Waimate’s
wallabies
One of the most popular things to do in Waimate is hand-feed the wallabies at EnkleDooVery Korna with Gwen.
While wallabies have become closely associated with Waimate, they aren’t native to New Zealand, and in the wild they are considered a pest.
But, you can still hand-feed them here and check some out at Victoria Park too.
Hand feed orphan wallabies at EnkleDooVery Korna
You’ll get a generous bag of wallaby feed and as much time as you like with the animals. Gwen ‘the wallaby lady’ who runs the farm is lots of fun and will show you how to approach them and make the most of your visit.
There are a few other characters on the property too, including a talking cockatiel and rare breed Finlayson sheep.
Don’t leave without a look inside the historic trapper’s hut, packed with quirky memorabilia.
Address: 71 Bathgate Road, Waimate 7980
Phone: 03 689 7197
Winter hours (11 June - 19 September): 10am to 4pm, seven days a week.EFTPOS available. Group bookings by appointment.
EnkleDooVery Korna Wallaby Park
A five-minute walk from the centre of Waimate.
Victoria Park is home to wallabies and other animals in enclosures.
Visit the wallabies, enjoy the playground and aviary, play a round on the nine-hole disc golf course, or stop for a picnic. The park also has sporting facilities and a family-friendly campground.
Dogs allowed on leash, excluding play/sport areas
Address: Tennant Street, Waimate
Victoria Park
Tipu Mātoro National Wallaby Eradication Programme
While wallabies in the might look cute - they aren’t native to Aotearoa New Zealand and are causing big problems here.
They eat young native plants, preventing the bush from regenerating and destroying habitat for native species.
On farms, they eat large amounts of pasture that would otherwise feed stock.