Day 9 February 10th Tiritiri Matangi and the Sky Tower

Aukland harbour front
 

A fuller version of what we did yesterday.  We had arranged a fairly early start to have a boat trip and visit an island, Tiritiri Matangi, which is across Aukland Bay.  The boat left at 0900 and was pretty full and took an hour to get to the island.  There we joined a guided walk across this now heavily protected island about the size of St. Martin's.  All predators have been eradicated so that now flightless birds can live as they used to on New Zealand before man arrived.  The flora and fawna have all been re-established since the 1980s and things are progressing well. 

bellbird

 Our guide was soon identifying and pointing to different birds and we began to take lots of pictures.It was such a

tui

beautiful day we were all snapping away and getting warmer as we made the steady climb to the ridge of the island.  We had been warned to take plenty to drink but all our food and water we had to take with us and take all wrappings etc back to Aukland for disposal.

the lighthouse

takahe
 

Near the lighthouse we were able to see a  family of 3 tekahe of which there are only 260 left in the world.  So all are pleased with this.  We also watched a pukeko - another flightless bird.
                                       

We had our lunch and then had a walk along the ridge of the island (some magnificent views).
During our walks we saw 

North Island Robin

other birds including an owl, parakeets, fantail and saddleback.  It was very interesting.  We had hoped to see some of the colony of little penguins that live there but they were not around.  Soon it was time to catch the air-conditioned boat back to Aukland.

the beautiful sunset

Our hotel with a Methodist Church

In the evening we had arranged to have a meal in the revolving restaurant at the top of the Sky Tower and so it was a quick freshen up and change before walking to the tower.  We had a good look round the viewing platform before entering the restaurant for a very good meal as the sun set.  A good end to a memorable day.