NATURE AND WILDLIFE

If you are looking for a holiday spot with lots of nature and wildlife, the Bay of Islands has it all! Native bush lush with birdlife, pristine beaches and dramatic coastlines, serene waterfalls, gorgeous pest free islands, dolphin watching, nightly kiwi encounters… with plenty of options to dust of your hiking boots, go out fishing, snorkelling… and return home with lots of wonderful memories and photos.

Within the Bay of Islands, the Russell Peninsula takes a very special place. It is one of the very few areas where wild kiwi and weka live side by side with people. The variety of habitats is incredible - wetlands, salt marshes, wetlands, native forest – and offers a home to an array of birds, insects, and lizards, some of which are very rare!

Having such a precious ecosystem within the Bay of Islands and so many birds, mammals, fish, insects relying on it, there are a few amazing local organisations and projects involved in protecting, preserving, and enhancing this unique natural habitat. Two of those organisations/projects are based right here in Russell: Russell Kiwi Protection and Project Island Song.

Russell Kiwi Protection is an ecological restoration project initiated by the Russell Landcare Trust, a large group of locals who work together to restore and enhance the native biodiversity of the Russell Peninsula. Their aim is doubling the number of kiwi birds by protecting them from introduced predators like stoats, rats, and possums. And next to that they work on preventing invasive weeds from degrading the local forests and wetlands.

Project Island Song: The Wild Side of the Bay of Islands

Project Island Song is a pest-free wildlife sanctuary covering the 7 islands in the eastern Bay of Islands: Okahu, Waewaetorea, Motukiekie, Motorua, Urapukapuka, Motuarohia and Poroporo. There you can discover the home of some of the world’s most fascinating and rare wildlife, walk the many tracks and listen to the native bird song. A perfect place to learn about the eco-system and the regeneration of our native bush, home to rare birds and native species.

Project Island Song is a charity and relies on the generous support of everyday kiwis, businesses and visitors to the Bay. If you would like to help to make a difference, there are many ways you can support their work, including volunteering, purchasing an eco-friendly gift or by donating. That way the conservation project can continue working on restoring and protecting these unique natural eco-systems and the heritage of the Bay of Islands so that it is there for everyone - including future generations - to experience, forever.

To find out more visit: projectislandsong.co.nz

To help keep these islands sanctuaries and species safe from pests, please check your gear and clean your shoes before leaving the mainland. And if you spot any pest on the pest-free islands please call 0800-362468 immediately to report it and email pest@projectislandsong.co.nz.

Te Peiwhairangi/Bay of Islands Marine Mammal sanctuary

From December 15, 2021, the Bay of Islands Marine Mammal sanctuary will come into effect, in a bid to reverse the decline in bottlenose dolphins and better protect visiting seals and orca’s.

Swimmers and boats will have to keep a distance from at least 300 meters from marine mammals, and there will be 2 marine mammal safe zones maintained where boats must always keep to 5 knots.