Walking and Hiking trails at the Sanctuary

We offer a host of different visitor experiences that vary by time, distance and fitness level.

Walking and Hiking Trails

We have so much for you to experience and can't wait to see you!

We love having you visit, and we entrust you to keep the sanctuary in it's pristine condition - help us out by adhering to the following protocols...

Environmental care code

Protect plants and animals.
Please do not feed the animals.
Leave only footprint and take any rubbish with you to dispose of after you leave.
Keep to the tracks, no animal (big or tiny) wants to have their home trampled on.
Enjoy your visit and toitu te whenua (leave the land undisturbed).
No dogs (please contact us if you have an assistance dog).
No bikes are permitted.
No smoking or vaping.
Use the toilets provided.

Biosecurity

Before you go through any of the double gates which protect the forest from pests, please:

Check - your gear for introduced pests such as rodents, skinks or insects.
Clean - your footwear and gear, removing soil and seeds.
Close - ensure your gear is zipped up and food is in a sealed container to avoid attracting rodents or insects.

Southern Enclosure

Our southern enclosure (called Te Tui a Tane) is the best place to come to get the full sanctuary experience. Here you can purchase a pass for a self-guided walk or a fully guided experience.

Tautari Wetland

Come and see the home of the tuatara and experience the joy of the takahe on a guided walk through our wetlands.

Over The Mountain

The Wairere Traverse (Over The Mountain) Track takes approximately 5 hours to complete, north-to-south. Donations are greatly appreciated to help cover the $5000 per day it costs to run the sanctuary.

Northern Enclosure

The northern enclosure is located at Hicks Road. There is a 1.5km uphill walk to get to the entrance. Donations are greatly appreciated to help cover the $5000 per day it costs to run the sanctuary.

FAQs

Interested in our Education Programme? Questions about lunch options? Find out the answers to the most frequently asked questions!

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...