Note the opportunity is 5 days (Friday to Tuesday) when Monday is a public holiday.
During June and July there will also be two Monday to Friday opportunities which will be pest plant weed work.
2026 dates
- 24–28 April (Friday–Tuesday due to ANZAC day Holiday)
- 9–11 May
- 29 May–2 June
- 17–20 July
- 21–24 August
- 18–21 September
- 23–26 October
- 20–23 November
- 11–14 December
During June and July, we will have two Monday-Friday weed work opportunities. This work will be more intense working with the DOC weeder team. Dates TBC. If this is your preference please apply, note your availability and any skills, experience with weeding pest plants.
In spring we will be recruiting some Darwin Ant monitoring volunteers. When applying note if this is your preference.
What to expect
Fitness required: High – capable of comfortably walking with a pack over rugged, uneven ground for up to 6 hours.
A volunteer workday is 6 hours long. Arrival and departure days 2–3 hours.
You will assist the rangers with whatever activities they need help with. Some examples include cleaning, weeding, painting, infrastructure and/or track maintenance, biosecurity or biodiversity monitoring.
Outside of your working hours you are free to explore the island.
Transport: Transport to and from the island by the DOC boat Taikehu from either Bayswater or Okahu Bay.
Food: Bring your own. No supplies are available on the island. Pack all food in rat, mouse and insect proof (sealed) containers.
Accommodation
Your accommodation will be in Hukunui house. This will be booked for you free of charge. This is a shared house, and you will be expected to help with daily clean up duties.
Predator-free motu
Rangitoto and Motutapu are mammalian-pest free.
- All foodstuffs must be placed into rodent and insect proof containers.
- Use containers such as fishbins, chilly bins, or barrels with lids.
- Plastic or cloth supermarket bags, or similar are not secure enough to ensure that insects or rodents are not able to climb in.
- All bags taken to the island must be able to be completely closed.
- Your boots, clothing and packs must not be carrying any dirt or seeds through which new species of weeds or disease could be introduced to the island.
- Use DOC's biosecurity checklist to assist you when you are cleaning and packing your gear.
- Contact us if you are uncertain or have any questions about biosecurity.
How to apply
Register your interest by filling out our online application form.