Motukawanui Island Scenic Reserve

Located in the Northland region

Motukawanui Island off the coast of Northland is free from possums, mustelids and cats, and home to a flourishing population of native birds. There are opportunities for snorkelling and swimming and you can stay overnight in a hut.

Take an easy hour-long walk to the northern end of the island where the breath taking views of a pristine sandy beach invite you to swim and enjoy a crowd-free slice of paradise.

Motukawanui is the largest island in the Cavalli island chain located off Northland’s east coast about 3 km north-east of Matauri Bay.

You can access Motukawanui by boat. In good weather, you can also reach the island by kayak.

This stunning island is a little-visited gem, and is well worth exploring.

The reserve is part of the Bay of Islands Maritime and Historic Park.

  • Walks in this area can include sections near steep cliffs. Supervise children when near cliffs and keep on the track at all times.
  • Bay of Islands Maritime and Historic Park bylaws apply.
  • Rubbish is not collected – take your rubbish with you. There may be rubbish facilities during summer.
  • Camping in the Bay of Islands is only available on Urupukapuka Island.

Motukawanui Island, known locally as Motukawa, is the largest island in the Cavalli group.

Terrain

Motukawanui Island reaches a maximum altitude of 177 metres and has a varied terrain with rugged cliffs on the eastern side and some curving sheltered bays on the west.

Native animals

As Motukawanui Island is free from possums, mustelids and cats, it is home to a flourishing variety of native bird species.  You will be able to observe many common coastal species as well as the endangered NZ dotterel, which breeds on the island. You might also spot blue penguin and reef heron.

You will enjoy hearing the calls of tui, grey warbler and kingfisher. Other birds on the island include white-faced heron, pukeko, morepork and banded rail. Fur seals are beginning to return to the island.

In 1995 Motukawanui Island was chosen as a ‘creche’ to release ten North Island brown kiwi chicks from around Northland as part of the first Operation Nest Egg programme. The chicks were released on to the island to see how well they would do if given the opportunity to live in a predator free environment. North Island brown kiwi are now successfully breeding on the island. A 2004 survey showed an increase in numbers of 500% over the last eight years.

DOC has a revegetation program. The island has great potential as a sanctuary for lizards, seabirds and threatened plants but the first challenge is the removal of kiore, which limit regeneration of life on the island.

The island has had a history of early settlement that included land clearance as its main priority for cultivation then farming. Fire was used to control the spread of re-vegetation

A survey of the island identified 70 archaeological sites that include 14 pa and 36 pit and terrace complexes. These features suggest that the island was inhabited by a relatively large population, before Europeans arrived.

Human history

Prior to European arrival, the Māori inhabitants utilised the Cavalli’s rich and diverse range of economic resources including fisheries and the extensive grey faced petrel colonies (muttonbirds) located on most of the islands.

The presence of storage pits, modified soils and remnant taro on Motukawanui indicates that much of island was being cultivated by Māori in the prehistoric period.

Evidence for the large populations on the Cavalli’s also comes from Captain Cook's visit here in 1769 “during this time several canoes came off to the ship and two or three of them sold us some fish, Cavelles they were named, which occasioned my giving the island the same name”. It is assumed that the fish that were traded with Cook were Trevally, but the name Cavalli’s has remained.

Some time after European settlement the permanent occupation of Motukawanui ended.

In the late 1800s, the island was almost completely cleared for farming. The ruins of the farmer's hut still remain in Papatara Bay. The hut was once used as island accommodation but today there is a new hut located in Wai-iti Bay.

The island was farmed up until 1974, and in 1987 it was purchased by the Maritime and Historic Park Board. Today it is under the care of the Department of Conservation.

References

The Story of the Bay of Islands Maritime and Historic Park. 1989. Department of Conservation.