Kiwi Release: 28 May 2023
- Nature & Wildlife
- Family Friendly
We're releasing a Coromandel brown kiwi chick and you’re invited!
WHAT: Release of Kiwi chick on Rotoroa Island
WHEN: Sun 28 May 2023 at 9:45am, soon after 8am ferry arrives.
WHERE: Exhibition Centre, Home Bay, Rotoroa Island
BOOKING: While no booking is required for the release, please book your ferry tickets in advance with Fullers360 (Select Sun 28 May 2023 + 8am ferry)
25% Off Ferry Tickets - Fullers are offering 25% OFF Rotoroa Island sailings in May. Simply add the tickets to your cart and use the discount code ENDOFAUTUMN when checking out to save 25%.
DAY PLAN
8:00 am - Ferry departs downtown Auckland
9:15 am - Ferry arrives at Rotoroa Island
9:45 am - Short welcome and introduction to kiwi chick (Home Bay)
11:00am - Guided Nature Walk (Bookings required)
Explore Rotoroa Island (if not on Guided Walk)
4:00 pm - Ferry departs Rotoroa Island, arriving in Auckland at 5:15pm.
GETTING TO ROTOROA ISLAND
Fullers360 ferries depart from downtown Auckland to Rotoroa Island
The trip takes just over an hour, via Waiheke's Orapiu wharf on the way to Rotoroa Island.
Timetable and fare information: Fullers360
Rotoroa Island is one of the few predator-free islands in the Hauraki Gulf, which acts as a creche for kiwi. Kiwis left in the wild have about a 5% survival rate, so we're part of the national kiwi recovery programme to help give young kiwi chicks the best chance possible. By releasing kiwi chicks in our safe island environment, the survival rate is brought up to 50-60%.
Rotoroa's kiwi programme is in partnership with Save the Kiwi and Thames Coast Kiwi Care; you can learn more about it here.
Release event is FREE, but usual ferry ticket pricing applies. There are limited seats on the ferry, so get in quick!
LATEST EVENT UPDATES: For latest updates, please visit Rotoroa Island Facebook Page