NGA Manu is advertised as a nature reserve and opportunity to see nz bird and wild life up close. The area is beautiful with well graded and pathed bush walks through native forest. There are several pond areas and a large lawn for picnics.
The park aside, the actual bird and wildlife is very disappointing. Lots of ducks geese and pukekos running around. But the aviaries and cages are run down and contain only one sad looking bird each when we looked at the kea and kaka birds. There is a good nocturnal kiwi house and we saw two tuatara lizards peeking out from under rocks.
The kids had a good time running around and loved the eel feeding at 2 pm but overall at $18 per adult and $8 per child it was an expensive park to picnic in with only a couple of attractions. You can see more birds for free taking a walk around nearby estuaries. Real shame read more