Auckland Heritage Festival

19 SEP - 4 OCT 2009 CityWide

heritage festival 09

www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/events

Auckland Heritage Festival 09 - Living Heritage
Festival included two days of fabulous guided tours on Motutapu 26/27 September

Sunday 27 Sept - Heritage Festival visitors await a talk at Gun Emplacement 1

Thank you to all our visitors who came out and enjoyed the island as part of Auckland Heritage Festival 2009.

We loved having you over and really enjoyed telling you all our Heritage stories.

I know the rainy weather did keep some of you away on Saturday but it wasn't cold and everyone came well rain protected.

Apologies to those intended visitors who forgot to set their clocks forward Saturday night and arrived at the ferry building an hour late. We look forward to seeing you next year when we will be doing it all again as part of Auckland Heritage Festival 2010

Trustee Mary Flaws talking about Heritage Home Bay, Heritage Festival 2008

This content from the Auckland Heritage Festival programme:

Auckland City Council's Auckland Heritage Festival is a celebration of our city's heritage that involves a programme of more than 100 exciting, diverse and interactive events.The festival encourages people of all ages to celebrate, embrace and learn about Auckland city's unique natural and cultural heritage.

The theme of this year's festival is living heritage. Living heritage encompasses both natural and cultural heritage; it's those items, sites and areas we interact with in our daily lives. Heritage isn't frozen in our past - it informs today's and tomorrow's experiences.

All festival activities link to the unique elements of our city, including the diversity of our communities, landscape and history.There really is no other festival in Auckland that offers such a rich array of events. From volcanoes and islands, to machines, animals and buildings - the stories of Auckland will amaze and astound locals and visitors alike.

Auckland City Council is once again proud to be able to offer people the chance to discover, experience and celebrate our wonderful heritage.

Motutapu Island - Ferry and Guided Tour

Sat 26, Sun 27 September

Thanks to everyone who visited and learned about the rich heritage of this fascinating island as part of the Auckland Heritage Festival. To those of you who missed out, pencil the 25/26 September 2010 into your diaries now. We look forward to welcoming you to the island in 12 months time when we will be doing it all again.

For those of you who simply can't wait that long, Fullers will be providing Saturday/Sunday 9.15am Summer sailings from the Ferry Building terminal. These sailings stop off at Rangitoto wharf then carry on to Home Bay, Motutapu. Check the Fullers timetable. Return sailings will be 4.30pm from Home Bay wharf which allows for plenty of exploration time.
http://www.fullers.co.nz/tickets-fares/timetables/motutapu.php

For information on self guided walking tours and staying overnight at Home Bay campground click here

Enjoy special sailings to Motutapu during the festival and join a guided walk of this beautiful historic island. Explore gun emplacements from World War II and imagine life in a 1900s homestead. Don't forget to ask for the "Auckland Heritage Festival fare" at any Fullers Ticket Office. Bring food, water and cash - there are no food shops on the island but you may wish to purchase memorabilia at the Reid Homestead. Children welcome. Come out and celebrate the end of the school holidays!

Sat 26, Sun 27 Sep
Meet 8.45am-9am
Downtown Ferry Terminal (under the entrance arch)
FREE
Bookings are essential - register at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or phone 027 4324670 or 633 0111
Our event is free but you need to purchase a ferry fare - special sailings to Motutapu leave Downtown Ferry Terminal 9.15am (board the Rangitoto ferry which carries on to Home Bay, Motutapu) and return to Auckland at approximately 4.30pm (special 25% discount fares from Fullers - Adults $18.75, Seniors $16.90, children $9.40. You need to ask for the 'Special Auckland Heritage Festival fare' at the ticket office).

Chris Keenan talking at the Gun Emplacements -Heritage Festival 2008

Our Motutapu Restoration Trust volunteers will take you on the guided tours and trustees will talk on Maori, early European, military and farming island settlement. We will also take you up the Rotary Centennial Track to view the WWII Gun Emplacements. There will also be special screenings of the 'Guns of Motutapu' at the Historic 1901 Reid Homestead.

Register for the Auckland Heritage Festival visit to Motutapu at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Our stories will bring the many layered cultural landscape of this beautiful 1509 hectare island alive for you

Marvel at the stunning expansive views
Wonder at the over head-high volunteer planted native forest, a new home for birds and other fauna
Explore the recently restored 1901 historic Reid Homestead nestled under 120 year old exotic trees
Check out the WW11 gun emplacements and underground magazines
View the superb virtual reconstruction of the gun battery on DVD
Imagine the Premier Picnics at Home Bay during the 1900's when huge crowds would arrive from afar by train then steamer
Hear about the curious assortment of animals and birds brought to the island by Robert Graham in the 1800's and what life was like for the early European farmers
Learn about early Maori settlement and the impact of the neighbouring Rangitoto eruption

Confirmation of arrangements

Arrive between 8.45am and 9.00am and register with our tour guides. We will be located under the arch of the Ferry Building, 99 Quay St. We will have your details but you need to confirm your space on the day. If you are boarding at Devonport then please register with our Trust representatives once you have boarded (we will be at the stern of the ferry). If you are booking to come out on Sunday 27th remember to put your clocks forward an hour on Saturday night, Daylight Saving starts Sunday 27th September
Purchase your ferry ticket: from the Fullers office at Downtown Auckland or Devonport on the morning of departure. Ask for the special Heritage Festival discounted fare to Motutapu . There is no charge for our guided tour on the island. Board between 9.00am and 9.10am. The ferry leaves promptly at 9.15am (regular public sailing) from Downtown (Pier 2) and calls at Devonport around 10 minutes later. Please note that you do not need to prebook your fare with Fullers.
Stay on board until Home Bay: In addition to Devonport, the ferry also calls at Rangitoto wharf. Do not disembark until the Home Bay wharf final destination

Guided Walk
Dependant on tour numbers, the timing and sequence of some of the activities may vary on the day

10.30am - Welcome briefing / health and safety
10.45am - Walk from wharf to Reid Homestead - hear the stories of Home Bay
11.00am - Ecological Restoration project briefing at the entrance to the Home Bay forest
11.15am - We organise you into groups for the guided walk up the fabulous Rotary Centennial Walkway, the recreation of the post-eruption forest on Motutapu, the result of years of planting of native trees by volunteers
11.45am - arrive at the Northern Junction. Hear a talk about the military history, then explore the WW11 gun emplacements, the underground magazines and view the gun battery observation posts
12.30pm - Lunch break at the gun emplacements. Enjoy fantastic views out over the Hauraki Gulf
1.45pm - Head back down Home Bay Road to inspect the recently refurbished 1901 Reid Homestead and view the DVD 'Guns of Motutapu' which includes amazing 3D virtual reality depicting the guns in action
2.15pm - Hear about the operations of the Motutapu Farms Ltd, who currently operate the concession on the Island. This farm is the biggest pastoral farm in the Auckland region and soon to be the world's first pest free pastoral farm
2.30pm - Enjoy a cuppa with the Motutapu trustees and volunteers
3.30pm - Board ferry to return to Devonport and Auckland
4.00pm - Collect passengers from Rangitoto Wharf
4.30pm - Arrive back at Devonport and Auckland

Special note for people boarding the ferry at Devonport:

Depending on numbers on the day, Fullers may decide to put on a dedicated ferry from Devonport to Rangitoto and from there you would transfer onto the Home Bay, Motutapu service.

Unfortunately we probably won't know until the day whether or not there is a special ferry. Either way, however, there will be a pick up from Devonport that will get you to Home Bay, Motutapu, and our guided tour.

What to bring:

Good walking shoes or boots are recommended (paddocks can be boggy after rain)
Warm clothes, wet weather gear
Sunhat, sunscreen, sunglasses (you need to be prepared for any weather, see below)
Camera
Lunch/drinking water/cash to purchase memorabilia at Reid Homestead
Torch (for visiting the gun emplacement underground magazine)

Please note that there is no place to buy food or drinks on Motutapu. You need to bring everything you are likely to need with you. Our Ferry and Guided Tour will operate whatever the weather excepting where the ferry operator deems either conditions in the Inner Gulf, or wharf landings, unsafe and cancels sailings.

IMPORTANT BIOSECURITY INFORMATION

It's extremely important that we keep Rangitoto and Motutapu free from pests following the recent pest eradication aerial drops. Please note the following rules are now in place in relation to travel to Rangitoto and Motutapu:

Packs, bags, containers - All bags and containers should be able to be sealed. Check for mice, insects, seeds & soil & remove if found. Once packed, keep bags closed zipped up tight. Remember to recheck your bag on the morning of departure.
Footwear - Check laces & seams for seeds. Check boot treads for soil & seeds. Clean if required.
Clothing - Check pockets for seeds and clean if required.
Food - Pack all food in sealed containers free from insects

Other Important Information:

Toilet facilities. Public toilets are located at the Ferry Terminal at Downtown and Devonport, on the ferry and at DoC camping ground in Home Bay.
Terrain: The walk follows a formed track through the planted area. There is a slight gradient. The walk to the gun emplacements and the gun battery observation post is across farm paddocks and is fairly flat. The return walk to Home Bay is down a metalled roadway. The walk is suitable for anyone of moderate fitness.
Dogs and animals are prohibited: Please note that as a recreation reserve administered by the Department of Conservation, dogs and other domestic animals are not permitted
No smoking : in our planted areas or the Reid Homestead
Farm: Where are the animals? All stock were removed from the island in June to make way for the pest eradication programme. They will be returning in October.

This Auckland Heritage Festival tour is organised by the Motutapu Restoration Trust. The Trust is charged with restoring the 'natural and cultural landscapes' of Motutapu.

The Trust runs regular volunteer days on the island for volunteers to participate in conservation activities such as tree planting, nursery work and weed control. The Trust is also in the process of forming a group of volunteers to work on the military aspect of the restoration project. Ask your volunteer guides for information.