Just 25 minutes drive west of Wanganui lies one of the region's hidden treasures – Bushy Park Sanctuary - a 245 acre remnant of some of New Zealands's finest lowland  native rain forest. 

Bequeathed to Forest & Bird by the late GF Moore in 1962, Bush Park has been diligently cared for by a local Trust.  In the last nine years a rigorous predator eradication programme has rid the foest of all pests – stoats, ferrets, weasels, possums, feral cats, hedgehogs, rats and even mice. 

The culmination of this work was the completion of a 4.8km Xcluder Pest Proof Fence at the cost of $830,000 around the entire Park.  This ensures that no predator will re-invade what is now a pest-free sanctuary since mid 2005.

Today a healthy, regenerated forest is home to a growing number of native birds including, the very rare and beautiful Saddleback (Tieke), Kiwi, Bush Robin, Native Pigeon (Kereru), Morepork, Tui, Bellbird, NZ Falcon, Tomtit and others.

Bushy Park Sanctuary is playing a pivotal role in the saving of our national bird the Kiwi.
 
One can wander among the forest giants over 800 years old and listen to and see birds so rare that most New Zealanders have never seen or heard of them.

Great News...The Xcluder Fence is now complete
The forest includes a number of giant trees, among them 'Ratanui', NZ's largest northern Rata.
Well formed tracks provide visitors with easy access to the bush and birds.