Eco tour to Muriwai Beach & Gannet Colony including transport from Auckland | La Vacanza Travel

Eco tour to Muriwai Beach & Gannet Colony including transport from Auckland

Duration: 5 to 6 hours
Destination: New Zealand, Auckland, Auckland
from
175.56

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  • 5 to 6 hours
  • Auckland
  • E-Voucher
  • Lowest Price
  • Not-Cancellable

Overview

Muriwai Beach is famous for its sparkling black sand, surf and Gannet Colony. Auckland and Beyond Tours will start your tour by picking you up from Auckland CBD at your accommodation. Enjoy a scenic drive through the Waitakere Ranges and stop at a beautiful spot that looks out over Muriwai for the perfect photo opportunity.

Once at Muriwai we will take you to have a closer look at the gannets (easy walking) then along the beach and the cove. You will have approximately an hour to relax, swim and explore the beach.

It just keeps getting better, from there we will take you for wine tasting at one of the areas oldest wineries to taste test before returning to Auckland.

Morning Tour: 9:00 AM
Sunset Tour: 3:00 PM
(timing is flexible)

Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product

Stop At: Auckland & Beyond Tours, Auckland Central, Auckland New Zealand

Meet Auckland and Beyond Tours in Auckland CBD to begin your tour

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Muriwai Beach, Muriwai Beach, North Island

Discover one of New Zealand's famous black sand beaches on the west coast. Muriwai is an impressive coastline with cliff-top trails to a huge gannet colony, with easy access and viewing platforms that let you get up close.

A windswept rugged coastline stretching 60 kilometres, and interrupted only by streams and rivers, makes Muriwai one of New Zealand's most spectacular black-sand surf beaches.

Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Muriwai Gannet Colony, 428 Motutara Rd Waitakere, Muriwai Beach, Auckland 0881 New Zealand

Muriwai's gannet colony is a one hour drive from the centre of Auckland. About 1,200 pairs of gannets nest here from August to March each year.

The nests are just centimetres apart. It's an air traffic controller's nightmare, but somehow the birds have it under control. Those coming in to land must glide over the squawking raised beaks of their neighbours - so getting it wrong can be painful. These two-and-a-half kilogram birds have a wingspan of two metres, and their mastery of the onshore updrafts is impressive to say the least.

Once airborne, the young gannets leave the colony and cross the Tasman Sea to Australia. A few years later, surviving birds return to secure a nest site at the colony.

The views from the colony are very impressive. Muriwai Beach extends 60 kilometres to the north - a line of black sand between the thundering surf and the sand hills. Far below, enthusiastic surfers look like seals on the large ocean swells.

Duration: 2 hours

Inclusions
  • Port or hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Professional guide
  • Bottled water
  • Snacks

Exclusions
    • Not wheelchair accessible
    • Infant seats are available on request if advised at time of booking (Depends on availability)
    • Stroller accessible
    • Service animals allowed
    • Near public transportation
    • Infant seats available
    • Most travelers can participate
    • This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 19 travelers
    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
    Departure Point

    1: Hilton Auckland, 147 Quay Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
    2: SkyCity Auckland, Corner Victoria and, Federal Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
    3: Pullman Auckland Hotel & Apartments, Corner Waterloo Quadrant &, Princes Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
    4: Grand Millennium Auckland, 71 Mayoral Drive, Cnr Vincent Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
    Traveler pickup is offered
    Exact Pick time & location will be confirmed by our reservations team prior to the tour.

    Ports

    • Ports of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand


    Departure Time

    09:00 AM


    Return Details

    Returns to original departure point

    Voucher info

    You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.

    Duration

    5 to 6 hours


    User's Reviews

    Susan D

    07 Feb, 2023

    The owner led the tour on a national holiday. He did a great job. He was very knowledgeable about the area. We enjoyed visiting with him throughout the tour. The car was great. It was comfortable and clean.

    User's Picture Gallery


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