With the feeders located next to the Rata track, close to the viewing tower and the aviary, visitors to the enclosure have the opportunity to get closer to this nationally endangered bird – it’s the first chance people have had to see hihi anywhere in the Waikato.

Pre-set dinner and guided walk $90 per person (min 4 people, max 10 people) 10% discount for Maungatautari members. Dress warmly with good walking shoes. Good fitness required. Headlamps supplied.

Available on Thursday and Sunday evenings - bookings essential call Lance or Mary at Out in the Styx Guesthouse (0800 461 559) to book your ‘Maungatautari by Night’ Guided Walk experience!

The North Island takahe is extinct. There are an estimated 230 South Island takahe left in the world - Maungatautari now has the only two breeding pairs of South Island takahe on the mainland North Island of New Zealand.

Maungatautari Trust staff and volunteers have extended the current 1.4m wide metalled service track from the base of Pukeatua peak to Maungatautari peak so that the all-weather track now runs the 7.4km from Tari Road to Maungatautari peak.

“The main role of the service track is to provide quad bike access for the pest eradication staff and volunteers so that they can reach their monitoring lines quickly and safely,” said Trust chief executive Jim Mylchreest.