Pukaha Mount Bruce is a partnership between the National Wildlife Centre Trust, Rangitaane o Wairarapa and Department of Conservation located near Masterton in Wellington in New Zealand.
Masterton's Pukaha Mount Bruce's key role undertaken is the captive breeding of threatened wildlife undertaken at the National Wildlife Centre within the Pukaha Mount Bruce forest in Wellington region of New Zealand.
The Pukaha Mount Bruce partners are - with the support of the community - restoring the forest and returning wildlife no longer present.
Pukaha Mount Bruce also has a key function for conservation education and is also a tourist icon in the region of Wellington in New Zealand. Visitors are able to experience some of our rarest species that cannot be viewed anywhere else on mainland New Zealand.
The National Wildlife Centre
It is here that you will become knowledgeable about New Zealand?s unique conservation history. Interactive displays in the Visitor Centre are fascinating and fun for children and adults alike. Intriguing stories are told about Pukaha Mount Bruce and its vision, challenges and achievements via interpretation displays. The souvenir shop, offers a fabulous range of New Zealand-made gifts.
Café Takahe has a reputation with the locals for serving fresh, delicious and satisfying food. You will inhale the irresistible smell of warm baking and rich aroma of coffee when you first walk into this cosy café. Tasty light meals are tantalisingly affordable and are offered throughout the day.
Also due to high demand, Pukaha Mount Bruce is now opening its doors in the evening for people to experience the magic of this place when it is most alive with the sounds of the forest. Imagine dining to the background sounds of kaka booming in the night; kiwi calling to each other and kokako projecting their mournful call across the evening air.
Close Encounters - tuatara talk.
Find out about the intriguing history of New Zealand?s native tuatara. In this presentation, you will have an opportunity to get up close to New Zealand?s oldest living reptile and learn about how these incredible species have survived in New Zealand for several million years. ...
With favourable weather conditions you can have a close encounter with a tuatara at 12.15 pm during weekends and public holiday's from 1 October through to 30 April. Please accept our apologies if due to colder than expected temperatures the tuatara are inactive and unable to be handled or displayed.
Eyeball a wild kaka
Every day at 3pm these cheeky forest parrots will delight you with their antics. Hear about how kaka have been returned to the wild at Pukaha Mount Bruce after a 50 year absence and learn about the important role they have to play in the ongoing survival of the forest.
Candid pictures of this ?forest clown? are almost guaranteed so be sure to bring your camera.
The eel talk
You will be fascinated when you see monster eels feeding every day at 1.30pm and learn about their trip to Tonga to breed. You will be amazed when you hear about their intriguing life cycle and the way they evolve into monster eels from glass eels.
Walk through primeval forest.
A tranquil bush walks lead through the last remnant of the once magnificent "70 mile Bush". The ancient forest of rimu, rata and kamahi is a living reminder of what existed before much of the bush and wildlife were destroyed.
Take a guided tour
For an informative and entertaining experience, explore Pukaha Mount Bruce with one of our experienced guides. Be guided by a DOC Ranger through ancient lowland podocarp forest and learn about species recovery, the Pukaha forest restoration project and the cultural and spiritual significance of Pukaha Mount Bruce to the people of Rangitaane O Wairarapa.
Guided Tours are available on weekends and public holidays from 10.30am to 12pm and 2pm to 3.30pm. Tours are available at other times by arrangement.
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