Motutapu Island - Auckland's WWII Guardian

Enjoy special sailings to the 'sacred island' of Motutapu to join a two hour guided walking tour of the amazing WWII military sites. Reasonable fitness and sturdy footware required. View pillboxes, observation posts, gun emplacements, underground magazines, radar and wireless rooms and a rare opportunity to journey the underground tunnels to see the gun battery's underground plotting rooms. We will serve you afternoon tea and scones later in the recently restored historic Reid Homestead and screen for you 'Guns of Motutapu' which features the gun battery in brilliant 3D virtual reality.

Bring torch, food and water - there are no shops on the island. Children welcome. Tickets for this guided walk can be booked through Fullers on phone 367 9111 or visit www.fullers.co.nz

• Sun 26 Sep 2010 (Auckland City Festival)
• Meet 8.45am - 9am (Downtown Ferry Terminal - at the Archway), 9.00am - 9.15am (Devonport Wharf) 
• Ferry to Motutapu will leave Downtown Ferry Terminal at 9.20am, calling at Devonport Wharf at 9.25am and returning to Auckland at approximately 4.00pm
• Cost : Adult $30.00 seniors $27.75, children $11.25. This includes a special discounted Heritage Festival ferry fare plus a small charge for the guided tour and cream tea (bookings are essential)
• call Marcia on 09 623 3463 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
• This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   633 0111 or 027 432 4670

Motutapu Island - Heritage Home Bay

Enjoy special sailings to the 'sacred island' of Motutapu to join a gentle guided walk around historic Home Bay. Hear stories of the original Maori inhabitants and the early European settlers and imagine life in a 1900's homestead.

Bring food and water - there are no shops on the island. Children welcome. Tickets for this guided walk can be booked through Fullers on phone 367 9111 or visit www.fullers.co.nz

• Sun 26 Sep 2010 (Auckland City Festival)
• Meet 8.45am - 9am (Downtown Ferry Terminal - at the Archway), 9.00am - 9.15am (Devonport Wharf) 
• Ferry to Motutapu will leave Downtown Ferry Terminal at 9.20am, calling at Devonport Wharf at 9.25am and returning to Auckland at approximately 4.00pm
• Cost : Adult $30.00 seniors $27.75, children $11.25. This includes the special discounted Heritage Festival ferry fare plus a small charge for the guided tour and cream tea (bookings are essential)
• call Marcia on 09 623 3463 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
• This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   633 0111 or 027 432 4670

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, we're in Auckland after all ! see below)
• Camera
• Lunch/drinking water/cash to purchase merchandise at Reid Homestead
• Torch (for the Motutapu - Auckland's WWII Guardian Tour only)

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.  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, at the DoC camping ground in Home Bay and the Reid Homestead.
• Terrain: The WWII Guardian walk initially 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 reasonably 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. You will not be allowed to board the ferry.
• No smoking in our planted areas or the Reid Homestead

The Heritage Festival tours are 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.

Click HERE to read about some of our previous Heritage Festivals