Field Trip Details
Participants take part in field trips at their own risk. They should ensure that they wear appropriate clothing and footwear and take food and drink and any required medications. See here for the Health and Safety Plan
On Monday 2 June, a variety of exciting field trips will be available:
1. Tāwharanui Open Sanctuary
Located on the scenic Tāwharanui Peninsula, this regional park is protected by a predator-proof fence and consists of a mosaic of forest, wetlands, beaches and ocean, and farmland. Much of the farmland has been revegetated, a process which is ongoing. Predator trapping/monitoring, bird monitoring and maintenance rely heavily on volunteer input. Existing species have been augmented by reintroductions.
We will leave the Novotel Ellerslie at 8.30 am for Tāwharanui, arriving around 10 am. On arrival we will be greeted by a head ranger from Auckland Council for an overview of the park. Then there will be free time to explore the different aspects of the park. Recommended are the lagoon area at Jones Bay, Anchor Bay, Ecology and Mangatawhiri Tracks. Key species include forest species such as North Island Saddleback, North Island Robin, Whitehead, plus Brown Teal, Banded Rail, Spotless Crake, Takahē and many others. Return from the park at 4 pm, arriving around 5.30 pm.
More information
https://tossi.org.nz
https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/parkmaps/map-tawharanui-regional-park.pdf
To keep costs down, please provide your own lunch and drinks. Walking is along well-formed tracks with little elevation gain, for as far as you wish.
Cost: $47.00 per person
2. Hauraki Gulf Pelagic
Our destination will be the vicinity of the Mokohinau Islands, north-west of Aotea – Great Barrier Island. A broad range of pelagic species can be expected including albatrosses, petrels, shearwaters, prions, and storm-petrels.
We will leave Novotel Ellerslie at 7:30am and travel to Sandspit (approximately 1 hour) then board the vessel ‘Norma Jean’. Transit time to the chumming area will be a little under 2 hours, but we will stop as opportunities arise if there are birds present. We will spend around 8 hours on the water, returning to Ellerslie around 6pm.
Please bring your own lunch and drinks with you. The boat has shelter but we recommend warm/wet weather gear to make the most of opportunities for viewing the birds.
Seasickness medication is advised.
Cost: $410.00 per person (limited to 14 participants)
3. Behind the Scenes at Auckland Museum
We will depart Novotel Ellerslie at 9am and return in time for the afternoon trips to Ambury. This is an opportunity to go behind the scenes at Auckland Museum to view rare specimens and learn about the invaluable work of this priceless collection. Following this relatively short visit, there will be time to explore the galleries and/or take in the ponds and gardens of the adjacent Domain. There is a cafe and gift shop at the museum.
The Behind-the-scenes visit is limited to 10 participants. Museum entry is free for Auckland residents. Visitors from outside Auckland are strongly encouraged to make a donation. There is a $32.00 entry fee for international visitors.
Cost: $30 per person [Limit 10 people]
4. Ambury Regional Park
We will depart Novotel Ellerslie at 1 pm and proceed to Ambury Regional Park to enjoy large numbers of waders, waterfowl, and other species. High tide is late afternoon which will allow time for exploring the mudflats and wetlands around Puketutu Island and the shell banks, which are a major high tide roost within the park. Walking to the shell-banks is along formed tracks, around 600 metres each way. Bring a telescope if you can.
Return around 5 pm.
More Information
https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/parkmaps/map-ambury-regional-park.pdf
Please bring your own lunch and drinks with you.
Cost: $30 per person
5. Tiritiri Matangi
One of the jewels of New Zealand’s conservation crown, Tiritiri Matangi is mostly naturally predator-free and other exotics have been eradicated. An Open Sanctuary, the motu (island) has benefited from massive revegetation projects and reintroductions of birds and other species. Such is the success of these species that they are now used as source populations for other translocations.
More Information
https://www.tiritirimatangi.org.nz/
The ferry departs from downtown Auckland (end of Quay St, diagonally across from the NZ Maritime Museum) at 8.30 am, picking up at Gulf Harbour (free parking available) at 9.25 am, arriving on the island at 9.50 am. The ferry leaves the island at 4pm, arriving back in Auckland at 5.20 pm. On arrival to Tiritiri Matangi there is a short mandatory biosecurity briefing, then you are free to explore the island.
A suggested route, if you have not been here before, is to take the Kawerau Track from the landing to the top of the island, then head toward the lighthouse. The suggested return route is the Wattle Track back to the landing. Walking is along well-maintained tracks, with an altitude gain of around 80 metres, then along the ridge to the Visitors’ Centre at the lighthouse. Here there is a gift shop and complimentary tea/coffee. Note there is no food available on the island.
Cost: $85.50 departing either from the Viaduct Harbour (downtown Auckland) or Gulf Harbour. Participants pay their own travel to their chosen departure point.