Back in 1769, Captain Cook anchored off the small island of Moturua in New Zealand’s Bay of Islands during his first voyage. He traded with the island’s Māori population, marking one of the first interactions between Europeans and the NZ locals.
Only ~350 acres in size, Moturua ( which translates to Island Two in Māori) is today nearly unpopulated and only accessible by water, either by private boat or by a few local tour boats. One old homestead site remains, a WWII defensive military installation is perched on a hilltop, and the remains of Māori forts guard headlands. But the main draw of the island is the natural beauty and the wildlife. Stunning views across the Bay of Islands emerge around every turn of the 2.5 mile/4.5km trail circling the island, and a cacophony of chirps and calls ring out from the vibrant flock of birds that call the island home.
A large part of the island’s unspoiled beauty is due to Project Island Song. In 2003, a group of local NZ residents started a project to return a group of 7 islands to a more natural state. In partnership with NZ’s Department of Conservation, invasive plants were removed and bird-killing rodents were trapped, and then native birds were reintroduced to the islands.
Visiting the island, it’s hard to argue with the project’s outcome – Moturua is a spectacular place.
