reserve, there are tuatara, longfin eels and endangered New Zealand birds including the North Island Brown Kiwi, North Island Kokako and Takahe. There are also daily talks and feedings to learn all about these native creatures, and guided and self-guided tours. The adjoining cafe also makes great coffee if you need a pick-me up before going on one of the two hour bushwalks.