1 / 3Wingspan National Bird of Prey Centre
📍 Ngongotahā, Bay of Plenty
Best for kids who like animals with a bit of drama. Wingspan flies native falcons and harriers in an open-air show, offers meet-and-greets with the birds, and every ticket supports a small conservation trust.
A world-class experience—we visited two days in a row! Wingspan is an absolute must-do in Rotorua. We were so blown away by our first visit that we went back the very next day! Watching the Kārearea (NZ Falcon) and the Kāhu (Harrier) in action during the flight show was breathtaking, but what truly stands out is the incredible skill, passion, and knowledge of the falconers. A massive highlight was the "Meet and Greet" with Star the Kārearea. Getting up close and personal was an unforgettable experience, and a huge thank you to Reba for sharing such deep insights—we left feeling rich with new knowledge. Beyond the falconry, it was wonderful to see the Ruru, Barn Owls, and the younger birds in training. The level of care and respect shown to these animals is second to none. It is clear that the team is doing vital conservation work, and we felt so proud to support them. If you are in Rotorua, please visit this place; you will leave with a massive appreciation for these beautiful birds of prey. We will definitely be back!
🏆 Family Action Verdict
Short, outdoors and utterly memorable: a falcon skimming over your head is the sort of thing kids talk about for weeks, and the presenters are brilliant with children's questions. Plan around the midday show, since the centre only opens for a couple of hours a day, and dress for the weather because it all happens outside. Good from preschool up.
ℹ️ What to Know Before You Go
💬 What Families Are Saying
View all reviews →296 Google reviews
Maria Durkin
“A world-class experience—we visited two days in a row! Wingspan is an absolute must-do in Rotorua. We were so blown away by our first visit that we went back the very next day! Watching the Kārearea (NZ Falcon) and the Kāhu (Harrier) in action during the flight show was breathtaking, but what truly stands out is the incredible skill, passion, and knowledge of the falconers. A massive highlight was the "Meet and Greet" with Star the Kārearea. Getting up close and personal was an unforgettable experience, and a huge thank you to Reba for sharing such deep insights—we left feeling rich with new knowledge. Beyond the falconry, it was wonderful to see the Ruru, Barn Owls, and the younger birds in training. The level of care and respect shown to these animals is second to none. It is clear that the team is doing vital conservation work, and we felt so proud to support them. If you are in Rotorua, please visit this place; you will leave with a massive appreciation for these beautiful birds of prey. We will definitely be back!”
Taranga Kent
“The Flight of the Falcon demonstration was the highlight of my trip to Rotorua, and the meet and greet is well worth the extra money. Presenters were engaging and knowledgeable, and do amazing work in the care and conservation of these species (unfunded, I might add, so please support their amazing work by going there!). Wingspan are doing a great job in ensuring that these magnificent manu are going to be around for a long time to come for us all to enjoy. You don’t even have to be a bird lover to appreciate this experience. I highly recommend making this a priority for anyone visiting Rotorua.”
Sophia Davis
“this was such a great learning experience. the birds were awesome to see and learn about how the trust is looking after them. i always love learning more about conservation and how we can help native nz animals. the bird are amazing creatures and the staff are so knowledgeable you can tell they really know their stuff and care about the birds!”
Andy Mac (Endemic2NZ)
“Thanks Ineke, Shannon and Riba. What a visit. First timer but will sure be back. Even more raptuos thanks to Arie and Star... the real stars for the show. Also really recommend the behind the scenes tour and not only getting closer to Star in this case .. but learning even more on these Raptors!”
Reviews from Google
Overview
Wingspan is a conservation trust for New Zealand birds of prey, off Paradise Valley Road in Ngongotahā across from Velocity Valley. The daily Flight of the Falcon show, held around midday, puts a kārearea (New Zealand falcon) and other raptors into the air right over the audience while the falconers explain how the birds hunt and why they are threatened. Meet-and-greet and behind-the-scenes add-ons get you closer still. It is small, personal and outdoors, open Tuesday to Sunday for a few hours.
