STAGLANDS

By Stephanie Harrod

Introducing…Staglands Wildlife reserve & cafe!

2362 Akatarawa Road, Akatarawa Valley, Upper Hutt 5372

Located only 1.5 hours from Palmerston North - this is the perfect day trip for the whole family. But before I move on to all of the great things about Staglands, I will add a small disclaimer here: the road that Staglands is on (Akatarawa Road) is not for the faint of heart (I may or may not have shed a tear or two on the road). It’s windy, and narrow, suitable for confident (and competent) drivers only.

Alright, moving on - road aside, Staglands is a MUST visit. It is nestled in the scenic Akatarawa Valley and has so much to offer. Their tagline is “connect with nature” and it definitely delivers. It’s reasonably priced, and Three & under are free! Majority of the reserve is pram friendly and accessible, except for one steep hill aka “Staglands Lookout” that is by foot only, however climbing to the top is optional.

The toilet facilities are at the entrance, including a change area for little ones so utilise this before setting off on your adventure (but never fear you can head back to the toilets at any stage). If you are feeling like you need a break, there is a fully licensed, reasonably priced cafe on site with a decent selection or you can pack your own food and drink and sit in the large open dining area that has both indoor and outdoor seating options.

There is so much to explore. From wetlands, barnyard animals, a trout pool, to a little red train for the kids to climb in and play on. There is a recreation of an old bush settlement which gives insight into the life led by pioneers during early settlement and is an interactive area. Not far from here, there is also an open area where you can access the river, for a little play or to throw rocks. Although they were a bit elusive the day we visited, apparently there are slider turtles that spend sunny days sunbathing down here too. We did see a few ducks and swans down there though. If you are visiting on the weekend, school holidays or public holidays they offer fun tractor trailer rides at certain times (weather permitting). Depending on the time of year you go, you may see some adorable baby animals too - when we visited there were adorable kunekune piglets, and a cheeky kid goat. In a few areas there are free range animals too, so be prepared for them to come up and say hi!

I hope you enjoy your visit to Staglands Wildlife reserve as much as we did!