Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre

Pukaha National Wildlife Centre is an unfenced sanctuary for native wildlife. Our 942-hectare forest is home to wild kokako and kaka, while inside our aviaries we breed endangered birds for release across Aotearoa New Zealand.

On your visit you will learn about our conservation work and possibly see birds with their chicks in the aviaries. You may also come across wild birds in the forest such as the titipounamu (rifleman), karearea (New Zealand falcon) and the kereru (wood pigeon). You may also see advocacy birds like Kahurangi the kokako. Refuel in the Kaka Caf?? with some fresh kai overlooking the takahe.

Pukaha (at Mount Bruce) has been breeding wildlife since the early 1960s and is a partnership between Rangitane o Wairarapa and the Department of Conservation. We are a non-profit and all proceeds go back into our conservation projects.

We hold the following daily talks, free with every entrance ticket:
11:00 am Reptiles and Forgotten Fauna
12:00 pm Kiwi
1:30 pm Longfin Eel
3:00 pm Kaka

Note that last entry is at 5:00pm (summer) and 3:30pm (winter). Access to the loop lookout track closes at 4:00pm (summer) & 2:30pm (winter).