Having decided to try visiting this bird sanctuary on a lark (thanks folks, I'll be here all night), I was impressed enough with it. One visits by boat either from downtown Auckland (which I imagine is a scenic ride) or from a more remote peninsula near the island where the boat stops just before reaching it (which is nice if you want somewhere free to park for the day). The boat ride is most of the cost; for a small additional fee you get a guided tour lead by one of a remarkably large number of local volunteers. Why not? The guide leads you through the middle of the island with some narration, before finishing at a lighthouse and leaving you the second half of the day to roam alone. There weren't that many visible birds during New Zealand "winter"; you'd here more than you see. The island was once a farm before being purposefully replanted as a forest. Things grow fast here; it looks quite wild. Up to the point of reaching the light house, I'd probably have written a four star review. However, they buried the lead. Exploring alone yielded vast panoramic views of the entire region. The island is centrally located between the city and a variety of other islands. New Zealand's indigenous people are of Polynesian descent, and while you walk around here you might confuse the volcanic landscapes, abundant greenery, and clear turquoise water for a more archetypically Polynesian vacation spot. There are a few swimmable spots. It is a big enough island that there were significant areas of track that I did not see even after hustling around the coastline. Always leave 'em wanting more, the saying goes. If I had occasion to, I wouldn't mine going again, which having paid $60 to see an island that had no trees at the time I was born is something. Tips: *There were a ton of local schoolkids, but the guides kindly separated out kids and adults for the tour, and once you're off the boat, it really isn't an issue. *Adults get free tea and coffee at the end of the tour, but no food. There is literally nothing even to buy. Bring decent food. *A truck loads any bags you might want to leave at the wharf, and carries them to the lighthouse and back, meaning you do not need to carry what you bring while walking the island. *They are very concerned about biosecurity, so wear clean shoes and bring only closed, zippable bags. *Apparently the name means that it's a really windy island. Which it really is. Be ready for wild temperature differences based on wind and shade. read more

See all

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!! read more

Tiritiri Matangi - Friendly lil takahē!! - Parks Near Me - Auckland, AUK

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. read more

Tiritiri Matangi - Pier - Parks Near Me - Auckland, AUK

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. read more

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 cafe. Venture up North away from the crowd. read more

PROS: 1. It's a nice, smooth boat ride with lovely captains. 2. You are instantly welcomed with dozens of birds hanging out at the wharf, and feel the immediate sense of one with nature. 3. The trails are well-carved out (although not always marked, so be careful). 4. There were indeed a multitude of birds on the island!! The are not afraid to fly right up next to you, which is awesome. I checked so many off my list - the green Kakariki, the Kokako, the bellbird (so many bellbirds), the Tui, the whitehead, the Takahe, the saddleback, and the North Island robin. Did not see the penguins or the wood pigeon, unfortunately. 5. Gorgeous scenery, but I had to RUN to get just a taste of everything in order to make it to the departure on time (see the "cons" list). The beaches are spectacular, with the clearest water I've seen in all of Auckland! 6. If you dash away from the crowds as soon as the boat lands, you really do feel like you are almost by yourself on the island. It's very serene. CONS: 1. $78 is FAR too expensive for what you're getting. $50 would be more reasonable. And on top of that, they CHARGE for maps (which is absolutely necessary or else you'll get lost, as the island has many unmarked forks in the tracks. Tip: Google a high-resolution map and print it out beforehand). It's a basic island with hardly any amenities...not Disney World. It's so much cheaper to go to Rangitoto or Waiheke....why hike the prices for this one island? Yes, there are birds. But Rangitoto has the volcano element, and Waiheke has the vineyards element. Each island has its own niche, and I don't think BIRDS is a reason to more than double the price. 2. The guide walks are a waste of time, unless you really only want to see 10% of the island and are too lazy to research the island history/birds beforehand. Spend those 2.5 hours exploring on your own, so you're not bogged down moving at a snail's pace learning about every tree that was ever planted on the island. Trust me - you don't need someone to point out the birds. They are EVERYWHERE. Not to mention the incessant questions asked by the other people in your group, delaying you even further from seeing more of the island. 3. My biggest peeve - Why does the boat leave the island so early?? 3:30 (translation: 3:10 arrival to board), after arriving to the island at 10:20 AND having to sit through a long talk from the ranger that is full of reminders that are painfully obvious ("When you look up at the birds, be careful to watch your step and not fall off the track" - REALLY???), most of which are also repeated before boarding in Auckland. Could this not be done on the boat to save time?? By the time you FINALLY get moving, that's only a little over 4 hours to explore everything. Again - if the boat ride was $50, I'd be happy to come back and cover more ground on a different day....but I'm paying upwards of $100 and then I'm extremely limited with my time on the island. I was literally eating my lunch while hiking, just to see 80% of what I wanted to see. 4. The children. I was warned about this. The entire boat was ready to depart in Auckland, then a school bus full of noisy, bombastic kids boarded. What was supposed to be a relaxing, enjoyable hour on a boat turned into a McDonald's playground. Screaming, yelling, jumping from chair to chair....I didn't exactly arrive to the island feeling "fresh". No wonder I didn't want to sit through the excruciatingly-long ranger speech once we arrived. Thank goodness I didn't get stuck around them on the island, or all of the birds would have avoided us from all of the screaming. TIPS: Be sure to bring extra sunscreen! I put some on in the morning before I left, but by the end of the day I was baking in the sun. There are lots of open areas where you are fully exposed. Be one of the first to get off the boat and then hightail it for one of the tracks as SOON as the ranger talk is over. You don't want to be stuck in a large group of slow-moving people who are talking loudly and scaring off the birds. Like most people have said, either pack a lunch or buy a sandwich on the boat. Keep an eye on the time, and know that you can't see everything unless you literally NEVER stop to enjoy the birdsongs or to observe a bird in your path...you don't want to be on the East Coast Track at 2:30 when the boat starts boarding at 3:10! read more

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. read more

My favourite place. Rare, unusual and distinct NZ birds around every corner, upon every branch and flying over your head. Magical melodies and spectacular songs fill the air as you soak up the sunshine and the fantastic views of secluded coves and forest. You won't get this feeling anywhere else, just sit back, relax and enjoy the moment. If you aren't familiar with New Zealand's native flora and fauna, I would recommend a guide, however if you are (or if you are just the adventurous type), then I would recommend taking the track around the whole island, as well as visiting the kawarau track. Enjoy! read more