Guided Walks

When you visit Tiritiri Matangi you have the option of taking a guided walk from the wharf up to the Visitor Centre (next to the lighthouse). For first-time visitors especially, this will greatly enhance your enjoyment of the island.

Tiritiri Matangi Island – A Model of Conservation.  With 220 ha, uninhabited except for the 2 DOC rangers, there is much to see and learn.  Our guides will tell you intriguing true stories about the rare birds, plants, and animals you’ll see and hear, identify archaeological sites, show you traces of the early settlement of the island, point out the remains of wartime co-occupation, introduce you to the oldest continuously operating lighthouse in the country and the associated historic buildings necessary to the supporting of marine safety.  All along the way, you’ll be seeing the results of a world-wide first; learning how community conservation got started, and how the sanctuary became what it is today.

We can cater for group travel with tours customised to fit the goals and needs of your party. Get in touch and let us know how many are in your group, what special interests they have (e.g. birdlife, native plants, conservation, reforestation, lighthouse/maritime history) and when you plan to visit. We will create a specialist guided walk that will excite your clients and be great for your business. Please email shop@tiritirimatangi.org.nz

Three routes are used for guided walks:

Wattle Track - up to 1.5 hours

This walk goes through replanted bush where the canopy is still low, which means you have a good chance of seeing birds close up. There are water troughs and sugar water feeding stations, which are popular spots with the birdlife.

Kawerau Track - up to 2.5 hours

This is a varied walk that takes in the coastline, replanted bush and also an area of original bush which has some very old trees. From the top of the island there are views across the Hauraki Gulf.

Moana Rua Route/Coast to Coast - about 2 hours

This walk requires a reasonable level of fitness due to some steep sections along the way. It showcases the island’s position in the Hauraki Gulf, taking in both coastlines as well as replanted bush.

“We did a private guided tour with Chris and had an amazing time on this beautiful island. Chris knew so much about the birds and was expert at spotting them – we saw just about every species (of course the spotted kiwi only come out at night though). This is a must-see if you are in Auckland. I highly recommend the private tour – it’s very reasonable and you are so much more likely to see birds if you are not in a big group. The ferri ride to the island is quite nice as well. A big thank you to the volunteers who make this place possible. Bringing back endangered species is no small task. Chris also gave us some great recommendations for places to go on our trip around the north island“
Burnsville, MN
Quote from Tripadvisor, March 2025
“Fantastically maintained island/nature reserve, great views, loads of birds to see (close up in many cases) and run by a fantastic team of staff and many volunteers. Shows what can be done to restore natural habitats given the will, time, money, staffing and volunteer support. I’d also recommend using the guides that are available, ours (Ian) was knowledgeable and gave up his time to ensure our visit was even more worthwhile.“
Boston, UK
Quote from Tripadvisor, February 2025
“What a treasure! Tiritiri Matangi is an open sanctuary, predator free, home to many species that are vulnerable – takahe, kokako, hihi, tieke, tuatara, giant weta.
The effort to restore the island to native flora and fauna began about 50 years ago.
What’s remarkable is that it is just an 80 minute ferry ride from downtown Auckland, NZ’s largest city.
They are serious about keeping the island pristine – no food for sale, take out what you bring in, leave no trace.
I’d recommend paying the $10 to have a guide – not only a great value but the guides are volunteers and all money goes back to protecting the island. There were just four in our group and we took it slowly which resulted in us seeing may species. We walked the Kawerau track and were accompanied by the song from bellbirds and tuis throughout.
There is a small shop where you buy souvenirs.”
Silver Spring, MD
Quote from Tripadvisor, February 2025

Book Your Tour...

  • Guided walks – bookings for guided walks are made with Explore at the time that you book your ferry ticket – phone 0800 397 567. Although we maybe able to accommodate people on the day, to avoid disappointment it is advised that you book your guided walk prior to arriving on the island. You’ll be in a group of up to 12 people, depending on which walks are available for us to guide. Guided walks generally begin shortly after disembarking the ferry, after the Ranger’s biosecurity briefing.
The three tracks we guide are Wattle (1.5 hours), Moana Rua (2 hours) and Kawerau (2.5 hours)
  • Specialist guided walks – you book directly with us, and we provide a specialist guide for birding, photography or flora, depending upon your interest. We can guide on one of the three tracks in our concession, whichever is best suited to your interests. These are private tours with just your party, and generally begin shortly after disembarking the ferry. Email shop@tiritirimatangi.org.nz for more details and prices.

 

  • Walks you can do by yourself – you can choose to ‘free range’ on the island, following the clearly marked tracks and roads. Maps are available for purchase on the ferry or in the shop on the island.
Book with Explore

How to become a guide

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer guide, please contact guiding@tiritirimatangi.org.nz. In your email, please include a little bit of information about yourself and why you are interested in becoming a guide. 

Guides have to undertake training and must have a reasonable level of fitness.