Kapiti Island

Today we cross to the island we watched at sunset last night - Kapiti, famous for its status in providing a predator free environment- now increasingly the sun for much of New Zealand. 


It’s a relatively early start to check in, go through a bio security check and get on board the boat on Paraparaumu beach - quite literally, as it is pulled into the sea by tractor - then a fast but bumpy ride over to the island. 

Our small group of day visitors is met by our guide, Sky, who talks us through the island’s rich history of human occupation - in the 1830s described as a ‘bicultural whaling village’ with the enterprising Māori chief Te Rauparaha setting up trade with Europeans. Having been established as a conservation area in 1897, it has gradually returned to its native state with the removal of predators and the re establishment of native vegetation. 

We take a short walk with Sky, seeing fantails, a saddleback and North Island Robin. It’s then time to embark on our own adventure, and that’s where things become less than perfect. Foolishly, we decide to do the Okupe Valley loop track, described as a ‘gentle gradient’ but definitely too much for me today. I end up tired and frustrated; there are relatively few birds around, and there is insufficient time to wait for those we do hear or spot to appear for me to photograph. Finding ourselves at the top of the loop marked with a return time of 75 minutes and only 35 minutes before our pre-lunch meet time means we need to head back down the hill at record pace. We arrive, hot and very sweaty, by the requested 12.50 time only to wait until 1.15 for lunch to be served. The one consolation is being entertained by Wekas and Kakas, the latter clearly waiting for lunch too. Lunch, in fairness, is delicious, but by now we’re joined by yesterday’s overnight guests including a large party of women celebrating a birthday which does not make for the peaceful atmosphere we’ve been expecting. 

Eager to make the most of the short time remaining, we leave and set off to explore the lower areas - more birds - mostly Tui, though I do manage to capture a bell bird and I’m thrilled to see a couple of Takahe wadding along. 

We head for the lagoon, but the viewing area is far too overgrown to allow any sightings to take place, so we gracefully give up, return to the beach and catch the boat back to the mainland. 

Overall, I’m glad we made the journey. The island does have a special atmosphere and beauty, but I’m both disappointed by the amount of bird life that we’ve seen and sad we did not get to know the family living there a little more. 

Edit: my main today was the pair of Takahe - but having returned from a trip out and just looked at it again, I’m really not happy with the quality, so I’ve replaced with a Tui, with extras of the Takahe and Kaka! There’s  also a collage of other birds (Robin, saddleback, weka and bellbird), and, on request, a collage of our accommodation at Peka Peka beach. 

Thank you for your kind concerns about my health - yes, I really do need to rest, but there’s so much to see - and the antibiotics are kicking in!