Tiritiri Matangi

For the last full day in Auckland, we decided to take a day trip to Tiritiri Matangi. Ziad just couldn't figure out how to pronouce it. This island is an open sanctuary to help ensure the survival of many rare and endangered plant and bird species. It's a must see!! They only allow a limited number of visitors per day and during the busy tourist seasons, this tour sells out quickly. Luckily for us, it was the start of winter and we managed to book it the morning we went. We decided to wait until morning to see what the weather was going to be like. It turned out to be a sunny day for the tour (it started raining just as we got back, but that didn't stop us from having another gelato at the wharf). You have to take a ferry to the island; it's located about 30 km northeast of Auckland and takes about an hour and half. You are advised to bring a lunch with you and water because you cannot buy anything on the island. You also have to take out whatever you bring onto the island. This helps keep unwanted foreign "pests" off the island (but they did let me on!! Hahahaha!!!). This is very important to the conservationists. They ask that you make sure your shoes are clean of any seeds or other things that will be harmful to the island.

The island is 220 hectare and has only over the last 25 years been replanted with native trees to accelerate the natural regeneration of the coastal forest that once lived on this island. It now also provides a rich and varied habitat for the many bird species brought to the island. Between 1984 and 1994, volunteers planted 250,000+ trees to get the regeneration started after many years of farming that stripped the island of its natural vegetation.

We booked the guided walking tour, but you can walk the trails yourself if you like; you can buy a map for $1 on the ferry ride over. Our guide, Derek, was great. He had a junior guide with him as well who was quite impressive with his knowledge and communication skills given his young age of 15. It's a good idea to take the guided tour because the guide will point out the various plant and bird species that you'll otherwise miss. Our nature walk took us up the Wattle Track to the lighthouse and ranger station. Our day was shorter than usual because the weather forecast was calling for high winds in the afternoon, so the ferry was going to leave the island earlier than normal. Otherwise we would have been able to take one of the other trails around the island. The Wattle Track took about an hour and a half with the guided tour. We got to see a bunch of different plant and bird species. While we didn't get to see the elusive spotted kiwi, probably because it's a noctural bird, we managed to see the saddleback, takahe, stitchbird, whitehead and parakeet to name a few. We also got the see the back of one of the blue penguins which are common to the area; it was hiding under one of the walkways and no one was quite sure why it was there and not in the water where it belongs. Walking through the forest just hearing the birds calling, seeing them flying and perched on trees was so cool and made the walk that much more enjoyable. The trail was quite scenic to begin with, but just being there experiencing nature like that was breathtaking. Along the way there are bathing stations for the birds and some feeding stations to help some of the birds get the full nutrients they need while the plant species still mature. These were great spots to see the birds up close and personal.

When we got to the lighthouse, I was so amazed by the view down to the ocean. It was just so awe-inspiring. We were warned before we got to the lighthouse, which was our lunch spot to watch out for the takahe bird (see picture above). This guy was not shy at all and would try and steal your lunch if given the chance. You really had to be watching or your lunch would be gone. And you're not allowed to feed the birds; it interferes with the purpose of this sanctuary. After lunch we ended up walking down the same trail we came up only because of time constraints. It was just as beautiful.

The tour itself cost $66 each and another $5 each for the guided tour. It was definately worth it and I know that I have not done it justice in this post. So much is really indescribable...it's nature at its finest and most natural. It just has to be experienced...so just do it!!