Urupukapuka Island Walk, Urupukapuka Island, Bay of Islands
Urupukapuka Island is a model conservation island, which comes under the unique organisation Project Island Song. A partnership between the Department of Conservation and a group of local trusts have the aim of keeping all seven of the 'Ipiperi Islands' free from pests and predators. As well as traditional efforts like planting native species, they also offer education experiences on 'floating classrooms', and maintain an information base here at Otehei.
Some of the birdlife they have so far managed to encourage and reintroduce are tieke (saddleback), toutouwai (North Island robin), popokatea (whitehead) pateke (brown teal). There are stringent rules for visiting regenerating islands.
Urupukapuka is technically a recreation reserve so is available for hiking and watersports. About a third of the island is still in grazing land, there is a wetland area which is part of the conservation effort, and a popular beach lined with Pohutukawa trees. There are three DoC campsites which can be booked.
Most of the Bay of Islands Tour operators can get you there, and ferries from Paihia and Russell operate in the summer. Water taxis are another option, or if you are taking your own boat it is:
Image Credits: Urupukapuka Island 1940s, Tudor Washington Collins, Two men stand to the left of the suspended fish, and four to the right. The text 'R. How Ozone Otehei Bay NZ 792 LBS' is written on the side of the marlin on the left, and the text 'W.R. Macpherson(.) Movarie Otehei Bay NZ 670 LBS' on the side of the marlin on the right. Coastline is visible in the background. Otehei Bay is located on Urupukapuka Island in the Bay of Islands, Northland. Group of people on Otehei Bay wharf waving, some of the women appear to be wearing Nurse uniforms, 1935, Auckland Museum.
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