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Cruises to beautiful Moutohora Island Sanctuary.
Recharge with nature on a tour of Moutohora/Whale Island, one of New Zealand’s most restricted pest-free wildlife sanctuaries. Enjoy a walk amongst the regenerated bush as you listen to the bird calls or dig yourself a geothermal spring pool at Onepa Bay. This is your opportunity to see New Zealand’s wildlife as nature intended it and shows what can be achieved when a concentrated effort on conservation is made, managed and protected.
Once you arrive in Whakatane, follow the directions to the Town Centre, which will bring you onto a street called the The Strand. White Island Tours is located at 15 The Strand East.
GROUP SIZE Please enquire
CHILD POLICY Family Friendly. Recommended minimum age 8. Up to 15 years child rate.
CANCELLATION 24 hours 100% | cancellation due to weather or mechanical reasons Full Refund
SEASON Open year round
CHRISTMAS Closed Christmas Day
Cruises to beautiful Moutohora Island Sanctuary.
Recharge with nature on a tour of Moutohora/Whale Island, one of New Zealand’s most restricted pest-free wildlife sanctuaries. Enjoy a walk amongst the regenerated bush as you listen to the bird calls or dig yourself a geothermal spring pool at Onepa Bay. This is your opportunity to see New Zealand’s wildlife as nature intended it and shows what can be achieved when a concentrated effort on conservation is made, managed and protected.
Moutohora (also known as Whale Island) is one of News Zealand’s little-known treasures and home to a number of New Zealand’s rare and endangered plants, birds and reptiles. Located 9 kms off Whakatãne, the island is under the protection of the Department of Conservation (DOC) with access highly restricted.
The fully-guided tour allows visitors to learn about the island’s unique flora and fauna, with is a chance to see a number of different species – including saddleback / tieke, kakariki / red-crowned parakeet, little brown kiwi, bellbirds, tui, grey warbler, and tuatara – many of which are endangered or seldom seen on the New Zealand mainland. The tour includes a visit to Sulphur Bay where geothermal hot springs come up through the sand allowing for you to dig your own hot pool on the beach, and ends with a circumnavigation of the island.
Departs between 9-10am | Duration 4.5 hours
Tours are dependent on sea conditions & demand. All tours are confirmed the night prior via a phone call. Minimum age is 4 years however we recommend the tour as more suitable for children 8 years and over. Visitors to Moutohora must undergo a bio-security check prior to landing.
Transfers available from Rotorua or Tauranga
Family Friendly
Rotorua 1 hour 20 minutes