Muriwai Regional Park - Gannets
Muriwai Regional Park contains 60 kilometres of wildlife coastline dominated by a fine surf beach and rolling dunes of black sand.
Muriwai Regional Park includes the spectacular gannet Refuge at Otakamiro Point, one of just three mainland gannet colonies in New Zealand.
Best time to visit: The best time to see the gannets is from October to February. The chicks hatch in November then leave for Australia at 15 weeks old, only returning to breed at least 3 years later. December is peak time as chicks growing and demanding food and the parents are busy fishing, which is usually a spectacular nosedive into the sea at up to 90MPH.
Highlights: The gannets dominate the scene, but there are also little blue penguins, Spur-winged plovers, Caspian terns, Black and little shags, and variable oystercatchers.
Fur seals can often be seen sunbathing on the rocks below the gannet colony during the spring.
Location: From Auckland, take State Highway 16 to Waimauku, where you should turn left into Muriwai Rd which leads to the park. This should take about 45 minutes from Auckland.
Facilities: Two viewing platforms provide great views. There are picnic sites and a camp site.
The gannet colony at Muriwai Beach is steadily growing. Now around a thousand pairs of adult birds nest on Otakamiro Point and Moturara Island each summer. With a wingspan of over two metres, gannets are graceful fliers and fearsome hunters. They hit the water at speeds of up to 150km per hour, and can reach depths of up to ten metres to attack their prey from below. Photo credit Adventure Films (www.adventurefilms.co.nz)
These maps are intended as a guideline only; you must check the exact location of the reserve yourself. Wildlife Extra assumes no responsibility for the accuracy or usefulness of the information on this website.
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