Gannet Colony. Muriwai. North Is. New Zealand.
S 36° 49.960 E 174° 25.475
60H E 270326 N 5920594
Muriwai is home to a wide range of birds but it is the gannets (takapu) that most visitors come to see. Two viewing platforms provide great vantage points to take in the spectacular location of the gannet colony.
Waymark Code: WMG7PH
Location: North Island, New Zealand
Date Posted: 01/25/2013
Views: 3
Muriwai Regional Park extends from Maori Bay in the south up Muriwai Beach for 8km. The park includes the spectacular Takapu (gannet) Refuge at Otakamiro Point, one of only three mainland gannet colonies in New Zealand. The best time to visit the gannets is between October and February. The chicks hatch in November then leave for Australia at 15 weeks old returning to breed when they are between 3 and 7 years old.
The birds return here between July and October to re-establish contact with their life-long mates. After mating, one egg is laid and incubated in shifts by both birds until the gannet chick is born, naked and blind, 45 days later.
December is an exciting time as chicks clamour for food and parents nosedive spectacularly into the water at up to 145km per hour in search of fish to feed their young. Fur seals regularly feed and rest at Oaia Island 1.6km off the coast. During spring look out for them sunbathing on the rocks below the gannet colony.
The Takapu Refuge Walk (30mins) takes you from Maori Bay up to Otakamiro Point to the gannet colony and then down to Muriwai Beach. The views from the lookouts are spectacular with booming surf, extruded pillow lava formations in the cliffs and gannets soaring in the breeze.
Parking available at either end of the loop track, or at Maori Bay carpark, co-ords: S 36° 49.999 E 174° 25.660.
Handicap Accessibility: If you are unable to go along the track you will still be able to view the gannet colony from the Maori Bay carpark with the help of binoculars (see photo).