Moutohora Island Sanctuary (Whale Island) - Day Tour

Moutohora Island Sanctuary (Whale Island) - Day Tour

Moutohora Island Sanctuary (Whale Island) - Day Tour
4.5
Boat ToursDolphin & Whale WatchingNature & Wildlife Tours
About
Moutohorā is one of News Zealand’s little-known treasures and home to a number of New Zealand’s rare and endangered plants, birds and reptiles. Located 9 kms off Whakatāne, the island is under the protection of the Department of Conservation (DOC) with access highly restricted. Departing from Whakatāne Wharf, the journey to Moutohorā is just a short 15-minute boat ride aboard our comfortable catamaran “The Moutohorā Cat”, designed to be able to nestle right onto the shore. Once ashore, the fully-guided tour allows visitors to learn about the island's unique flora and fauna, with is a chance to see a number of different species – including saddleback, red-crowned parakeet, little brown kiwi, tui – many of which are endangered or seldom seen on the New Zealand mainland. The tour includes a visit to Sulphur Bay where geothermal hot springs come up through the sand allowing for you to dig your own hot pool on the beach and ends with a circumnavigation of the island.
Whakatāne, New Zealand
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(20 reviews)
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles128 reviews
Excellent
104
Very good
17
Average
3
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3
Terrible
1

KevinMatt
Isle of Wight, UK289 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2022 • Couples
What a great trip, fun boat trip out to the island.

Escorted tour around parts of the nature reserve including the summit of 'The Hump' with great views of White Island.

Very knowledgable guides who were able to locate and point out various birds, seals and other wildlife.

Lunch on the beach, where we swam in the sea and were able to experience the hot sand pools where you dig a hole (luckily for us a young lad dug one for us) and it fills with very hot water from the thermal lake below.

Totally recommend this trip.

Written 25 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

764delwynb
Mount Maunganui, New Zealand47 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2022
What a wonderful trip - lucky to have perfect blue skies and a calm sea. Our two guides were so friendly, helpful and knowledgable, Over an hour to enjoy a picnic lunch and swim - sea so warm.
The rock formations on the other side of the island were awesome
Written 26 February 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Clive Beeching
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2022
Our family took this tour recently. 5 X adults and two children. We all had a wonderful experience.
The tour operators and crew are polite, experienced, and totally professional throughout the whole day.
The tour itself is not only visually exciting, the commentary is informative and interesting.
I would highly recommend this tour as a must do.

Clive Beeching
Written 15 January 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

KiwiRoadrunner
Havelock North, New Zealand223 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2022
A very enjoyable day trip from Whakatane. Trip includes: about a 20 min boat trip to the island, a look (from the boat) at a local seal colony on the rocks, a leisure walk over the saddle to the other side of the island (spotting native birds and lizards on the way) for amazing views/photo ops, a walk back to a hot water beach where you can swim, eat lunch, just relax, then (possibly) a boat trip around the island and then head back to shore. The tour guides have the timing down pat so it's a lovely, relaxing day.
A few tips for those that love details: there is car parking available outside the cafe where you check in. They take the biosecurity seriously so everyone has to empty their bags in a special bin while they check them for any predators. This takes a good 30 minutes so make sure to arrive as per their instructions. On the island, you should probably wear more than jandals for the walk over the saddle but you probably don't need full-on hiking boots. I wish I'd worn my Tevas (or similar) that have a bit of grip but can also get wet for when you're on the beach. Note it is a bit of a wet water walk off/on the boat (or at least into wet sand). There are a couple of toilets (long-drop style) near where you arrive and again about halfway through the saddle.
Definitely a great day out!
Written 11 January 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

andreajennynz
Raumati South, New Zealand47 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2021 • Friends
Fabulous day, great guide, Fiona, pointing out all the bird life and giving comprehensive history of the island. Highly recommend this day trip
Written 8 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

NikSchmutz
Penticton, Canada11 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2021 • Couples
Great tour! They were very accommodating when our originally booked time was cancelled due to poor weather: offered us to reschedule or the option of a full redund. Thankfully we were sticking around Whakatane a few more days, so got to do the tour.
It was great! Unforgettable views, and a friendly, knowledgeable guide who patiently answered all of our stupid questions.
We would definitely come back again!
Written 16 May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Alice
Putaruru, New Zealand7 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2020 • Couples
Really loved this tour! Guides were amazing and friendly. Got to see some fantastic wildlife too

The walk was nice and easy most of the way. There is a short steep section but the view from the top is amazing and worth it.

Would recommend this to everyone!
Written 13 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Stace & Sam
New Zealand37 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2020
Moutohora Island Sanctuary was a definite on our honeymoon 'to do' list! We started with checking in and receiving a warm welcome from Lisa and signing a quick wavier before descending to 'bio security'.

Moving across the wharf, we were then welcomed by other guests and our friendly guides Fiona, Malia and the skipper David. After a quick check to make sure we won't contaminate the Island Sanctuary we made our way onto the boat to start our quick journey to the island itself. Dolphins were just one of the highlights of our day trip!

Once we embarked to the island, we were quick to be surrounded by the abundance of birdlife that calls this magical place home. The views and 'untouched' nature of the Island made for a special feeling and we soon realised we need to help protect our wildlife.

A massive thank you to the whole team for allowing us just a small glimpse into the past and the future of what could be. Fi and Malia, you guys were awesome and thank you to you both for taking care of us and answering all our question!

Thank you Moutohora Island!
Written 10 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

hglooney
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020
This was a lovely afternoon trip. The guides were very knowledgeable and helpful to those not so able on the walking tracks. The scenery was great. The swim and hot water at the beach was especially memorable for me. Haven't been swimming in the open sea for years. This eighty year old thoroughly enjoyed the trip. I enjoyed meeting overseas visitors too. We went in April 2020
Written 16 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kia ora hglooney, Thank you for taking the time to post this review. We're thrilled you enjoyed your tour of Moutohora with us, including the opportunity to swim at Onepu Bay. Ngā mihi.
Written 17 March 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Kyrithys
Langholm, UK44 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
A wonderful trip to an absolutely stunning island. Got to see so much wildlife including fur seals and geckos and the tour guides were so friendly. I learned so much about the island's history and wildlife from them. The view from the top of the saddle over the beautiful blue sea and Whakaari is breathtaking. There's also a little cove near a geothermal beach that's apparently quite warm and nice to swim in and we were given the chance to do so at the end of the tour. I'm not a very confident swimmer so I didn't go in but the others on the tour and the guides seemed to be enjoying it. The boat ride to/around/from the island was also great. Can also recommend their little café back at Whakatane. If I'm ever able to visit Whakatane again, I will be taking this tour again.
Written 12 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kia ora Kyrithys, Thank you for taking the time to post this review, we're thrilled that you enjoyed your tour of Moutohora Island Sanctuary with us. We think she is a pretty special place and feel blessed to be able to introduce her to our visitors. Ngā mihi
Written 19 March 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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MOUTOHORA ISLAND SANCTUARY (WHALE ISLAND) - DAY TOUR (Whakatāne) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go