Bird & Wildlife Watching

When out on the Bay Explorer, you have the opportunity to see many native birds.

Of note, Tuhua is home to many native bird and animal species which cannot survive on the mainland due to predation. Large populations of common forest birds also live on the island. Recent introductions of pateke / brown teal and the endangered orange-fronted parakeet have led to successful breeding populations on the island.

One of our favourite native birds are Tūī, because of their little white bib of neck feathers and impressive vocal range. Tūī mimic the sounds they hear, and each bird develops their own library of interesting sounds from cackles, to bell-like tones, to human noises. These funny little characters have fascinating traits – you’d just better hope that one doesn’t make a nest outside your bedroom window.

Tauranga’s many hectares of native bush, beautiful coastline, estuaries and wetlands make it the perfect home for an abundance of bird species. Many of the outland islands are predator free, thus supporting endangered species like tuatara and the famous kiwi. If you’re a nature lover, New Zealand as a whole displays unmatched flora and fauna, but we recommend paying Tauranga a visit for a unique and special experience.