Ngā Manu: Kāpiti Coast’s family-friendly nature reserve

This Kāpiti Coast nature reserve has a goal to preserve and enhance native forests so that their inhabitants can flourish.

Ngā Manu is a 14-hectare reserve and one of the largest remnants of coastal lowland swamp forest on the Kāpiti Coast. In the ancient and regenerating forest, you can see puketea, rimu, swamp maire and kahikatea, some of which are 400 years old.

Ngā Manu is ideal for families and children or school groups. The path that weaves through is easily accessible, mostly flat and can be completed in about 30 minutes.

A native Kiwi bird rustling amongst leaves and fern inside Ngā Manu Nature Reserve in Kāpiti Coast.

A group of teenagers and a staff member crouch down to look at a Kea unwrapping a box on a path in Ngā Mnau Nature Reserve, Kāpiti Coast.

An Adult and three children are visiting the Ngā Manu Nature Reserve in the Kāpiti Coast, New Zealand.

A pond inside Ngā Manu Nature Reserve, with ducks in it.

Visitors can take a self-guided tour or a free guided forest walk on weekends. There are also many tour options available, ranging from 30 to 90 minutes. On The Native Bird tour, you can get up close and personal with kākā, kakariki, kea, and whio. The Native Icons tour covers kiwi, tuatara, and tuna (eels). On The Ranger-guided tour, you’ll hear about Ngā Manu’s endangered species breeding programme. The Kiwi Night Encounter is an extended walk at dusk. You’ll learn about kiwi and Ngā Manu’s involvement in the captive programme, before entering the outdoor kiwi enclosure. From a covered observation area you can observe interactions and feeding behaviour of kiwi.

Since it opened to the public in 1981 Ngā Manu has partnered with the Department of Conservation (DOC) breed-for-release programmes. It has helped re-establish at-risk species of birds and reptiles in the wild. It has participated in breeding programmes for kiwi, whio, pateke/brown teal, kāka, orange-fronted, red-crowned, yellow-crowned and Antipodes Island parakeet, tuatara, and Whitaker’s skinks.

Ngā Manu also has a long history of involvement in the treatment and rehabilitation of native bird species. Its aim is to release as many birds as possible back into the wild.

Entry fees apply.

Two adults are with a child who is using a stick to feel eels in a point at the Ngā Manu Nature Reserve in the Kāpiti Coast.

Adrenalin Forest

Get among the treetops at Adrenalin Forest — an epic aerial obstacle course designed to challenge you physically and mentally.

A New Zealand fur seal sitting on a rocks surrounded by blue ocean.

Seal Coast Safari

Less than an hour from downtown Wellington you can be on the wild south coast viewing a colony of New Zealand fur seals.

A person wearing a blue helmet, orange lifejacket, is in mid-air, doing a cannonball jump from a tall rock into a stream. Three people watch from below, where they wait with two small red rafts.

Wellington Rafting

Jump in the deep end of a thrilling adventure with Wellington Rafting.

A family with a young child play with piglets on the grass at Staglands.

Staglands Wildlife Reserve

A wildlife reserve where people can interact with rare native species.

Inside the dining room of the Katherine Mansfield House on Tinakori Road. Blue walls are covered in decor from the 19th century, including a wall of china plates. The table is set with candleabra and pink china.

Katherine Mansfield House & Garden

Take a step into 19th-century colonial Wellington and the life of Katherine Mansfield. One of the world’s most acclaimed writers and proud Wellingtonian.

Two people sit in the grass with their bicycles lying nearby at Mount Victoria lookout in Wellington, New Zealand with a view of the city centre, the bay and rolling hills in the distance.

Trail and a treat: Outdoor combos in Wellington

The city’s hills, beaches, and trails offer much opportunity to experience nature. Fuel your adventure with a stop-off at one of the excellent eateries offers nearby.