Species on or near our Mangatoi block are still being catalogued. Thirty-five species of birds are commonly seen or heard on the property, seven of these found nowhere else in the world. Thirty have been known to nest here, the Brown Kiwi, Skylark, Little Owl, Harrier and Pukeko do not, (yet!). Five more species are rumoured to be present (or visiting) and have been 'spotted' in the vicinity: the Whitehead, (Mohoua albicilla), Rifleman (Acanthisitta chloris), Yellow/Red-crowned Parakeet s (Cyanoramphus auriceps/novaeseelandiae), and Kokako (Callaeas cinerea). There is a plan to re-introduce kokako into the Otanewainuku forest from nearby Kaharoa. Blue Duck inhabit the nearby Mangorewa Gorge.

Around twenty-five types of fern have been photographed so far, and the list of trees and shrubs has reached 37. Glow-worms are common and can be found as little as 50m from the house, and one of the only native mammals, the long-tailed 'wattled' bat can be seen sometimes in the evenings. New Zealand’s only fully parasitic flowering plant, the strange and rare Dactylanthus taylorii, or 'woodrose', has been found in the area.