Only one word is good enough to describe Tiritiri Matangi: Paradise! Once this little island in the Hauraki Gulf, only 30km north of Auckland, was destroyed by extensive farming, now it is a bird paradise, run by volunteers who replanted native vegetation. They also look after many endangered and common endemic and native birds.
The stars are the takahes. Those big flightless birds have been thought to be extinct for 50 years until they were found again in 1948. On Tiritiri M. you can easily imagine how this could happen. They are absolutely fearless and do not bother your company at all, they walk and graze a metre in front of you. That is the reason why they now have to live in protected areas and on predator-free islands like Tiritiri Matangi.
Other birds enjoy such perfect conditions as well. You will see red-crowned parakeets sitting on the stakes of flax, tuis, etc. Nowhere else in New Zealand can you readily walk amongst so many species. 78 different kinds of birds have been spotted on the island.
You can walk on your own in this open sanctuary. Take the Kawau Kat Ferry from Auckland (1:15h) - departure at 9am, Wednesday to Sunday only, return at 4pm. This service ensures that there are only 150 visitors per day on the island. After an introduction by a volunteer at the wharf you can explore the island. Buy a map in Auckland or on the ferry (1 NZ$) or download it from the Tiritiri website, take something to eat and drink with you, then keep to the left (towards Hobbs Beach) while most people walk directly up to the lighthouse and a takahe enclosure. Take your time to sit on the benches in the forests - when you are still a lot more birds will fly around you. The fantails are the exception. As you know, they try to catch the insects that flee from you... ;-) The takahes spend their day in grassland.
Allow four to five hours for the walk. There are also short guided tours on offer. Accommodation possible.
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Website: www.tiritirimatangi.org.nz
Other Contact: www.kawaukat.co.nz
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on May 6, 2006
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