This world renowned island sanctuary attracts more than 20,000 visitors annually. The island is managed by DOC in partnership with Supporters of Tiritiri Matangi – a voluntary community group and major contributor to the success of Tiritiri Matangi as an open sanctuary.

Tiritiri Matangi Island is a wildlife sanctuary and one of New Zealand’s most important and exciting conservation projects. It is located 30km north east of central Auckland and just 4km from the end of the Whangaparaoa Peninsula.

Twelve species

544 acres

Beaches – Only a 10-minute walk from the wharf is the unspoiled Hobbs Beach. It’s the perfect spot for a picnic or a swim on a warm summer day.

Te Hauturu-o-Toi / Little Barrier Island Nature Reserve Te Hauturu-o-Toi can only be visited with a permit. Permits are issued for research, education, cultural or management purposes.

Little Barrier Island, or Hauturu in Māori language, lies off the northeastern coast of New Zealand’s North Island. You must apply for an entry permit to land on the island. The Island is only open to the public on week days.

Little Barrier Island is the emergent part of a large dacite stratovolcano situated in the Hauraki Gulf, 80km NE of Auckland. It is the largest known dacite volcano in New Zealand, having an estimated volume of 10km3 (cf.

80 kilometres

This at a time when Auckland’s population was a mere 100,000! With the Japanese cutting a swathe through the Pacific in the early years of World War 11, Motutapu Island, because of its strategic location, was acquired by the New Zealand Government for defence purposes.

During its varied past Motutapu has been intensively settled and cultivated by Maori, hosted Victoria picnic parties of over 10,000 people, and at times during WWII was a base for more than 1,000 military personnel.

Motutapu Island is part of the Hauraki Gulf Maritime Park with an abundance of marine life, rare seabirds and shorebirds. Marine life includes dolphins, whales, baby parore, spotties, kina, crayfish, eagle rays, triplefins and snapper.

Most of the native vegetation that is growing naturally occurs in the coastal fringe (cliffs, cliff tops and dune areas) and is made up predominantly of pohutukawa some of which are quite old and very beautiful..

During its varied past Motutapu has been intensively settled and cultivated by Maori, hosted Victorian picnic parties of over 10,000 people, and at times during World War II was a base for more than 1,000 military personnel.

Restoring native ecosystems. Replanting several hundred hectares in native forest. Collecting and propagating seeds from ecosourced plant stock. Protecting the growing volunteer forest from plant pests.

European History. Deer, wallabies, and other exotic animals were introduced to Motutapu Island as a visitor attraction in the 1860s and by the early 20th century it had become a popular visitor destination (hosting Victorian picnic parties of over 10,000 people).