New Forest Wildlife Park
Ashurst, New Forest
Photo: J W Parker, CC BY-SA 2.0
A wildlife park in New Forest woodland near Ashurst with nearly 200 animals from 29 species, run with a strong focus on conservation. Residents include otters, lynx, a wolverine and wolves, which returned to the park in summer 2026, and visitors can walk among the wallabies.
Highlights
- Giant otters and smooth-coated otters
- Walk-through wallaby and deer areas
- Daily keeper talks and feeding times
- Two adventure playgrounds
- Native Species House
Good to know
- Only registered assistance dogs are allowed, with proof of training and vaccination records; no pets
- Children under 16 must be with an adult
- Forest Kitchen cafe and a gift shop are on site
- Ashurst station is about 2 miles away, and the Bluestar 6 bus stops in Ashurst
Getting there
New Forest Wildlife Park, Deerleap Lane, Longdown, near Ashurst, Southampton, SO40 4UHParking: Free on-site car park, first come first served on busy days. Put the full address into a sat nav, as the postcode alone may take a less direct route.
Get directionsChecked on 19 October 2026 against newforestwildlifepark.co.uk, newforestwildlifepark.co.uk, newforestwildlifepark.co.uk. Details change, so please confirm with the venue before you travel. How we check
Spotted something wrong or missing? Tell us
What's on at New Forest Wildlife Park
Howl-O-Ween at New Forest Wildlife Park
New Forest Wildlife Park's Howl-O-Ween adds a Halloween trail, extra animal talks and some exclusive experiences to its usual programme across October half-term.
More things to do in Southampton
Nearby
Longdown Activity Farm
A family-run working farm on the edge of the New Forest where a daily timetable of hands-on activities includes bottle-feeding kid goats and calves, duck feeding and sessions in the Animal Encounter Barn. Donkeys, horses, alpacas, Kunekune pigs and cows live on the farm, with indoor and outdoor play areas alongside.
Eling Tide Mill Experience
A Grade II* listed tide mill from about 1785 on a causeway across Eling Creek, on a site where millers have used the tides to grind wheat for over 900 years. Alongside the mill are a visitor centre with an interactive exhibition, a cafe and free waterside walks to Goatee Beach and Bartley Water.
Freemantle Lake Park
A former estate garden with large mature trees, now a park with a play area, a dog agility course and outdoor exercise equipment. The lake was filled in long ago, and an active friends group looks after the park.