The North Island of New Zealand supports a host of unusual endemic land birds and a rich assemblage of marine birds. Our North Island tour is designed to seek almost every possible endemic and take full advantage of fabulous scenery. Beginning in Auckland, we target North Island Brown Kiwi, amongst a multitude of other species that will no doubt be lifers. A pelagic excursion then takes place in the Hauraki Gulf in search of the recently rediscovered New Zealand Storm Petrel and a myriad of other species. Continuing to the fabled Tiritiri Matangi Island, we will bird this predator-free reserve for the prehistoric South Island Takahe, strange North Island Kokako and Saddleback, before combing the Miranda shoreline for the bizarre Wrybill and numerous migrant waders. From here we visit the scenic Tongariro National Park in the centre of the North Island where we check fast-flowing streams for the rare Blue Duck. We finish our time on the North Island visiting the famous Zealandia Reserve searching for the endangered Little Spotted Kiwi, New Zealand Falcon and Stitchbird. With excellent lodging and meals, awe-inspiring scenery and fantastically friendly “Kiwis”, this is sure to be a tour of a lifetime!

Day 1:  Auckland to Snell’s Beach
Day 2:  Snell’s Beach, visit regional park, kiwi walk at night
Day 3:  Snell’s Beach, pelagic off Hauraki Gulf
Day 4:  Snell’s Beach, day visit Tiritiri Matangi Island
Day 5:  Warkworth to Turangi via Miranda Shorebird centre
Day 6:  Turangi area
Day 7:  Turangi to Wellington
Day 8:  Wellington area
Day 9:  Flight Wellington to Auckland and departure

This tour is designed to be a relaxed, slow paced tour that spends quality time observing and learning about a number of local birds, rather than chasing and ticking every species in the area.

We stay at three hotels and limit ourselves to short drives to nearby birding sites. These accommodations have 3* ratings and Capital Gateway 4*. Days 1-4 Salty Dog Inn, Day 5-6 Parklands Motor Lodge, Days 7-8 Capital Gateway Motor Inn, Wellington.

Each day begins with some optional birding on the grounds of our hotel at 06:30, followed by breakfast between 07:00 and 08:00am. Packed lunches are arranged for day excursions to Tiri tiri Matangi Island, Hauraki Gulf Pelagic. All other days will be sit down lunches at cafeterias. We meet at 19:00 to discuss the following days activities and enjoy an aperitif before taking dinner.

Travel is on good tarmac roads throughout. Most outings are short drives from our hotels .There are 2 long drives: Auckland to Turangi 4 hours with plenty of stops for birding, coffee and lunch. Turangi to Wellington is 4 hrs with stops for coffee and lunch etc

Extra activities that can be arranged whilst at the hotels include fly fishing at Turangi. Tiritiri Matangi and Zealandia has bird feeders.