Nature reserve - national treasure for bird lovers
Kapiti Island is home to an internationally famed nature reserve protecting some of the world’s rarest and most endangered birds.
The island is one of New Zealand’s most important nature reserves being the only large island sanctuary for birds between the Hauraki Gulf in the north and the most southern outlying islands.
Day visitors to the island can choose between two destinations, Rangatira or the north end. Built with a gentle gradient, the north end track is a four kilometre track that provides easy walking access to a variety of landscapes from coastal areas to mature forest. Beginning in the Okupe Valley, walkers journey up the ridgeback to cliff tops overlooking the Cook Straight, before looping back down the valley.
''It offers a new perspective on Kapiti Island, one of our national treasures. The landscape and views at the north end are very different to those of the nature reserve at Rangatira,'' says Department of Conservation (DOC) Kapiti Area manager Ian Cooksley.
Free from introduced predators, Kapiti Island is renowned as one of the nation’s most important sites for native bird recovery. With such a diverse cross section of landscape on the track, visitors have the potential to view a selection of these rare and protected birds.
The freshwater Okupe Lagoon features royal spoonbills, herons and the rare brown teal, while around the seasonal coastal track shags, white-fronted terns, reef herons and oystercatchers can be viewed.
Further inland, takahe, weka, kakariki and the North Island robin can be found in the shrubland, while in the regenerating five finger and mahoe forest and denser mature kohekohe and tawa forests tui, bellbirds, kaka and kereru can be seen and heard.
The newly constructed loop track and visitor facilities, including a shelter, toilets and lookout are operated under a DOC permit system allowing groups of up to 18 people to visit the island’s north end per day. The permit system is designed to safeguard the island’s conservation values while enhancing the visitor experience.
Interested visitors can book their permits though the Department of Conservation’s Wellington Information Centre.
Guided tours and overnight stays can be booked through Kapiti Island Alive.
Further Information:
Wellington Conservation Information Centre
Phone +64 4 472 7356
Email kapiti.island@doc.govt.nz
These topics may also be of interest to you
|
