Home > Auckland > Tiritiri Matangi Island Day Trip from Auckland with Optional Guided Walk
USD $55.00
Tiritiri Matangi Island Day Trip from Auckland with Optional Guided Walk
Auckland, New Zealand
Get one of the limited tickets for a day at Tiritiri Matangi bird sanctuary, home to some of New Zealand’s most rare and endangered bird species. You’ll take a ferry across the Hauraki Gulf to the island, have an optional guided walk with a knowledgeable local guide, and enjoy free time to explore the walking trails, beach, Visitor Center and
Hauraki Gulf’s oldest lighthouse.
Meet your ferry at downtown Auckland’s ferry terminal and relax on the beautiful 75-minute ride across the Hauraki Gulf to Tiritiri Matangi island. When you arrive at the island, you’ll receive an orientation from the ranger. You can then opt to take a 1.5 hour guided walk where you'll learn from your guide about the island's bird life, history and environmental restoration. The guided walk is recommended for an in-depth introduction to the island's birds, other wildlife, and history, or you can choose to spend the whole day exploring the island on your own.
The predator-free island is home to many endangered native birds, including the colorful and rare takahe. Other birds that can be found here include the stitchbird, saddleback, bellbird, brown teal, whitehead, kakariki, kokako, New Zealand robin, fernbird and penguins. Once deforested, the island has been recovering since 1984, when hundreds of volunteers started planting 300,000 native trees. Since then, 12 endangered native bird species and 3 reptile species, including the rare tuatara (a prehistoric lizard), have been re-established in the sanctuary. Your guide will give you tips about the best spots to see specific animals and how to identify the birdcalls that you will hear.
Your guide will finish the tour at the visitor center where you can browse through informative exhibits. Free tea and coffee is provided at the center and there are plenty of tables where you can eat your lunch (not sold on the island, please bring your own).
Afterward, you can relax around the Visitor Center and check out the lighthouse, built circa 1864 and once the brightest lighthouse in the southern hemisphere. Or explore the walking trails that wind throughout the island, with varying choices for different fitness levels. In warmer months, head to Hobbs beach for a swim. You’ll have about five hours total on the island, with plenty of time to explore and see some of New Zealand's rarest animal life. Numbers of visitors are limited in order to protect the wildlife in the open sanctuary. Don't miss this chance to visit magical Tiritiri!
Not a bird enthusiast at all but had a great time on this tour. Beautiful island with great views and very informative guides
Review by: vlad_sar, April 2018
Nice... but you have to be a avid “bird man” to really enjoy it.
Review by: Karen R, April 2018
This was a nice trip by ferry over to the island. They gave you options of a longer or shorter walk. The 1 1/2 hour walk lasted over 2 hours which was fine with us. We saw several different kinds of birds that we hadn't seen before and the island was very attractive. Not sure I would have wanted to tour the island on our own and paths are a little confusing and you have to meet the ferry at a certain time or spend the night on the island. Our tour was just perfect for our time there. Saw 2 wetas which are giant grasshopper like insects. Very nice way to spend a day with nature.
Review by: Mcjose, March 2018
This is a very eco-friendly experience. The island doesn't have room for the naughty so you'll be on there with a group of people that are preservationists such as yourself. The pretty flowers and wonderful birds are really a sight to be seen. The guide does a good job at giving you a tour of the boardwalk and you're allowed to do it on your own if that's what you desire. This was a nice cruise ride from Auckland.
Review by: Lawrence C, March 2018
Fantastic. Very well organized and executed. One of the best tours we took in New Zealand.
Review by: Marc W, March 2018
We weren't sure how this tour would take a full day, or the high ratings were because the site drew committed birdwatchers and, not falling into that category, we might not like it as much. But the island, and the volunteers, lived up to the reviews. Great walk for several hours with multiple lengths of walk available on arrival. We had a great day on the ferry ride and the island.
Review by: Debra S, March 2018
So the 1 1/2 hr guided walk turned out to be 2 1/2 hrs then I booked it towards the top and the light house to eat. I wanted to hike around the island and didn't realize that our volunteer told us about every plant, bird and development of this island. I know these volunteers are passionate about the island sanctuary but I think I could have skipped the guided walk. I had to leave our group to go eat because of low blood sugar. I feel the importance of discovering nature on my own was much more enjoyable than being guided. They failed to tell us that the gift shop sold a 8x11 paper with all the birds on the island and I would have liked to try to see these for myself. Because in a group we didn't see many birds due to people talking and walking but out on my own I spotted 5 different types. If you are a true birdwatcher this is the trip for you. If you enjoy hiking and nature just avoid the guided tour.
Review by: Harry S, February 2018
A unique Auckland experience that should not be missed. The volunteer guide from Supporters of Tiritiri Mantanga was excellent. Remarkably knowledgeable about the flora and fauna. While we saw considerable wildlife, be aware this is not a zoo and so the birds can be hard to spot although the guide was very helpful in spotting them.
Review by: jackiemnye, February 2018
Wonderful day. Saw so many birds. The guided walk was well worth doing as we saw and found out so much more than walking around on our own. Thoroughly recommend. Going on the boat was great too
Review by: olomanany, February 2018
This was a wonderful day. It started with a very nice ferry ride to the island where we were met with a wonderful group of volunteers. They kept the groups small and we had 1 volunteer for 4 people. The trail walk was filled with listening to and finding very interesting birds and our volunteer her name was Penny was extremely knowledgeable about the island and the birds. Once the walk was over, we visited the lovely gift shop and took another path back to the shore where we met the ferry for the return trip. If you want to get away for the day and be somewhere not too many people are, this is the perfect tour.
Review by: Yeritza S, January 2018
A lot to explore if you love wildlife
Review by: Georgia G, January 2018
This is a fantastic experience to hear from the expert but volunteer guide and also the 'ranger' about all the amazing work and accomplishments at the island, not to mention seeing all the birds and foliage for whom all the work is aimed. It was a great day learning about so many different types of wildlife and how it's being protected on scenic Tiritiri. We all saw and learned so much! Everyone was knowledgeable and clear, and the gift shop was an interesting one, too! Thanks for a great outing!
Review by: Joe L, December 2017
We had a superb volunteer guide! Roger was enthusiastic and very knowledgeable. Priceless experience with the real birds of Tiritiri Matangi on a perfect day!!
Review by: Sean C, December 2017
The closest place to Paradise you will ever get! A beautiful uninhabited island providing the best opportunity to see some spectacular and rare endemic new zealand birds - we were guided around the island by a botanically knowledgable lady who allowed us the opportunity to stop and look at the birdlife and scenery as and when we wanted. If you are a birder this a unique chance to see species such as Stitchbird, Saddleback, Takahe and Kokako in their natural surroundings and at close quarters. For others it provides the chance to explore a fascinating and unspoilt island and see the amazing effort New Zealand expends protecting their special wildlife and the value they place on biodiversity. A lesson to us all!
Review by: Melissa E, December 2017
Fantastic trip. Well organised, great tour guide, beautiful ferry ride and Tiritiri Matangi island is amazing.
Review by: Cameron S, December 2017
The best thing about the trip was the ferry ride. On the island you are first greeted with a talk from a Maori I guess volunteer or caretaker who is compelled to make a statement in her native tongue. She says it is a statement of her existence as is her right and everyone's right. There was no translation and the Polynesian utterings went on for the better part of a minute. It was a waste of my time and disrespectful. Then she was off in a cloud of dust riding her ATV up the path to somewhere.
Review by: Sueann L, November 2017
It was fun to explore this island and see the birds even though it was a bit rainy/cold. The gift shop is cute and has some nice products to bring home. We spent some time on the rocky beach looking at sea creatures that had washed in. The trails were not very difficult, so I think most people could do the walks without any problems. A great tour!
Review by: Nikhil L, October 2017
Excellent
Review by: omaopawhite, October 2017
A must trip for birders! For us the boat ride was quite rough, but we heard from regular visitors there that they had never had such a rough trip to the island. If you're not familiar with birds in New Zealand, it's best to have a guide. Well worth the extra money.
Review by: rclaeys, October 2017
Expensive for what you get. The guides were great and the hiking was great as well. We saw far less birds than we were expecting. We saw a lot of the same birds from their on other excursions and self hikes we did at different locations in NZ.
Review by: Edwin J, October 2017
Beautiful Island! Loved every minute of the tour.
Review by: kailing, July 2017
I think this tour is too long for just watching birds. But it's relax though..
Review by: marylee c, July 2017
Stepped off the ferry into a virtual paradise for birds. Great guides and lots of history info.
Review by: Brenda T, June 2017
This was a great day! Our guide Martin was extremely knowledgeable. Nice ferry trip there, we were broken into very small groups, nice little beach and one of my favorite days of my trip.
Review by: Caryll C, May 2017
The guided walk on Tiritiri Matangi island was great, well worth doing. Our guide was full of interesting information. We saw a number of bird species, and really enjoyed the walk which is not too difficult. We chose to do the longer walk of the two, with our guide. After lunch we went back to the ferry on the shorter walk. A great day out._br/_ Also, there was good coffee available on the ferry, as well as a variety of sandwiches, rolls etc_br/_ Would recommend this trip to anyone able to manage a relatively easy walk
Review by: John B, May 2017
Exceptiolnal tour Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and was able to spot a variety of birds and insects We had a bright sunny day and it was excellent way to spend the day
Review by: John C, April 2017
This tour was amazing!
Review by: Carl L, March 2017
Tiritiri Matangi Island is a bird lover's paradise. We had an excellent guide for a long walk and later did another trail on our own. We saw many exotic for us birds. The ferry ride from Auckland Harbor was pleasant. There are nice beaches on the island, and the trails are easy to follow and not too steep-- though you have very nice views when you work your way up to the high point of the island.
Review by: Robert H, March 2017
The ferry to the island gave us a relaxing look at your wonderful bay, with its sailing ships and distant landscapes. The island is a wonder with the growth of all the vegetation and the safe protection for the birds. We had a guide Mike who had worked the island for many years. His pace and knowledge were perfect for our first visit to Tiritiri.
Review by: Sabrina M, February 2017
Tiritiri Island is the perfect spot for some birdwatching and I absolutely recommend the guided walk. There was the option between a 1.5 or 2.5 hours guided walk and there was no surcharge if you wanted to take the longer walk. The volunteers had a great knowledge about the birds and nature and the hours flew by quickly.
Review by: Laura B, February 2017
A truly remarkable Island! Our guide, Hester, was fabulous, really knew her flora and fauna. We felt like we were in a different world surrounded by beautiful birds. Easy to walk around and explore. Just stunning...I and #39;m pretty sure we will be back!
Review by: Gerald W, February 2017
Great if you are a bird lover / watcher. Otherwise, just OK
Review by: mindywiener, February 2017
Wish I had brought my bathing suit so we could have gone for a quick swim before returning home to downtown Auckland. . Lovely place and would definitely recommend this to bird enthusiasts
Review by: Zoe R, February 2017
The trip was amazing. The guided tour was outstanding - both the botanical and bird information exceeded my expectations. The time flew by. Don't forget to take water and lunch.
Review by: Yiying D, February 2017
Excellent tour on this island, it is very impressive for the volunteer Mr John, who is an gentlemen but knowledgeable, professional ,he took care of everyone in very details, especially he noticed we are from China, speak very clearly and little slowly, sothat we can get most of his speaking . It is wonderful tour to this island we learnt lot of history about this island and knowledge about various birds ,we are lucky we saw most of the kinds of birds living on the island. especially we were educated by these volunteers on how to be environment friendly. Again , appreciated all the hard work by John!
Review by: battisong, January 2017
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Review by: Donald J, January 2017
Being a birder, this tour did not disappoint. The ferry ride was a great start for the island exploration of all things natural. Upon reaching the island, the large group was separated into groups of approx. ten with the opportunity to have a tour of greatest interest. The volunteer guiding our group was very knowledgeable about many aspects of the island. So it was an excellent learning experience covering history, vegetation, as well as birds. The weather also cooperated to make for great memories.
Review by: K L S, January 2017
Well worth the money. To experience how New Zealand birdlife once was, was magic!! We were very lucky with the weather and the ferry ride with Team NZ training in the harbour right along side of us. The work the volunteers have done clearing and establishing the tracks after the great eradication of pests 30 years ago should be recognised by the NZ public as well as their continued dedication.
Review by: mnsweeps, December 2016
The trip to Tiri was awesome. I just got the tickets from Viator as I had a 10 off coupon. You can purchase them directly from 360 Discovery for same price..Basically Viator purchase doesn't add any value to purchase itself unless you have a coupon.
Review by: Susan M, November 2016
We really enjoy birding, but we enjoyed the hiking as much as the birding on this trip. The ferry ride to the Island was also very enjoyable, with great views of Aukland.
Review by: Kalpana S, November 2016
This was the highlight of my visit! I was struck by the sheer dedication of the volunteers who have brought the flora and Fauna of this island back. We saw the pictures of the barren landscape in 1984! We heard and saw so many of the native birds listed as living on the island._br/_ Bring a good camera along! Every visitor to New Zealand should see this lovely little paradise!
Review by: June M, October 2016
It was wonderful to see the birds up so close and to have the tour guide explain a great deal about the history of the island and the flora and fauna. Not overly touristy, so that was refreshing.
Review by: Dawn M, October 2016
This was a fantastic trip from leaving the quay side on the ferry. The skipper of the boat was brilliant provided commentary whilst going along the coast and coming in to dock. Our guide Gill was amazing! the guided walk should have been 1hr 30mins, however, she spent about 3 hours with us as we walked from the beach to the top of the hill to the lighthouse. She pointed out birds, told us which birds we could hear and showed us some penguin nesting boxes one of which actually had a penguin in it. Be sure to take a packed lunch in a backpack because you do not get back to Auckland until about 5pm. Although complimentary tea and coffee are provided when you get to the lighthouse and visitor centre and there is a shop here too, proceeds go directly to the upkeep of the island. Loved our day there thank you again Gill.
Review by: zon05454, October 2016
It was absolutely beautiful seeing the birds! The guide was very knowledgable. It was somewhat difficult to walk the steep inclines with my bad knees but the views were spectacular!
Review by: Dandre D, September 2016
The volunteers have done an amazing job of preserving this island, and our volunteer tour guide was knowledgeable and enthusiastic. Saw birds we had never seen before. REally great trip for eco-conscious travelers, bird watchers, hikers, just plain fun seekers!
Review by: Ms K B, September 2016
Fabulous island, but our volunteer guide was not willing to modify her set routine to cater for three birdwatchers who clearly were focused on locating rare beautiful endemic birdlife. Sadly, this wasted valuable time, and we lucked out on potential opportunities to spot birdlife seen nowhere else. The island is deserving of its reputation and status as a must visit location. It is wonderful to see so many volunteers keen to preserve and nurture endemic NZ flora and fauna. And, I managed to buy a coveted hand made kakapo beanie at the very reasonably priced shop - where purchases all contribute to ongoing work with endangered birds and work on the island. Overall, highly recommended, but be careful to select a guide compatible with your area/s of interest, as the day goes fast and before you know it, you are back in Auckland! Don't forget to pack a lunch, and have a rain poncho handy just in case the weather turns.
Review by: carrickroads, August 2016
Great boat trip, visit and tour to Tiritiri Matangi Island. Saw and identified lots of birds. _br/_ It was a full day and well worth it.
Review by: djb, July 2016
If you like bird watching this is a great place to go. We took the guided walk for the first part. Our guide was very knowledgeable about the wildlife and plants. We saw some rare birds and had a super day. I would recommend buying the map of the island with the trails on it. Also keep track of your time to get back to the ferry.
Review by: Monica H, June 2016
Amazing! Did the guided walk and it was spectacular.
Review by: Shelley A, April 2016
Fabulous day out, great cruise and very informative tour of Tiritiri Matangi. Our volunteer guide Sahrah was very knowledgeable and a excellent birder. We saw kereru, takahe, tui, bell birds, quail, kokao , saddlebacks and stich birds. We couldn't have asked for more. The free teas and coffees were a nice surprise too.
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