Rebuilt from pastoral farmland into an open wildlife sanctuary in the Hauraki Gulf, Motuihe Island / Te Motu-a-Ihenga offers a predator-free haven where visitors can explore walking tracks, swim from sheltered beaches, and spot thriving native wildlife including little spotted kiwi, tuatara, saddleback, kakariki, bellbirds, and shore skinks. Run in partnership between the Motuihe Trust and the Department of Conservation, the island welcomes day-trippers for self-guided walks, family outings, camping, and school trips, as well as hands-on volunteer days covering tree planting, nursery work, weeding, and citizen-science monitoring.
Reaching the island takes about 30 minutes from downtown Auckland by fast ferry or an hour and fifteen minutes aboard The Red Boat, with additional access via Auckland SeaShuttles or private vessels anchored in the bays. Strict biosecurity measures protect the island's recovering ecosystem, meaning dogs and other pets are strictly not permitted ashore. Our pick in the gulf for an immersive conservation day trip just a short boat ride from the city.