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Wellington Explore New Zealand, Australia & Fiji!tune
Learn about conservation work at Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre and possibly see New Zealand’s best native inhabitants with their chicks in the aviaries.
Highlights
- Daily talks and feedings, free with every entrance ticket
- Possibly see kiwi, chicks and eggs in the nocturnal house and nursery (during breeding season)
- Explore the ngahere (forest)
- Great day out for the whole family!
- Onsite Kākā Café
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 ($)
- Per Adult$19.00
- Per Child$7.10
- Per Senior / Student$16.30
- Family Pass$51.90
- Infant Free of Charge
- Per Adult$19.00
- Per Child$7.10
- Per Senior / Student$16.30
- Family Pass$51.90
- Infant Free of Charge
- Per Adult$19.00
- Per Child$7.10
- Per Senior / Student$16.30
- Family Pass$51.90
- Infant Free of Charge
- Per Adult$19.00
- Per Child$7.10
- Per Senior / Student$16.30
- Family Pass$51.90
- Infant Free of Charge
- Per Adult$24.00
- Per Child$9.00
- Per Senior / Student$20.50
- Family Pass$65.00
- Infant Free of Charge
- Per Adult$24.00
- Per Child$9.00
- Per Senior / Student$20.50
- Family Pass$65.00
- Infant Free of Charge
- Per Adult$24.00
- Per Child$9.00
- Per Senior / Student$20.50
- Family Pass$65.00
- Infant Free of Charge
- Per Adult$19.00
- Per Child$7.10
- Per Senior / Student$16.30
- Family Pass$51.90
- Infant Free of Charge
- Per Adult$19.00
- Per Child$7.10
- Per Senior / Student$16.30
- Family Pass$51.90
- Infant Free of Charge
- Per Adult$19.00
- Per Child$7.10
- Per Senior / Student$16.30
- Family Pass$51.90
- Infant Free of Charge
- Per Adult$19.00
- Per Child$7.10
- Per Senior / Student$16.30
- Family Pass$51.90
- Infant Free of Charge
- Per Adult$24.00
- Per Child$9.00
- Per Senior / Student$20.50
- Family Pass$65.00
- Infant Free of Charge
- Per Adult$24.00
- Per Child$9.00
- Per Senior / Student$20.50
- Family Pass$65.00
- Infant Free of Charge
Authenticated Reviews & Photos All of our reviews are from people who have booked and paid for this activity thru Bookme
Showing all 69 authenticated Bookme reviews
mahontr from New Zealand wrote on 31 December 2024
Great day out at Pūkaha
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.
whiperz from New Zealand wrote on 20 October 2024
Magical spot
Hidden jem that has plenty to see and explore. Great information boards on the history and birds and great walk through out the facility. Highlight for my overseas visitor was seeing the kiwi egg and learning about the kiwi from the staff person. Cafe and shop on site
noamm from Israel wrote on 08 December 2024
Not worth it
Was really disappointing, we expected to see some birds and wildlife and could barely see one kiwi and a few more birds...
angelar18 from New Zealand wrote on 30 September 2024
Worth visiting
Great experience. Some enclosures looked a bit tired but didn't impact too much.
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brians from New Zealand wrote on 26 February 2025
EEEEEEEELLLLLLLLSSSSSS!
This was my first trip to Pukaha in *many* years. We had a great time. The "bush walks" were just the the thing for a hot summer day, and it was made all the better when I got to spy an ever elusive takahe. The highlight had to be the eel feeding though. Worth seeing!