Heartland Cottage

“What an absolutely wonderful experience! It is so clear the care and love these animals receive. The team at Heartland Cottage made my daughter and I feel very welcome, and Manawa was a simply wonderful host. We learned so much about these lovely creatures, fun facts and their individual stories, and were involved in feeding and patting, much to our delight. Strong family feel, and knowing that there are great disabled programs and learning opportunities shows the heart of the team. We will absolutely be back! (PS - We'd recommend gumboots, we were thankful for ours!)”

“We had the absolute best time here! A huge thank you to Marika for showing us around and making the experience so special. She was incredibly welcoming and knowledgeable, and it was clear how much care and love goes into looking after the animals. Getting to know them up close and having the chance to pet them was simply wonderful and something we won’t forget. The whole visit felt relaxed, personal, and truly enjoyable. We’re so glad we came and would absolutely recommend this experience to anyone looking for something unique and heartwarming! 😊”

“This is the best animal farm and affordable for the whole family. A special gem with kaimahi who are real kaitiaki to the animals. All the animals were so chill and well taken care of. You can feel the aroha the animals give off because of the aroha they receive from their human whānau. Loved learning the backstory of each animal, and the mission behind their kaupapa. A doable day trip from Wellington.”

“Heartland Cottage is a hidden gem at Foxton Beach. It’s a beautiful, safe place for neurodiverse people to learn and feel at home, while also doing amazing work caring for and rehabilitating animals. Visiting feels genuinely meaningful, not just like a regular outing. An incredible place that’s absolutely worth your time and I will 100 percent be returning. Also pram friendly.”