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There's plenty to see and do at the estuary.
The estuary walkway provides beautiful views, and there are signs along the way providing information about some of the birds you might see.
There is a lot of interesting wildlife at the estuary. As well as birds, the estuary is also home to some interesting plants and is an important habitat for native fish.
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The Manawatū Estuary Trust enjoys giving people the opportunity to learn more about this amazing environ
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About the estuary
The Manawatū Estuary is a very special place in Aotearoa New Zealand.
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So special in fact, that it has been designated as a
Wetland of International Importance (a Ramsar site), one of only seven in Aotearoa New Zealand.
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Bar-tailed Godwits feeding at the Estuary
The importance of the area lies partly in its role as permanent or temporary home to 23 threatened species: thirteen species of bird, six species of fish, and four species of plants.
The estuary is an important habitat for migratory native fish living upriver, as many Aotearoa New Zealand species need to go to sea at some point in their life cycle. The mudflats serve as a feeding ground for many migratory birds each year. A very high diversity of birds and fish is supported by these waters; 95 species of birds have been recorded here, meaning the estuary holds one of the greatest diversities of bird species in the country.
As the largest (over 200 ha) and most significant estuary in the southern half of the North Island, the Manawatū Estuary offers important habitat for many different wildlife species, including the migratory Bar-tailed Godwit, which flies all the way from Alaska to spend our summer here before returning to the Arctic for the northern summer to breed.
The Land Air Water Aotearoa website (LAWA) has some more interesting information about estuaries, including what can be found at the Manawatū Estuary.