1 / 3Nga Manu Nature Reserve
📍 Waikanae, Wellington
Nga Manu Nature Reserve protects wetland and native forest on the Kāpiti Coast, with kiwi, tuatara, kea, kākā and longfin eels among the resident species. Volunteer guides run feeding sessions and bush walks. Picnic facilities inside the grounds.
First class nature reserve staffed by knowledgeable folks. Visited on a gloomy, damp day as we were passing through. A great combination of walking through the forest, a brilliant lookout hide and some specimen birds including Kaka, Kea and we even managed to see a Kiwi. Then we got to feed the eels! Great place, highly recommended!
🏆 Family Action Verdict
The eel feeding draws genuine reactions from children — close contact with large native wildlife that no city zoo replicates. Volunteer guides know every creature by name and adjust their commentary for the age of the group. The nocturnal kiwi house is a highlight for all ages. Best for families with children from age 3 upward.
ℹ️ What to Know Before You Go
💬 What Families Are Saying
View all reviews →818 Google reviews
John P
4 months ago
“First class nature reserve staffed by knowledgeable folks. Visited on a gloomy, damp day as we were passing through. A great combination of walking through the forest, a brilliant lookout hide and some specimen birds including Kaka, Kea and we even managed to see a Kiwi. Then we got to feed the eels! Great place, highly recommended!”
Anita Edwards
5 months ago
“Such a lovely day out, so many interesting birds and knowledgeable friendly volunteers. Great place to take a picnic and spend a few hours. Feeding time with the eels is fascinating. I loved feeding the ducks and the sweet ducklings, the gecko and spending time in with the chatty kea!”
Swantje Voß
3 months ago
“We visited the park during the day, where we had the chance to feed some ducks and have a close encounter with some native birds. We really loved the encounter with the young Kea, who was eager to destroy things. The walk through the native bush is also really beautiful. For the night we had booked the kiwi night encounter tour. That was also super interesting, we learned a lot about kiwis and their history in New Zealand. The volunteers who gave the tour were lovely. We had the chance to watch the kiwis eat, stroll around in their enclosure and interact with one another, which was a very unique experience. We were also lucky enough to see them up really close. The only „negative“ thing I want to note, is that the enclosures of the birds are to small.”
Iain Laslett
a month ago
“A charitable none profit organisation. One of the best are the amount of bird songs you hear having just parked up and walk to the main entrance. The Reserve boarders natural Wetlands and shows how this part of New Zealand was prior to extensive human occupation. Lots to see and a nice bush 30 minutes walk.”
Reviews from Google
Overview
Nga Manu is a charitable reserve bordering natural wetlands at Waikanae, where a native bird soundscape greets visitors from the car park. Volunteer guides lead bush walks and feeding sessions — longfin eels draw close attention, and kea are known to investigate visitors directly. A nocturnal kiwi house allows daytime encounters. Kākā, kea and tūī are among the regularly sighted species. A 30-minute bush walk circuit runs through the reserve. Picnic facilities are inside the grounds.
