Just over two hours southwest of London and 40 minutes from Southampton, you should spend a weekend exploring the attractions around the New Forest National Park area. It’s packed with attractions and walks in this nature-rich area.
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Contents
Bournemouth Oceanarium
The Oceanarium is an excellent destination for children of all ages. It is on the Bournemouth waterfront opposite the Pier.
Otters, Sharks, Penguins and fish from all over the world call this place home.
There are numerous viewing areas for most of the tanks, including the one featuring sharks, fish, stingrays, and turtles. Downstairs, you can go through the tunnel to see these animals close up.
Feeding time is the best time to visit, as you cannot only learn about all the creatures in the tank but also observe their activity.
The Penguin enclosure is another place to get close to these cute little animals. You can view them swimming on top of the water, and have a viewing area downstairs to watch them fly through the water. You can also enjoy a snack in the Cafe and have them come up to you, separated only by a glass.
You get all the usual fish and tidal pools, and it’s an excellent place for education as you see so many aspects of sea life, including The Abyss, the darkest part of the ocean.
Hours
We are open 364 days a year (closed on Christmas Day)
- Summer period: (From the beginning of February half term – October end of half term) 10 am – 6 pm (Last entry 5 pm)
- Winter period: (From the end of October half term – beginning of February half term) 10 am – 5 pm (Last entry 4 pm)
Prices
Click here to check out their prices and book online.
Book online to guarantee a visit on the day you want.
New Forest Wildlife Zoo
The New Forest Wildlife Zoo may be small in area, but it makes up for this with its rich animal diversity and is a great place to spend the afternoon on a weekend.
With many types of otters here, you always find these cute animals running about and swimming.
A new addition in 2019 is the Butterfly House, where not only butterflies flutter by, but all the stages of the butterfly’s life are represented.
You can walk through an area where Deer roam and see Bison, Grey Wolves, Red Foxes, Pine Martens, and Scottish Wildcats, among other animals.
Once again, talks and feeding times are the best times to see the animals up close and more active.
There are numerous playgrounds for the kids scattered throughout the park, as well as places to eat or enjoy a picnic.
Hours
Check out their website here to see the seasonal hours and changes in their opening.
Prices
Click here to view prices and book online.
Liberty Owl, Raptor and Reptile Centre
Another great educational wildlife park is the Liberty Owl, Raptor, and Reptile Centre, which is excellent for both kids and adults.
In another small park, you can find a variety of birds of prey, along with informative talks. The shows and talks last at least half an hour and are very educational. In Reptile Talk, you get to see reptiles up close, with handlers walking through the group to show them off.
You can have a Falconry Experience where you get up close with the birds, taking food from your hand. This option is only open to those over 16, though.
The bird show is well worth the visit. Owls, falcons and Alaskan Bald Eagles fly over your head as they go from handler to post around the field.
From not hearing the Owl flying over to feeling the power of the Alaskan Bald Eagle, it truly is a great experience, especially as you are so close.
If you like birds, this is the place to be. You get to learn a lot about birds and reptiles in a short amount of time.
This is an outdoor centre, so be prepared for the weather. The outdoor show times are 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. and are subject to change.
Hours
1st March – 31st October
- Open Daily
April – September
- Open Daily, 10 am – 5 pm, with the last admission at 4 pm.
1st November – 28th February
- Weekends and February Half Term Only.
October – March
- 10 am – 4 pm, with the last admission at 3 pm
Closed for the last two weeks of December and the first two weeks of January.
Prices
Click here for prices when you visit.
No online booking is required, but if the car park is full, the centre will also be complete.
No dogs are permitted inside the centre – limited dog kennel facilities are available.
New Forest National Park
Driving through the New Forest National Park, you must keep to the speed limit of 40mph. Ponies and Deer are the big wildlife that call this place home, and the roads are included in their roaming.
There are many car parks along the road where you can stop and walk through the woods and across the hills.
Cycling is also a popular pastime in this area, with many cyclists using the roads, back roads, and tracks.
Where I Stayed
I stayed at the YHA New Forest, which is a great place to get away from it all but be close enough to drive anywhere.
It’s a great location with a homely feel, not far from the village of Burley, where you can see Deer and wild ponies roaming wherever they please. There are plenty of places to walk or cycle in the Forest. Base yourself here to explore the greater area, down to Bournemouth or across to Southampton, less than half an hour away from either city.
Facilities
- WiFi
- Free parking on the premises
- Café/Restaurant
- Licensed bar
- Situated in the New Forest National Park
- Great for all kinds of activity breaks
- Brilliant Camping & Cabin options
- Ambulant accessible
- Cycle store
- Dining room
- Garden/grounds
- Group meals
- Intermittent mobile coverage
- Medium garden/grounds
- Outdoor seating
- Self-catering kitchen
- Shared laundry room
- Shared lounge
- Sole use available
- Unlimited breakfast/Packed lunch/Evening Meals
- Water refill station
What To Do in the Area
This YHA is centrally located for many activities in the New Forest area, including walking and cycling in the New Forest National Park, spotting wild ponies and deer, or visiting nearby wildlife parks and Bournemouth.
To learn more about what you can do in the area, read my blog, 3 Fantastic Days in the New Forest National Park.
How To Get Here
Access is off Cott Lane, Burley, located at the corner of Bennetts Lane and Bisterne Close, Burley, Hampshire.
How To Book
If you would like to stay at the YHA New Forest, click on the link and get ready to start your adventure in the New Forest.
Conclusion
With many attractions to do, this is a great place to enjoy a long (or short) weekend in the New Forest Area. Be sure to book early, as it is very popular, especially on long weekends.
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Love the penguin, all picture are so beautiful.
You have an amazing weekend x
Thanks, Jerserry, I’m glad that you enjoyed it.
what a beautiful area. Awesome pictures too!
Thanks, Brandi, I’m glad that you enjoyed it.
For such a small highly populated country I’m really amazed at the amount of wildlife the UK has (in and out of animal sanctuaries and zoos)!
Great post Kim!
I am too Gabby especially the smaller zoos which seem to have animals I’d expect to see in large zoos around the world and don’t.