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Motutapu Island
17.7 km
5 hours 48 minutes
825 metres
Safety notice: Conditions change; check DOC/local council/weather before walking.
If you are looking to escape the hustle and bustle of Auckland without spending hours in the car, the Motutapu Island Walks loop is the perfect adventure. Just a short ferry ride across the sparkling waters of the Hauraki Gulf lies Motutapu ("sacred island"), a peaceful, car-free sanctuary that feels a world away from the city.
This challenging 17.65km loop takes about 5.8 hours to complete, making it a fantastic full-day mission for hikers with a good level of fitness. With an accumulated 825 metres of elevation gain, your legs will certainly get a workout! The trail is classified as hard due to its length and the constant, gently rolling terrain. You will traverse open pastoral farmland, walk through pockets of rapidly regenerating native bush, and skirt dramatic coastal cliffs that offer sweeping, panoramic views of the Hauraki Gulf and its iconic volcanic neighbour, Rangitoto.
The adventure typically begins at Home Bay Wharf, where you are immediately greeted by the salty sea breeze and the sound of waves lapping the shore. From here, the track heads up into the hills. Because the island is connected to Rangitoto by a causeway, you can easily admire the stark contrast between Rangitoto's dark, rugged volcanic rock and Motutapu’s soft, green, undulating pastures.
While the full loop is a hearty undertaking, the island itself is very kid-friendly. If you are travelling with younger family members, you can easily opt for shorter, gentler coastal strolls around Home Bay rather than tackling the entire 17.65km grind. However, please leave your four-legged friends at home—this island is a strict pest-free sanctuary, meaning it is not dog-friendly.
No vehicle access is permitted on Motutapu Island, as it is completely car-free. Visitors typically access the island via ferry services from downtown Auckland (Quay Street). Parking facilities are available in Auckland city near the ferry terminals.
Get DirectionsKeep an eye out for these native and local bird species along the trail
Philesturnus carunculatus
These energetic forest birds are easily recognised by their saddle-like chestnut-coloured marking on their back and loud, varied calls.
Best time: Year-round
Anthornis melanura
Endemic songbird with bell-like calls. Males are olive-green with a purple head sheen; females are browner with a narrow white-yellow stripe across the cheek.
Best time: Year-round
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Loop
Getting to Motutapu is half the fun! Because the island is completely car-free, there is no vehicle access.
To get there, you will need to catch a passenger ferry from the downtown Auckland Ferry Terminal (located on Quay Street). Ferries run regularly to Rangitoto Island (where you can walk across the causeway to Motutapu), and direct sailings to Home Bay Wharf on Motutapu are available on select days and weekends.
If you are driving to the ferry terminal in Auckland, you can park your car in one of the secure multi-storey parking buildings near downtown, such as the Downtown Car Park or the Britomart Car Park.
Thanks to an incredibly successful pest eradication programme and the tireless work of the Motutapu Restoration Trust, the island is completely predator-free. This has allowed native New Zealand wildlife to absolutely thrive.
Motutapu translates from Māori as "sacred island," and its history is deeply rich. Archaeological evidence shows that Māori lived here productively for centuries. When Rangitoto erupted violently from the sea bed around 600 years ago, it showered Motutapu in volcanic ash, preserving footprints, dog tracks, and garden sites beneath the debris. This unique geological event makes the island one of the most significant archaeological landscapes in New Zealand.
In the 19th and 20th centuries, the island was farmed and eventually heavily fortified during World War II to protect the Auckland Harbour from potential invasion. Today, the island's story is one of ecological rebirth. Volunteers have planted more than half a million native trees, slowly transforming the landscape from pine and pasture back into a thriving, lush native broadleaf forest.
There are no cafes, shops, or dairies on Motutapu Island, so you will need to carry all your own snacks and lunch for the trail. However, once you step off the ferry back at the Auckland Ferry Terminal, you are in the heart of the city's best dining precincts.
Best time: Year-round
Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae
These vibrant green parakeets are often seen flitting through the forest, distinguished by their bright red forehead.
Best time: Year-round
Anas chlorotis
New Zealand's rarest mainland dabbling duck, the pāteke is one of the few ducks in the world that primarily forages at night.
Best time: Year-round
Porphyrio hochstetteri
Large flightless bird once thought extinct. Now found in sanctuaries and Fiordland. Distinctive blue-green plumage and red bill.
Best time: Year-round