Private Tāwharanui, Matakana, Wine and Kiwi Tour
Auckland (Region), Auckland
A private day north of Auckland, guided by Paul: a predator-free bird sanctuary, a swim at Anchor Bay and Matakana wine tasting — or the evening option, ending with a wild kiwi walk.
Highlights
- Explore Tāwharanui, a predator-free sanctuary with takahē and kiwi
- Swim at Anchor Bay or explore the mermaid rockpools at low tide
- Sculpture trail at Brick Bay or Sculptureum, plus a Matakana wine tasting
- Afternoon/evening option: look for wild kiwi after dark by red light
- Private tour for your group only, guided by Paul; supports the sanctuary
Description
Takahē Adventures runs this private day tour from Auckland to Tāwharanui's bird sanctuary and the food and wine country around Matakana. Explore native forest, white-sand beaches, sculpture trails, art galleries and local food producers and vineyards, with the option to finish after dark looking for wild kiwi.
For the day tour, we pick you up at 9:00 am and head north to Tāwharanui and Matakana.
Tāwharanui is a predator-proof open sanctuary where native birdlife has returned in numbers, dozens of species, with pūkeko, pīwakawaka, tūī, kererū, pāteke and pūtangitangi likely, and one of the few places near Auckland with resident takahē, one of New Zealand's rarest birds (around 500 alive, four of them here; a sighting would be exceptional, but we keep an eye out). Choose your walk: the Ecology Path, 3.5 km through native forest in about 1.5 hours; the North Coast Track to Takatu Point, 7.5 km in 2.5 hours with the best views on the peninsula; or the full North and South Coast Loop, 11.3 km through forest, farmland and coast. All walks can finish at Anchor Bay, a white-sand beach sheltered from the prevailing south-westerly, and at low tide the mermaid pools, big rockpools in the rocks, are a favourite quick dip.
Lunch is a gourmet New Zealand picnic beside the beach.
In Matakana, activities include sculpture trails, vineyards and your pick of the area's producers, fresh oysters, gelato, coffee. We drop you back in Auckland around 5:30 pm.
For the afternoon / evening tour, we pick you up at 2.00 pm. We go to Matakana first for its sculpture trails and vineyards before heading to Tāwharanui. I'll take you on a guided walk before setting up a picnic whilst the sun sets. Then, after dark, we head out with red lights looking for kiwi.
Every Takahē Adventures tour is just your own party. No hiking experience is needed, children are welcome, and the day is shaped around your group's pace and interests. Every Rua tour includes a donation to the Tāwharanui Open Sanctuary Society, the volunteers whose pest control since 2002 made the sanctuary possible.
Includes
- Auckland pick up and return
- Private tour guided by Paul
- Gourmet picnic lunch
- One wine tasting
- One sculpture walk
- Donation to the Tāwharanui Open Sanctuary Society
Excludes
- Winery or brewery meals or any food other than the picnic
- Additional wine tastings beyond the first
- Anything you buy yourself in Matakana village
Easy cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
