Motuora Island: Places to go in Auckland

Introduction

Come to pest-free Motuora for a picnic, or camp for the night. It's possible to hear and sometimes see (at night) North Island brown kiwi here.

Enjoy the beautiful beaches, secluded picnic spots, and clear waters. There are several walking tracks, with chances to see a variety of native wildlife including kiwi.

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Find things to do and places to stay

Motuora Island

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Walking and tramping

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Motuora Island walks

Motuora is a small island with walks of up to two hours. Walk to the northern end of the island or to Still Bay, a perfect place for a picnic.

Duration:1 - 2 hr return

Difficulty:Easy

Stay in a lodge, cabin or cottage

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Motuora Island bach

The small basic cottage on pest-free Motuora Island is 50 metres from the beach. Enjoy good swimming or snorkelling and plenty of walking tracks.

Access:Boat

Occupancy:Sole

Bird and wildlife watching

A visit to Motuora overnight will give you the chance to hear, and possibly spot, a North Island brown kiwi. The island is used as a kiwi crèche, with a healthy breeding population now established.

Other species to look out for include:

whitehead/popokatea in forested areas of the island
shore skinks, best spotted at Home Bay
New Zealand dotterels on the foreshore
brown teal/pateke that have self introduced, seen around the dam
dolphins and orca that sometimes cruise past

Boating

Motuora is a popular place for boaties with sheltered anchorages at either Home Bay on the western side of the island or Still Bay on the eastern side, depending on the prevailing wind.

Stay at a campsite

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Motuora Island Campsite

An island sanctuary for native flora and fauna, the camp is near a Māori historic site and early European settlement.

Category:Standard

Access:Boat

Equipment rental

Auckland Sea Kayaks

Independent rentals and guided kayaking tours including overnight camping in and around the Hauraki Gulf.

www.aucklandseakayaks.co.nz

Activities: Kayaking and canoeing

Services: Equipment rental; Guided activities and tours

Guided activities and tours

Auckland Sea Kayaks

Independent rentals and guided kayaking tours including overnight camping in and around the Hauraki Gulf.

www.aucklandseakayaks.co.nz

Activities: Kayaking and canoeing

Services: Equipment rental; Guided activities and tours

Getting there

Access to Motuora is by private boat, water taxi or kayak.

Private boat

If arriving by boat there are several safe anchorages including Home Bay on the western side of the island and Still Bay on the eastern side.

Water taxi/charter boat services

There is no ferry service to Motuora. However, you can organise a water taxi or charter boat. Water taxis are available from Sandspit Wharf near Warkworth, about one and a half hour's drive north of Auckland.

Find authorised transport operators to this island.

Know before you go

There is nowhere to buy food and drink on Motuora.
Bring insect repellent for sandflies.
Follow the signs and stay away from shore bird nesting areas.
Avoid walking over newly planted areas.
Smoking is only permitted on the beach and in the campground.

Rules for the Hauraki Gulf Maritime Park

Fires and portable barbeques are not allowed.
Take your rubbish with you – there are no rubbish bins.
No camping.
Some activities such as weddings need a permit.
Commercial filming needs a permit.
Commercial guides need a permit.

These are part of the Hauraki Gulf Maritime Park by-laws. Read the full by-laws.

Nature and conservation

Motuora is an 80 ha island in the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park. Much of the original coastal forest and shrubland vegetation was cleared long ago by Maori and European occupants leaving remnant pohutukawa and karo/mahoe scrub growing on coastal cliffs.

In 1990 the local community, the Mid-North Branch of the Royal Forest & Bird Protection Society, and DOC joined forces to restore Motuora Island.

The Motuora Restoration Society (established in 1995 and made up of volunteers) has led a replanting programme which is now almost complete and continues to work to restore the natural values of the island.

Motuora Restoration Society website

Pest-free haven

Motuora has remained free of mammalian predators despite the island's long history of occupation and farming. There are no rats, mustelids (stoats, ferrets or weasels) or feral cats.

The island is a crèche for young kiwi chicks raised under the Operation Nest Egg (ONE) programme. A resident healthy population of approximately 100-150 birds remain on Motuora.

Whitehead, Pycrofts petrels and diving petrels have also been reintroduced to the island, along with Duvaucel's geckos, shore skinks and wetapunga (giant weta).

In July 2010 a "fake colony" of gannet decoys was installed on Motuora. Since then, real gannets have been attracted to the site and in 2012 began to nest.

No dogs allowed

To protect our native wildlife, dogs are not allowed anywhere in this place.

Check you are pest-free

Check, clean, and seal your gear to ensure you don't bring pests, soil, and seeds.

See island biosecurity requirements.

Motuora Island

Introduction

Image gallery

Find things to do and places to stay

Walking and tramping

Motuora Island walks

Stay in a lodge, cabin or cottage

Motuora Island bach

Bird and wildlife watching

Boating

Stay at a campsite

Motuora Island Campsite

Equipment rental

Auckland Sea Kayaks

Guided activities and tours

Auckland Sea Kayaks

Getting there

Private boat

Water taxi/charter boat services

Know before you go

Rules for the Hauraki Gulf Maritime Park

Nature and conservation

Pest-free haven

No dogs allowed

Check you are pest-free

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