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Staglands wildlife reserve

TYPE OF ACTIVITY:
Wildlife reserve

LOCATION:
2362 Akatarawa Road

you don’t just visit staglands to simply look at the animals.
Get up close and personal with some of the friendliest animals in Wellington!

Staglands is the perfect spot to introduce the kids to some of New Zealand’s quirky native creatures or meet farmyard favourites.

From a very friendly, very fluffy merino ram to characterful kunekune pigs, whose name translates to the apt description ‘fat and round’, these animals are used to interacting with visitors and happy to be patted or fed with the special food you can buy at the entrance. And depending on the time of year, you might even be lucky enough to meet some rather cute lambs, piglets, calves and ducklings.

Fire up one of the free barbeques and cook up some lunch or visit their onsite cafe for homemade treats and light lunches.

Retreat into the quiet of the bush, stroll to the trout pond and watch as the eager fish fight over their dinner at feeding time. A walk through the aviaries will find you surrounded by twittering native and exotic birds, or head to the stables and cuddle up with guinea pigs and rabbits. At the deer park, it’s not just deer but inquisitive emus, turkeys, peacocks and not-so-shy goats who’ll be competing for your attention.

Cross the swing bridge over the Akatarawa River to the recreation of a ramshackle pioneer village, complete with an old jailhouse that makes for some excellent photo ops. And after some turtle spotting in the pond, loop back to the Secret Garden, a magical Alice In Wonderland-esque spot where bantams, rabbits and pigeons will reward your patience and quiet by coming over for a feed.

 Where to find Staglands