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What is included with the Tiritiri Matangi ferry?
Your booking includes return ferry travel from your selected departure point and time to explore the island’s marked walking tracks, lighthouse area and beaches independently. A guided walk with a Supporters of Tiritiri Matangi volunteer can be booked separately with your ferry ticket. Food and drinks are not included.
What should you bring, and what facilities are on the island?
Bring lunch, snacks, drinking water, comfortable walking shoes, sun protection and a rain jacket. Pack food in a sealed container, close your bags, and check footwear and gear for soil, seeds and insects before boarding. No food is sold on the island. The shop near the lighthouse sells cold drinks and gifts; its usual hours are 11:00am–2:00pm Wednesday–Friday and 11:00am–3:00pm Saturday–Sunday, subject to change.
Toilets are available at the wharf, Hobbs Beach and near the Visitor Centre. There are no rubbish bins, so take all waste away with you. Stay on marked tracks to protect wildlife and research areas. Dogs, bikes, fires and portable BBQs are not permitted.
Is the Tiritiri Matangi ferry suitable for kids?
Yes. The ferry welcomes children of all ages; the operator’s age bands are under 5, 5–15 years, and 16 years and over. Families can take the short walk to Hobbs Beach or follow the Wattle Track, stopping to watch birds. Longer coastal routes have steeper sections and suit children comfortable with a sustained walk.
Some tracks have steps, making a standard pushchair awkward. A child carrier or sturdy all-terrain buggy may be more practical, depending on your route. Baby-changing facilities are available near the Visitor Centre; bring a bag to carry used nappies off the island.
Where does the Tiritiri Matangi ferry leave from?
In central Auckland, board at the Explore Booking Kiosk in Viaduct Harbour, at the end of Quay Street, diagonally opposite the New Zealand Maritime Museum. The ferry also picks up passengers at Gulf Harbour on the Whangaparāoa Peninsula. Check the boarding point on your ticket and arrive at least 15 minutes before departure.
- Adults: 16 years and older
- Children: 5-15 years old
- Infants (free): 0-4 years
- More than 24 hours before departure: Full refund**
- Within 24 hours: No refund
**Any refund approved under our terms and conditions will be subject to a 5% admin & processing fee, which will be deducted from the refund amount. Please see more information on refunds and cancellations in Go New Zealand's terms and conditions.
