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The tower in the southern enclosure

Due to maintenance the 16 metre tower in the southern enclosure closure has been extended to Saturday, 31 October. We apologise for any inconvenience.

There are many ways you can experience our sanctuary: from daytime guided tours of either an ancient forest with its meandering pathways or of the Tautari wetland with the endangered species the takahe and tuatara, through to a dusk to dark experience where you may have the opportunity to listen for kiwi calling and marvel at a curtain of glow worms lit up under a night sky.

As a charitable trust every cent we make goes straight back into the conservation work we do. By visiting us you are directly helping to restore, protect and sustain a New Zealand eco-system and all of its inhabitants. As we are a mountain environment please ensure you have adequate warm clothing and comfortable walking shoes. We have refreshments available for purchase at the visitor centre located near the southern enclosure, Tari Road, Pukeatua.

Some Important Information

All daytime guided tours are subject to availability – booking is essential.

Our regular tours also have limited numbers, this is to ensure visitors receive personal attention and have the opportunity to ask questions. If you have special interests or would like to book a tour for a large group (15 people or more), we can arrange a customised guided tour to meet your needs.

Night tours are not run on a regular basis and are listed when available. If you would like to request a tour booking for a date not listed send us an email or call the visitor centre on 07 870 5180 to make an enquiry.

As a charitable trust every cent we make goes straight back into the conservation work we do. By visiting us you are directly helping to restore, protect and sustain a New Zealand eco-system and all of its inhabitants.

If you miss out on one of our limited kiwi health check spaces, you may want to join our waiting list - please send us an email if you'd like to be notified about future kiwi health checks as they become available and get first option to book your space.

For all trade enquiries please email your booking enquiry or request.

Please note all children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult when visiting Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari.

As we are a wildlife sanctuary there is no guarantee on what flora and fauna you will see on your visit, any photos shown are indicative only.

Before leaving home please note:

Dogs are not permitted anywhere on Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari unless they are certified predator/species tracking dogs or disability assist dogs which are muzzled.

Bikes are not permitted on the mountain tracks.

You will be entering a biosecurity controlled area:

Check that you are not taking any risk material into the area e.g. live mice or other animals, fruit or seeds
Double gates are there for security reasons; do not risk any inadvertent entries or escapes through inappropriate use
All wildlife are protected and must not be disturbed
Anything you take into the area must be taken out again (this includes any rubbish you create during your visit)
Keep to the paths and follow signs as directed

Pest control operations may be in progress at any time:

Keep well away from any baits

Do not interfere with coloured ribbon markers

Do not touch or interfere with traps or tracking tunnels

Supervise children at all times

All species are living in a wild and natural environment:

They are free to come and go as they wish
We cannot guarantee what you may or may not see
Please respect their home and move quietly for optimal chances of seeing them

Peanut butter is used as a predator bait please beware if you or any children under your supervision have peanut allergies.

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Visitor Centre Information

Manu Tioriori, the Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari visitor centre, is accessed from the carpark at the top of Tari Road, Pukeatua. Here you will find toilet facilities, informative displays and information about guided tours and events at Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari. You can also purchase refreshments and souvenirs, with all proceeds going towards conservation projects on the mountain.

Manu Tioriori visitor centre is open from 9.00am to 4:00pm daily. Closed 25th December.

The southern enclosure (Te Tūī a Tāne) is only accessible during Manu Tioriori visitor centre opening hours. The Tautari wetlands and tuatarium are only accessible to the public on a guided tour.

Wairere Traverse (Over the Mountain track) – is accessible at any time of the day however for safety of the public and of our flora and fauna we do not recommend visiting after dark. You will need to return to Tari Road as accessing the northern enclosure from Hicks Road is not possible at this time.

The northern enclosure located at Hicks Road is NOT able to be accessed by public. There are access issues between the private landowners and Waipa District Council.

Until the issues are resolved, Council advise all visitors to use the Tari Road entrance. If you are using Wairere Traverse you will need to return to Tari Road for access off the Mountain.

Council is disappointed at this situation and is working hard to restore public access as soon as possible. Thank you for your patience.

For enquiries, please contact the Council at 0800 924 723.

For Frequently Asked Questions follow this link to our FAQ sheet

Admission Prices

Please see Visit Us Booking menu for guided tour .

We charge a facilities fee for entry to the Southern Enclosure (Te Tui a Tane). No fee is charged for entry to the land owned by the Maungatautari 4G IV block, where no entry to the Reserve is intended. The fee helps us maintain facilities in and around the Southern Enclosure including the visitor centre, viewing tower, tracks, toilets and signage, as well as supporting our conservation work.

Standard Rates for access to Southern Enclosure:

Adult 17 yrs and over: $25.00
Child 5 - 16 yrs: $12.00
Senior / student with ID: $20.00 (A valid NZ SuperGold card, a NZ student ID or Community Services Card is required)
Family: 2 adults and up to 3 children 5-16 yrs: $56.00
Additional child: $12.00

Ask us about our locals rates for Waikato residents.