We chose a autumn day to visit Tiritiri, probably the best time of year for the weather and cooler tempretures. We drove to Gulf harbour on the Whangaparoa pennisular and caught the ferry. The ferry can be boarded at Auckland but is cheaper to use the car for part of the journey, especially if there is more than two in the group.

A bit of history: After European settlement, the island was farmed from 1894 to 1971 when the lease expired and management was vested in the Hauraki Gulf Maritime Park Board, which ceased farming operations.

Volunteers planted over 280,000 native trees and shrubs in the revegetation project from 1984 to 1994 and native birds re-introduced, making it a twitches paradise. Seventy-eight species of bird have been observed on or near the island. Endangered species introduced or reintroduced as part of the ongoing island restoration project include the little spotted kiwi, takahē, tieke, kokako, stitchbird and brown teal. In 2003 the tuatara, a reptile, was also reintroduced.

SEE:Islands of the Hauraki Gulf

or see:www.tiritirimatangi.org.nz