Tiritiri Matangi

Seriously one of Auckland’s greatest outdoor treasures. This pest-​free island is a magical place that harkens back to the days before massive deforestation for farming, hunting, and introduction of pests shrank the population of New Zealand’s birds. The bird songs you’ll hear here are incredible!
Amazing work has been done to reforest native plants and trees, and reintroduce rare birds on this island. You can see hihi (stitchbirds), saddlebacks, kakariki (red crowned parakeets), bellbirds, north island robin, heaps and heaps of tui, wood pigeon, little blue penguins, kokako (if you’re lucky) and of course, my favorite — the takahē (a population of less than 300 exist in the world, and this is one of the few places you can see them in the wild — plus BABIES!)
So worth paying the $ 70 to take the ferry out there. Pack your lunch and your sunscreen, bring your swimsuit and good hiking shoes, and get ready for an amazing day. The extra $ 5 for the guided tour is worth doing at least once. The guides are very knowledgable and will point out the birds and interesting plants and give you a history of the island. However, when we went the second time without the group, we saw heaps more birds, I think as we were separate from many of the larger (noisier) groups.
I’m dying to stay overnight at the DOC hut and try to spot a kiwi! The huts are booked well in advance so you’re gonna have to troll the website for an opening. Also be sure to book your trip well in advance as the ferry can book up during peak season, and you don’t want to miss out!

TIritiri Matangi’s a nice boat ride away from Auckland City (Or the Gulf Harbour). A bird sanctuary that has various tracks.
It wasn’t the most exciting adventure for me but I do love boat rides and nature. for about $ 3 you can get a guided tour who will teach you about the flora and fauna of the island and about the history of the sanctuary.
Tips: You have to bring your own lunch, as there are no food stores on the island, only a souvenir store and a visitors information centre. Bring a jacket as it can get quite windy and rainy, even late spring. There’s a few tracks with different range of difficulty. Wear good walking shoes though.

Have been here a couple of times now and still want to go back. Loved seeing the bird’s in their natural habitat.
Limited daily visitors, so must book in advance not to be disappointed.
Bring a picnic lunch and suitable footwear and clothing. Plenty of water required on a hot day even though there is a small gift shop and café.
Venture up North away from the crowd.

As a young ecologist, I visited Tiritiri Matangi once during a school trip and I absolutely loved it. It’s an island gem lying in the middle of the Hauraki Gulf, and home to all sorts of birdlife and reptiles (both native and non-​native, endemic and endangered). I always knew I wanted a career in conservation and this trip kind of set it in stone. I loved seeing the work the DOC staff do there to conserve these precious animals.
Among the stars there are kiwi, bellbird, takahe, North Island robin, kokako, saddleback, tui and morepork. They also have geckos, skinks, butterflies, tuatara, weta, even a few dolphins around the coast. I bought a little kokako badge there which I still wear proudly on one of my bags. It’s truly a great place to visit to see NZ wildlife in their habitat.

Tiri Tiri is a quiet little national treasure. You can come here by ferry from Auckland for a price but I was lucky enough to come here on a school trip — such a popular trip that parent help was chosen by ballot.
It is a wildlife sanctuary, primarily for endangered species of birdlife and reptiles and also has a rich history as a base for Maori and then later, early colonial settlers who lived here to man the lighthouse — once the brightest light in the Southern Hemisphere.
Sadly Greg the island’s famous takahe passed away several years ago but my children and I both got to meet him and he was one cool bird. The birdlife here is of course incredible and I’ve never seen anything like it anywhere else. I’m no ornithologist but you can’t help but be enchanted by the sights and sounds of these beautiful creatures in the bush.
The lighthouse too is (in my opinion) a lovely building and standing on the slope below it must surely be one of the most beautiful views in the whole of Auckland — just green grass, bush and the sea. It’s truly exhilirating and gives you firsthand understanding of why the island’s name was chosen; it means «tossed by the wind».
You can do a day trip or stay overnight in the DOC bunkhouse but you need to be very careful about what you bring in order to avoid contamination by rodents. Do however bring some money to spend at the gift shop because you will absolutely want a memory souvenir from your visit here. Magical.

Tiritiri Matangi Island is one of the most special places in the whole city. It’s sobering to think that once the mainland would have been as populated with birds as this sanctuary now is. On my visit, we were lucky enough to see a plethora of birds, including three or four saddlebacks, which was a great treat. We also saw morepork, tui, takahe, piwakawaka, keruru. This is only a small amount of the bird varieties living here.
I really recommend getting a guided tour if you come here; you’ll definitely see more because unless you’re a ornithologist, you probably won’t know anything near as much as the enthusiastic volunteer guides. The story of the restoration of this island is also a real testament to volunteer power; it’s truly impressive.
You may baulk a little at the ferry prices but it’s completely worth it.
There isn’t any food facilities on the island so bring your own picnic, although you can buy hot and cold drinks in the well stocked shop.