The Pukaha Mount Bruce National Wildlife Centre is a captive-breeding sanctuary for some of  the country’s most threatened birds. Located in a pocket of ancient forest 30 kilometres north of Masterton, in the lower North Island, Mount Bruce is a highly educational experience. It’s also great fun.

Enjoy the antics of kaka (bush parrots) at the feed stations. Talk to a takahe — a large, bright blue, flightless bird that likes to eat grass.  Watch for the monster eels and brown trout that live under the bridge. And follow the forest trails to look for saddlebacks, stitchbirds and kokako.

The park also includes a kiwi house and a wetlands area.  Professional conservation staff are on hand to answer your questions and talk about the breeding programme that’s helping to preserve some of New Zealand’s rarest native birds and animals. The visitor education centre has displays, an audio visual room and a café.