A trip with her 10-year-old to wildlife-packed and tranquil Tiritiri Matangi island proves to Sarah Lawrence that fun can be had far from the reaches of modern razzle dazzle.
When I floated the idea of a day trip to Tiritiri Matangi, my 10-year-old son Jack's initial questions were "what is there to do?", "are there shops?" and "what will I be able to buy?" When I explained Tiri is an island in the Hauraki Gulf with nothing but native birds and trees, a look of bewilderment crossed his face.
Nevertheless, we set off on a sunny Saturday morning on the 75-minute ferry trip to the island sitting off the tip of the Whangaparaoa Peninsula. It's said to be one of the most successful volunteer conservation projects in the world. Restoration began in the mid-1980s after much of the island's forest was stripped by farming. For more than a decade thousands of volunteers planted nearly 300,000 native trees. As the years passed, the trees flourished and native wildlife was reintroduced. Now, many endangered species prosper including kiwi, takahe, kokako, stitchbirds and brown teal. If you're lucky you may even spot a tuatara.
Tour guides are available at a small cost (adults $5, children $2.50) and are worth it, especially for first-timers like us. Our guide was friendly and passionate about the island, and even kept Jack engaged with many interesting Tiri facts.
As we meandered our way through the lush greenery, a cacophony of birdsong echoed through the trees. There are numerous feeding stations along the way, with strategically placed seats where visitors can sit and watch the birds from close range. They might be wild but they are surprisingly tame and didn't seem bothered by our presence. Jack relaxed into the atmosphere, and I was touched to hear him say "I could stay here all day".
