change

Home 

Choose your country

or

 

Coastal Highlights

 

 

Muriwai Gannet Colony

Gannet colony at Muriwai Beach - click for more.
Muriwai Beach is the most accessible gannet colony in New Zealand.
More about this image
Muriwai's gannet colony is a one hour drive from the centre of Auckland. Next to the car park, a short walking track leads to a viewing platform right above the main colony area. Out to sea, the colony continues on two vertical-sided islands. About 1,200 pairs of gannets nest here from August to March each year.

The nests are just centimetres apart. It's an air traffic controller's nightmare, but somehow the birds have it under control. Those coming in to land must glide over the squawking raised beaks of their neighbours - so getting it wrong can be painful. These two-and-a-half kilogram birds have a wingspan of two metres, and their mastery of the onshore updrafts is impressive to say the least.

Each pair lays one egg and the parents take turns on the nest. The chicks hatch naked, but within a week they're covered with fluffy down. As they mature, they grow juvenile feathers and begin to exercise their wings in preparation for the one-shot jump off the cliff.

Once airborne, the young gannets leave the colony and cross the Tasman Sea to Australia. A few years later, surviving birds return to secure a nest site at the colony.

The views from the colony are very impressive. Muriwai Beach extends 60 kilometres to the north - a line of black sand between the thundering surf and the sand hills. Far below, enthusiastic surfers look like seals on the large ocean swells.
 


 
AUCKLAND Region


Contact Details

Contact: Auckland i-SITE Visitor Centre - Princes Wharf
Phone: +64 9 307 0615
Fax: +64 9 3072 614
Postal: P O Box 5561 Wellesly Street Auckland
Website: www.aucklandnz.com

Send a message



Your Email Address:
Your phone number:
Your message:
 
Send me a copy

Helensville is the closest town to this highlight.

In Helensville:

Other towns near Helensville by road:

Other towns near Helensville by rail:

Helensville does not have any rail stations.

The nearest rail station is in Auckland (39 minutes)

Other towns near Helensville by air:

Helensville does not have scheduled passenger air services.

The nearest airport is in Auckland (39 minutes)

Disclaimer
All information available on this web site concerning products and services is provided by the suppliers of those goods and services. Because information is liable to change from time to time you should not rely on the information on this web site but should check the accuracy of the information with the relevant supplier. Tourism New Zealand is not responsible or liable for any claims arising in relation to information supplied to it.

 
Front Row Rugby Club

Front Row Rugby Club Join the Front Row Rugby Club along with Tana Umaga and thousands of others.

New Zealand Videos

New Zealand Videos Browse our collection of videos that showcase what New Zealand has to offer.

Your Words

Your Words Browse personal blogs for straight talking thoughts and opinions about our places, people and adventures.


› Email this page  
› Page top

Tools:

Souvenirs:

Your Experiences:

100% Pure - newzealand.com
Edition: 
Travel:
Our other sites: 

100% Pure New Zealand on: 
The email addresses published on this web page are for conducting communications that promote Tourism in New Zealand, and are not to be used for any other commercial purpose.
Copyright 1999-2009 Tourism New Zealand, the official website of the New Zealand Tourism Board.