Come to the sanctuary and learn!

From $11.50 per student | 60 guests

We plan our conservation education programme in collaboration with teachers to meet local curriculum needs.

Curriculum links: Science, Local Curriculum, Social Sciences, Health and Physical Education
Suitable for: Pre-school to tertiary
Minimum number of students: 15 (minimum charge is for 15 paying students, groups smaller than 15 can be accommodated)
Maximum number of students: 2 classes (60 students) per session, with the ability to facilitate 2 sessions per day
Approximate Duration: Between 2 and 4 hours
Cost of Teachers and Teacher Aides: Free
Cost for Parent Helpers: $11.50

Our educators are happy to work alongside you to create an experience that meets the needs of your learners. This experience could include, but is not limited to, any of the following:

The key conservation challenges facing New Zealand's wildlife and the technologies Sanctuary Mountain is using to protect them.
Encountering rare and endangered New Zealand species in their natural forest habitat. Examples include pitoitoi/North Island robins, kaka, tui, korimako/bellbirds, hihi, tieke/saddlebacks, piwakawaka/fantails, popokotea/whiteheads, kereru and weta.
Visiting the Tautari wetland and potentially seeing takahe and tuatara while learning about the importance of this habitat.
Building on knowledge about New Zealand's unique biodiversity, the adaptations of our flora, fauna and fungi and the interconnectedness of ecosystems.
Learning about how native species as well as introduced pests are monitored and managed in a sanctuary environment. Some hands-on activities include interpreting tracking tunnels and reading bird bands.
Discovering the rich history of a community-led conservation project that is New Zealand's largest fenced sanctuary.
Matauranga Maori and the significance of the maunga for Mana Whenua.
Identifying how to take action to help care for our native species and environments that are also important for our own wellbeing.

We were a group of 8, Sue was our guide. Would so recommend having Sue to guide. We would not have noticed or learnt anything by ourselves, noticed birds and plants with understanding the importance of sanctuary. Will be bringing the grandies next.

Helen Bingham

← 1 / 10 →

The team are still absolutely buzzing about their time at Maungatautari! We all learnt SO much — about Rongoa, about the forest and how different plants can heal our ailments — but also how the forest as a whole can heal our inner-selves too. Everybody took something of great value...

Huka Honey Hive, Taupo

← 2 / 10 →

I wanted to email you and tell you how literally amazing our day was and that we were absolutely blown away by the whole experience. You and your team are fantastic. All of the parents who attended raved about the whole day.

Ohaupo School

← 3 / 10 →

A truly spectacular day for me thank you, and trust me I've done some really cool things before but this was right up there. The passion, the pride, the service beyond self and the truly intergenerational and transformational work you and the team have done and are doing is inspirational...

Simon

← 4 / 10 →

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! Because one THANK YOU is not enough! We felt very honoured and privileged to witness the health check and transfer process of two kiwi yesterday. To be so close to our iconic bird was very surreal for many of our team. Many photos were taken and I'm sure...

Nicola Greenwell

← 5 / 10 →

I'm honestly still smiling after my afternoon on the maunga yesterday, so I had to write and thank you SO MUCH. The team is doing extraordinary work with the whole sanctuary, and to see the kiwi team, volunteers, dogs, it was absolutely amazing. It was very moving to see the kiwi close up....

Katy Scoullar

← 6 / 10 →

I've hiked many, many forests around New Zealand, but this one hits differently. You just know you're in as native of an NZ forest as it can get, thanks to the predator-proof fence that takes a lot of work and money to maintain. The forest is alive with the beautiful songs of many...

Meggie Tran

← 7 / 10 →

A beautiful and peaceful place.

Tony Nicholls

← 8 / 10 →

My wife and I live in Miami and visited Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari during a trip to New Zealand a month ago. Our guide was Jenny. We were very impressed with her sincerity as well as your organization and the success of your work.

Anonymous, Miami, USA

← 9 / 10 →

If you want to see New Zealand's nocturnal animals, go here. Of course, there are day tours as well as night tours. I went on a night tour and it was great. I was happy to see glow worms, go up to the observatory, and see many stars in the night sky! This is not a zoo, but a conservation...