Punanga Manu o Te Anau is a small lakeside bird sanctuary where visitors can meet some of Fiordland’s distinctive native wildlife in peaceful, family-friendly surroundings. Set beside Lake Te Anau, the sanctuary is only a short drive or an easy lakeside walk from the town’s Department of Conservation visitor centre. The resident takahē are the sanctuary’s best-known inhabitants. These large, flightless birds are closely connected with Fiordland, having been rediscovered in the nearby Murchison Mountains in 1948. The sanctuary has supported the Takahē Recovery Programme by caring for breeding pairs and helping raise young birds for release into protected habitats. Species present at the sanctuary can change as conservation programmes and animal-care requirements evolve. Use formed paths, follow any dog or cycling restrictions and check local notices if facilities, tracks or gates are important to your visit.