The Reserve

We are open from 10am to 5pm daily. Click here for pricing information

The 14 hectare Ngā Manu Reserve comprises a mosaic of habitats including the largest remnant of lowland swamp forest remaining on the Kāpiti Coast, ponds, wetlands, open lawn areas, walk-through aviaries, reptile enclosures, and a nocturnal house for kiwi. The swamp forest walk is typified by swamp maire, pukatea, kohekohe, and several breath-taking 400 year old kahikatea. What the forest lacks in terms of rarer bird species is more than compensated for by the abundance of tui, kereru and fantail and associated birdsong.

Ngā Manu volunteers offer free guided forest walks at 2:15pm every weekend which are a great introduction to the unique values of our environment. The site is predominantly flat and very accessible with picnic tables, seats and a barbecue facility dotted throughout the Reserve. For many children the lasting memory of a trip to Ngā Manu will be the greeting they received from our ducks and pukeko as they exit the Visitor Centre – there are $2 bags of duck food available at the counter. Equally memorable for many will be the experience of feeding the eels during the daily public talk ( https://ngamanu.org.nz/eel-feeding/). Purchase a feeding token for $2.50 from our counter. Although Ngā Manu is not served by any direct bus link, the Kāpiti cycle-way supplies an access point near-by for those who are travelling by bike. There is a small selection of drinks, snacks and ice creams for sale at our Visitor Centre.

DWELLBEINGS is a forest trail of eight sculptures (abstracted dwellings) created by artists Kemi & Niko that invite participants to consider the implications of home and habitat from the perspective of the native animals and plants iconic to Ngā Manu Nature Reserve. If you wish to discover the Dwellbeings at Ngā Manu you can collect a map from our Information Centre that contains the clues that will help you seek them out. Or you can download a map here to display on your smart phone.