Moutohorā (Whale Island) is one of New Zealand's little known treasures and home to a number of New Zealand's rare and endangered plants, birds and reptiles. Due to the precious nature of this pest free island access is highly restricted to the general public and the only way to visit the island is with a Department of Conservation approved concessionaire. We are privileged to be allowed to take a small number of visitors to the island each day.

Sitting only 9 kilometres off the coast of Whakatāne, the journey to Moutohorā is just a short 15 minute boat ride aboard our comfortable catamaran "The Moutohorā Cat". The Moutohorā Cat allows for very easy access onto the island as it is able to nose onto the shore allowing you to descend a set of stairs directly onto the beach.

The fully guided tour of the island allows visitors to learn about the flora and fauna and the conservation effort focused on Moutohorā for the past 50 years. The island is a bird lover's paradise, with the opportunity to see saddleback/tieke, kakariki/ red crowned parakeet, little brown kiwi, bellbirds, tui, grey warbler and many species of sea birds. We also visit the NZ fur seal colony for an up close look at these beautiful animals.

Our walk includes a visit to the island's saddle for spectacular views out to White Island, and a visit to Sulphur Bay where there is a chance to dig your own hot pool on the beach where geothermal hot springs come up through the sand.

Our Moutohorā / Whale Island tours operate on a daily basis however are subject to weather and demand.

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