Hauraki Gulf Seabird Tours

Our Hauraki Gulf Pelagic Tours are the perfect complement to Kaikoura (South Island) pelagics

The beautiful Hauraki Gulf is situated close to Auckland, New Zealand's most popular international entry point. This is the perfect place to start your birdwatching adventures. Join us on our Hauraki Gulf seabird tours to see a unique range of locally endemic seabirds. We offer regular day departures and occasional overnight tours to view seabirds and other marine life. We visit premier island sanctuaries such as the Mokohinau Islands and Little Barrier (Hauturu), New Zealand's premier northern island sanctuary. Tiritiri Matangi Island is also close by, but we recommend a separate excursion to this unique open bird and wildlife sanctuary. Click for more information about the Hauraki Gulf and our Hauraki Gulf Pelagic Tours.

A large number of seabirds breed in the Hauraki Gulf: Cook's, Pycroft's, Grey-faced and Black Petrels; Common Diving Petrel; Buller's, Little, Flesh-footed and Fluttering Shearwaters; Fairy Prion, Blue Penguin and White-faced Storm Petrel. We also regularly see the recently rediscovered NZ Storm Petrel. Other seabirds which visit the Hauraki Gulf breed either north of New Zealand in tropical and sub-tropical waters, or in the chilly subantarctic.

Buller's Shearwater Richard Hadfield photo Feb 2003

Black Petrel Richard Hadfield photo Feb 2003

Cook's Petrel Richard Hadfield photo Feb 2003

Our promotion of the Hauraki Gulf as a top New Zealand pelagic destination, one that complements Kaikoura and the Subantarctic Islands has seen more and more birders from all round the world (including New Zealand) joining us on our pelagics.

"My take on the day's birding was that it had to be the best "pelagic" I've done in 20 years with 5 Procellarid lifers in one day!" - Barrie Rose, South Africa (after our 13 Dec 2003 trip)

A highlight of the trips is the recently rediscovered NZ Storm Petrel. Our interest is very much in what is happening out on the water here in the Hauraki Gulf - their behaviour and to determine whether they are breeding in the Outer Hauraki Gulf. We've confirmed the consistent presence of black/white storm Petrels in the Hauraki Gulf from early November 2003 to May 2004 when we saw them on one of our Far North pelagics. These gorgeous little black and white stormies are now firmly on the map as another fascinating component of the Gulf's rich seabird life.

..... We've confirmed the consistent presence of black/white storm Petrels in the Hauraki Gulf from early November 2003 to May 2004, and again October 2004 to March 2005. These gorgeous little black and white stormies are now firmly on the map as another fascinating component of the Gulf's rich seabird life.

NZ Storm Petrel Bryan Thomas photograph, 17 Nov 2003

Click to view MPG video clip showing slow motion fly past of NZ Storm Petrel filmed by Quentin Paynter, January 2004 (1mb)