We left Resolution Bay at 8:30am to go to Motuara Island because we could see on Marine Traffic that the one mooring there was probably now available.
The mooring is tucked into the southeast corner of the island, behind a slight gap between Motuara and tiny Hipa Island. There were some interesting swirly currents that made it challenging to pick up the mooring!
Here is the mooring spot from above:
We took the dinghy around to the jetty on the west side of the island and followed the track up through the forest. We saw many of these cheeky, fearless South Island robins.
Motuara was cleared and farmed, from the mid 1800’s -1925. Once stock were removed the bush regenerated and the island became a scenic reserve. After rats were eradicated in 1991, birds and insects started to return and the government started to use Motuara as a sanctuary for endangered birds and animals, including Brown Kiwis (which we didn’t see!). It is a lush forest, full of birds calling.
At the high point of the island (127m) there is a cairn to mark the spot where Captain Cook took possession of Queen Charlotte Sound for England, and a raised wooden observation platform (with a warning sign to protect kiwi from fall hazards!).
The view from the platform is amazing:
