Moutohora (Whale island) birding tour
BIRDING OPTION
We operate tours to Moutohora (Whale Island) Island Sanctuary”. Moutohora is jointly managed by DOC and our local iwi, Ngati Awa. It is a beautiful island that is pest free and access is highly restricted so much of our tour to the island is focused on the birdlife. The key species we observe are: Tieke (Saddleback), Kakariki, Little Brown Kiwi , Bell birds, Tui, Grey Warbler, Little Blue Penguin, NZ Falcon, Pied Shag, NZ Dotterel, Variable Oyster Catchers and various other species. We also observe many types of sea birds on the journey to/from and around the island the predominant species on the island is the Grey Faced Petrel (North Island Mutton bird). There are estimated to be 168,000 on the island during breeding season (May – December) and we operate evening tours to watch them arrive home from sea at dusk. It is really a spectacular site as they swirl around in the sky and then crash land to the ground before making their way to their burrows. The noise is raucous and their kamikaze landings mean our tour participants will be required to wear hard hats.
Moutohora (Whale island) birding tour Contact Details
Address
15 The Strand East
Whakatane
New Zealand
Postal
White Island Tours
Patrick O'Sullivan
15 The Strand East
Whakatane
New Zealand
Telephone
Tel: 0800 733 529 or +64 7 308 9588
Fax: +64 7 308 0303
GPS Co-ordinates:
37.95°S, 177.002°E
