Located in the Northland region
Beautiful bays and picturesque beaches provide plenty of opportunities for swimming and picnicking. Alternatively, you may simply want to relax and enjoy the views especially from Hikurangi pa.
Moturua Island Scenic Reserve is situated in the central Bay of Islands.
The four main bays, Otupoho, Waipao, Mangahawea and Waiwhapuku all offer safe anchorage for visitors.
This stunning island has four lovely beaches and an easy walking track around the island. You can access the archaeological sites from the track.
The reserve is part of the Bay of Islands Maritime and Historic Park.
Moturua Island is a scenic reserve with rapidly regenerating native forest. The dominant vegetation is manuka and kanuka which creates an ideal nursery for young shrubs and tree ferns. Young pohutukawa thrive along the coastal fringe.
Pause a moment, look and listen. You may be lucky enough to see and hear the North Island robin/toutouwai, North Island saddleback/tīeke, whitehead/pōpokotea and red-crowned parakeet/kākāriki. They share Moturua with fantails, silver eyes, finches, sparrows, tuis, blackbirds and thrushes who enjoy the sheltered, lush habitat.
There are also some special threatened species who roam the island. New Zealand dotterel/tūturiwhatu can be seen and heard on the beaches, having been reintroduced to the island after becoming regionally extinct. In the bushes, you may even catch a glimpse of a North Island brown kiwi as it rushes past.
Moturua Island has had a long association with humans from the earliest Polynesian settlers through to the early European explorers such as Cook and du Fresne. Read about Moturua Island's history.
Pewhairangi / Bay of Islands Office | |
Phone: | +64 9 407 0300 |
Fax: | +64 4 471 1117 |
Email: | bayofislandsbooking@doc.govt.nz |
Address: |
34 Landing Road Kerikeri 0230 |
Postal Address: |
PO Box 128 Kerikeri 0245 |
Full office details |