Mid Week Volunteer Days programme

Would you like to join a mid-week volunteer day, rather than one of the Sunday public volunteer days? Mid week volunteer days happen periodically from Monday to Friday (limited to 15 volunteers). If you would like to join a mid week day, please let us know by emailing us on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

We will then add you to the mid-week database and let you know when mid-week volunteer days arise. Mid week activities include (depending on the season) nursery work, weed control, tree planting, general maintenance and fencing.

PUBLIC VOLUNTEER DATES FOR 2012

Summer is here - this means weedbusting and nursery work on the Island

Fullers sailing schedule

Bookings are essential as our public volunteer days fill up fast.
Email now to book your space.

If you are a group intending to volunteer during our winter tree planting season in 2012,
you may be interested in our 'Make a Weekend of it'

 Book your volunteer day now by email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or phone (09-522-0919) or text (0275-570-845) as space can sometimes be limited.

Scheduled Volunteer Days

Scheduled public volunteer days usually take place every first, third and fifth Sunday of each month except if the day coincides with a public holiday weekend. However please check our updated date schedule below.

Groups or individuals of any age, either local or from overseas, are all welcome to join one of our public volunteer days. Children should be accompanied by an adult.

Corporate groups are welcome on public volunteer days or mid-week by arrangement.We also have small groups of volunteers working on the island on other weekends.

Register as a volunteer online then email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (our online volunteer day registration facility will be available soon) and let us know the day/s you would like to come to the island. Alternatively you can phone Bridget 09 524-5072, Belinda 09 522-0919 or 0275 570845.

HERE ARE OUR VOLUNTEER DATES FOR 2012
Please note that the 29th January and the 5th of February are not formal public volunteer days as these dates fall on a public holiday weekend, however the ferry will be going to Home Bay on those dates - come over for a picnic, a swim and walk our track network. 

Ferry times
Ex Downtown :9.15am
Ex Devonport : 9.25am

PLEASE NOTE : The only weekend sailings calling at Home Bay Motutapu coincide with our public volunteer Sunday dates as above. Departure time from Downtown ferry terminal is 9.15am with the return journey leaving Home Bay at 3.30pm (Winter) or 4.30pm (Summer).

JUST TO RECAP - FULLERS SAILING SCHEDULE - Fullers operate ferry services to our wharf at Home Bay Motutapu only on our public volunteer day Sundays. The sailings leave the Ferry Building at 9.15am (Devonport 9.25am) and depart Home Bay on the return journey at 3.30pm (Winter) or 4.30pm (Summer). You transfer at Rangitoto wharf at 9.45 to a waiting vessel, departing at 9.50am. Why not catch the 7.30am early weekend (Sat/Sun) sailing from the Ferry Building and walk to Home Bay Motutapu from Rangitoto Wharf (3 hrs approx). Make a whole day of it !! (Yes, you need to walk, this early sailing only stops at Rangitoto, it doesn't carry on to Home Bay, Fullers offer an 'early bird' discounted fare on the 7.30 sailing - only $15 ret )

Ferry ticket prices
Thanks to the generous sponsorship of Fullers, a special 'tree planters' fare is available on presentation of a Motutapu 'volunteer' card

Adults : $21
Child : $10.50 (15 years and under)

If you are reading this page in winter, make sure you check out our Winter weed-busting ferry ticket promotion

Volunteer Card
Collect your volunteer card from the Trust representative at the 'meeting place' on the morning of departure. If you are boarding at Devonport we will email or post you a confirmation of your eligibility for the discounted fare.

Meeting Place
Under the arch of the Ferry Building, Downtown, next to the foreign exchange bureau, from 8.45am to 9.00am

Car Parking
Thanks to sponsorship from the Auckland City Council, free carparking is available at the Auckland City Council 'Park Right' Downtown Car Park

• Entrance behind the Copthorne Hotel, opposite the Tepid Baths
• Access from Sturdee St (from Fanshawe/Nelson St) or from the one-way street at the northern end of Quay St (next to the Copthorne Hotel)
• Bring car park ticket with you to the island to exchange for a 'free' one
  

What to Bring

• Money for ferry ticket, refreshments on return ferry
• Sturdy footwear - trampers boots are ideal, trainers are OK but sturdier footware is preferable.
• Wear warm gardening type clothes, several layers.
• If you have your own gardening gloves - please bring them along 
• Always bring your wet weather gear (you just never know - this is Auckland remember!)
• Lunch and drinking water
• Thermos/hot drink in winter
• Sun cream and sunhat in summer
• Day back pack - zip up
• Swimming togs in summer plus towel
• Any required medication (our volunteer leaders also carry first aid kits)

Biosecurity Checklist

• Check bags for rodents,insects and other pests prior to boarding the ferry
• Carry food in sealed, rodent proof containers free from insects. Ideally plastic containers
• Bags must be sealed - no plastic bags, open top bags, or supermarket bags
• Check boots are clean - no soil or seeds in laces or treads
• No dogs or domestic animals
  

Absolutely no smoking in and around our planted areas or on our walking tracks

Cancellations

• We seldom cancel public volunteer days
• In the unlikely event of an atrocious forecast we will cancel our public volunteer day
• Visit this website on the Saturday to check for cancellations and check the home page 'Newsflashes'
• Check www.metvu.com for up to date weather forecasts

We Supply

• Gardening gloves (however if you own a pair of gardening gloves - please bring them along)
• Spades, weeding equipment and plants
• knowledge and good humour - ask any of our volunteer leaders questions you might have about the island restoration and its history. We love relating all the stories of the island to our visitors.

Be Prepared

• Remember to bring your lunch and drinking water as there are no shops on Motutapu
• Wear warm clothes and bring wet weather gear as some work sites are exposed
• CLEAN sturdy footware (tramping boots are ideal). Important Biosecurity Information
• As some work sites are on hillsides a reasonable level of fitness is required

We hope you can join us!

Please register at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or by phone if you plan to join us (we need to have an indication of numbers for our planning).

Call Bridget on 09-524-5072 orBelinda 09-522-0919

The Motutapu Restoration Trust again wishes to express its appreciation to Fullers for its generous discount provided to Trust volunteers. Check here for Fullers ferry timetables

Where did we plant in Winter 2011?

The majority of the tree planting activity in 2011 took place in Upper Watershed (the adjacent paddock to where we planted in winter 2010). This area was around a 25 minute trek from the ferry wharf. The area varied from relatively flat to hilly sites. There was a mixture of 'pasture conversion' and 'infill planting' days. Pasture conversion in Upper Watershed paddock was largely completed during May and June 2011

Where did we plant in Winter 2010?

The majority of the tree planting activity in 2010 took place in Lower Watershed paddock with some planting in Hospital Flats.

This is how it worked - upon arrival at Motutapu Home Bay wharf, vols had an approximate 5 minute walk to the Red Barn where all were welcomed and the day explained.

As per the map, there was a walk from the Barn, along the Home Bay campground road (there are three separate sets of toilets on the way), then across a bridged stream to begin a steady, but not too strenuous, climb up to Lower Watershed.

There was time to take a breather on the way up and admire the fabulous views above Home Bay and out over the inner Hauraki Gulf. The walk from the Barn to the planting area took around 15-20 minutes. We took backpacks up to the site on the truck/trailer