We caught the 9:00 Ferry from Auckland for a 90 minute ride to an “open preserve” island, Tiritiri Matangi. Most visitors go for a day trip, but there are bunkhouse accommodations if you want to spend the night. Which is what you’d have to do if you wanted to see kiwi or little penguins.
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| Leaving Auckland |
When the Maori first splashed onto the shores of NZ in the 1300’s Tiritiri Matangi was teaming with life...reptiles, flightless birds and marine mammals and heavily forested hills and valleys. In the 1850’s, “the Crown” took possession to build a lighthouse and soon after the forests were burned to open the landscape to grass for sheep. By 1971, when the lease was cancelled, less than 6% of the native forest cover remained and introduced non native pests (rats, possums and rabbits) had pretty much decimated the native animals.
It was hoped that the native bush would regenerate, but by 1985, a more diligent replanting effort began with seed collected on the island, and grown in special nurseries for the restoration effort. Over 30,000 plants were planted annually by for 10 years. Access and predator control are strict and now the 220 hectare island is an amazing biodiversity recovery story.
Everyone who comes here comes to enjoy the native forest, bird life, and hiking trails. Volunteer guides met us in small groups and were crucial for pointing out special insects (giant weta cricket) reptiles (24” endangered tuatara lizards) and abundant avifauna. Sadly for us, kiwi and little penguins are only visible at night, but the tree canopy was crazy with New Zealand Robins, white heads, fantails, bell birds, and the noisy tui birds which feed on the pohutakawa tree. These gorgeous trees are loaded with red flowers for three weeks in December and are called “New Zealand’s Christmas Tree.”
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| Pohutukawa tree |
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| Fearless Foursome |
