Rangitoto is joined to neighbouring Motutapu by a causeway built during WWII.  They were declared pest-free in 2011 after a four-year eradication programme.

The project simultaneously removed seven mammalian pests – feral cats, rabbits, stoats, hedgehogs, Norway rats, ship rats, and mice from the islands. Possums and wallabies were eradicated from the islands in 1992.  Following forest regeneration, native species previously not seen on the islands began to arrive on their own.

Other native species unable to reach the islands on their own have been transferred, including saddleback and whitehead. The flightless native birds takahē and kiwi have been released on neighbouring Motutapu.

Rangitoto’s lava rock seems an inhospitable environment for plant life. Yet the island hosts more than 200 species of native trees and flowering plants; more than 40 kinds of fern; several species of orchid, and the largest pōhutukawa forest in the world.

See also:  https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/auckland/places/rangitoto-island/

https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/auckland/places/motutapu-island-recreation-reserve/

Exact timings to be determine but we expect this tour to take a full day.

Tiritiri Matangi is a 220 hectare island just three kilometres off the coast and 25 km to the north of Auckland.

Like much of the mainland, the forest on this island was cleared for cattle and sheep farming in the 1800s. Four gullies were largely unfarmable, so were left forested and remained a refuge for low numbers of the more resilient native species.

From 1984 to 1994, boatloads of volunteers planted 280,000 trees and shrubs. The on-island nursery provided 30 species of saplings grown from seeds sourced from Tiritiri Matangi and nearby islands.

Around 60% of the island is now covered in regenerating forest. The remainder has been left open to provide a mix of habitats.  The un-forested areas include sections of grassland which are important to protect archaeological sites, allow uninterrupted views of the Hauraki Gulf and provide habitat for species such as lizards and birds, including takahē.

With the successful eradication of the kiore/pacific rat in 1993, the island flourished as a pest-free haven. It now holds populations of birds, insects, lizards and tuatara that can’t be seen anywhere else around the Auckland region.

The ferry departs from downtown Auckland at 9am and gives you four hours on the island where you will get a guided tour of the forest and discussion about the island restoration process.  For more go to https://www.tiritirimatangi.org.nz/

Known for its stunning beaches, world-class vineyards, and thriving arts community, Waiheke Island is also home to Te Korowai o Waiheke project designed to eradicate stoats from this human populated and close-to-shore island.  A guide will talk about aspects of this innovative project, show the methods used and discuss the outcomes.  The bus will take you to a vantage point for better understanding of this project in relation to the other near-shore islands of the Inner Hauraki Gulf.  See more at https://tekorowaiowaiheke.org/

Lunch is at one of the many Waiheke vineyard restaurants.

The ferry for this day departs from the terminal at 8:15 am for a 40-minute cruise to the island.  The bus will return you to the ferry terminal to get back to Auckland by 4:40 pm.

Rotoroa is an 80-hectare island in the eastern-most chain of the Inner Hauraki Gulf islands. Privately owned by the Salvation Army since 1908, it was a rehabilitation centre for those with alcohol and drug addictions. More than 12,000 people went through the island’s programme. Now, it is leased by the Rotoroa Island Trust who have restored the island to a predator free coastal forest.  See https://www.rotoroa.org.nz/ for more information.

Norway rats and mice were eradicated from the island by 2013.  The island is now protected by a comprehensive biosecurity system to detect and remove swimming pests arriving from boats and surrounding islands. Stoats, despite being present on nearby Waiheke Island, have not been seen on Rotoroa.

More than 350,000 trees have been planted on the island and five bird and two skink species translocated to this protected environment.  There is accommodation for 44 people overnight in a bunkhouse and self-catering houses. It is a unique example of how conservation and business can go hand in hand to establish and maintain a public conservation park.

On this tour, enjoy a 75-minute ferry trip from downtown Auckland. The ferry departs Auckland at 9:15am, which gives visitors three hours on the island where you will get a guided tour and discussion about the island restoration process, and returns to the city by 4pm.