1 / 3Staglands Wildlife Reserve & Café
📍 Akatarawa Valley, Wellington
A free-roaming wildlife reserve in Akatarawa Valley where kea, lorikeets, emus, peacocks, goats, deer, turtles, and farm animals actively approach visitors. River picnic areas, a school holiday Clue Hunt Challenge, and an on-site café.
Had a great day at Staglands and would absolutely recommend it. From the moment we arrived, the friendly man at the front counter made us feel welcome. We popped into the café and ordered the spicy beef nachos along with a coffee, and it was well worth it — great flavours, quick service, and very reasonably priced. Left very satisfied. The animals were an absolute hoot, with close encounters everywhere — too many to mention. The highlights were definitely the cheeky kea hopping onto your back and checking you for treats, and the rainbow lorikeet sitting on your shoulder like a long-lost mate, chatting away and whistling up a storm. Those moments alone made the visit memorable. The only lowlight was seeing a guy grab a peacock and try to swing it around. Thankfully, someone was quick to yell at him to put it down, which was good to see. Overall, it was a fantastic day out and well worth the trip
🏆 Family Action Verdict
Best for families with children aged two and up who want genuine animal interaction rather than behind-glass observation. The animals are tame and approach freely. Allow most of the day — the valley setting and range of species reward unhurried exploration rather than a quick loop.
ℹ️ What to Know Before You Go
💬 What Families Are Saying
View all reviews →2,173 Google reviews
morgan lynch
2 months ago
“Had a great day at Staglands and would absolutely recommend it. From the moment we arrived, the friendly man at the front counter made us feel welcome. We popped into the café and ordered the spicy beef nachos along with a coffee, and it was well worth it — great flavours, quick service, and very reasonably priced. Left very satisfied. The animals were an absolute hoot, with close encounters everywhere — too many to mention. The highlights were definitely the cheeky kea hopping onto your back and checking you for treats, and the rainbow lorikeet sitting on your shoulder like a long-lost mate, chatting away and whistling up a storm. Those moments alone made the visit memorable. The only lowlight was seeing a guy grab a peacock and try to swing it around. Thankfully, someone was quick to yell at him to put it down, which was good to see. Overall, it was a fantastic day out and well worth the trip”
Niki Koolen
a month ago
“This place is magical !! First time going since I was a child. My 15, 8 and 7 year old and friends children loved it. I think younger kids would love it even more. We spent hours there. The drive from Waikanae side a bit scary with most of the road one way but still made it an exciting drive. Animal experience was awesome. Kids loved feeding the animals and the closeness was amazing. Cafe very average though. No one liked there food unfortunately. Would reccomend taking a picnic lunch as so many cool spots to eat it and you could easily spend another hour down by the river eating and playing. We will be back next Summer”
Jessica Ramsay
2 months ago
“Great place to go for a day trip! We saw and feed heaps of animals which were all friendly and tame. This is a great experience for all ages. The reserve is a mix of a zoo, farm and wildlife reserve so you are able to see and interact with a range of animals. Our favourites were the goats, emus, cows, bunny, turtles, peacocks and the cape barren goose.”
Josh Chamberlain
a month ago
“Our two year daughter had the time of her life. Awesome Setup - beautiful walk amongst a lot of fantastic animals that were really engaged we will be looking to become regulars. What a fantastic place.”
Reviews from Google
Overview
Staglands Wildlife Reserve lets families walk among interactive animals on scenic valley paths — goats, emus, peacocks, turtles, lorikeets, and kea approach visitors throughout. A two-year-old visiting with family had, in their parent's words, the time of her life. River areas suit exploration; mature trees shade the picnic spots. A Clue Hunt Challenge runs during school holidays. Ponchos available if weather turns. On-site café. Fully pram accessible.
