FAQs

Rotoroa Island is open most days from dawn until dusk. Changing sheds, historic buildings, the museum and exhibition centre are open 10am - 5pm every day (except Christmas Day). Visitors are welcome on Christmas Day, however please note only the toilet facilities will be open.

We welcome visitors coming by private boat, water-taxi, charter ferry, kayak, helicopter or seaplane. Please check out options under visit tab.

All visitors on scheduled ferry services are met by our island ranger, who will welcome you to Rotoroa Island and run through a quick biosecurity check. For overnight visitors coming by other forms of transport, please call the duty phone (09 283 0849) when you’re about 15 minutes away from arriving so we can welcome you and do a quick biosecurity check.

Our Guided Nature walks can be booked with your ferry ticket, or if coming by private boat, contact our rangers by email [email protected]

We like to keep the group small to offer the best experience for visitors so have a maximum of 15 people in each guided walk. Please note this walk requires a minimum of 4 people to operate.

Visitors need to bring all their food to the island. There's a small kiosk which sells Ice Creams, Iceblocks, Cold Drinks and a small range of conservation books, open one hour before the ferry departs. We also offer a drinking fountain with fresh water.

Yes; apart from the natural bush cover, there are a number of public spaces with shelter, including our small museum and the old schoolhouse (where our island kiosk is located)

The central part of the island (from the wharf in Home Bay to Ladies Bay) is mostly flat, so this gives reasonably easy access to lovely swimming beach, grassland areas and our small museum and accessible public toilets.

It’s important to note all paths on the island are loose metal and that the only accessible toilets are the ones mentioned above, located beside the museum.

Visitors with 'mountain buggy’ type strollers have been able to explore as far as Ladies’ Bay wetlands and Men’s Bay wetlands. Some have also taken the direct track from Home Bay to Cable Bay, but it really depends on how intrepid you’re feeling as the latter part of this path is pretty steep down to Cable Bay.

We like to welcome everyone who is keen to experience Rotoroa Island. If you have questions on accessibility, please ask us on [email protected].

Yes we offer the Salisbury Room (a medium sized 'hall' with adjacent small kitchen) which can be booked for events; please contact [email protected] for more information

We transport all guests' luggage on a trailer from the wharf to your accommodation. Please advise us of your likely arrival time. Someone from your group will need to come with the trailer to the accommodation to unload your bags. Other guests all walk to the Super's House which is about 10 min relaxed walk from the wharf.

Guests are all met at the wharf and we transport your luggage (plus 1 guest) to your holiday home which is a 10 minute relaxed walk from the wharf. If you require transport for additional guests, please let us know and we can arrange this.

For charities (with a charity commission number) or schools wishing to book the entire Super’s House, we offer a special rate (a 20% discount). Please contact us on [email protected] for further information.

No, there are no longer moorings available for public use on Rotoroa Island.

Our island sanctuary is open and we are taking precautions to protect our people (visitors and staff) against COVID-19 virus. We have developed a Covid-19 plan, tailored specifically for an island environment.

Full details on https://www.rotoroa.org.nz/rotoroa-trust/covid19

If you are feeling unwell, or have been asked to self-isolate due to potential exposure to COVID-19, please do not visit the island

No. Unfortunately dogs or domestic animals are not permitted on the island or its shoreline. This is to protect our endangered wildlife. Thanks for your understanding. If you have a registered service dog, please let us know prior to your visit by email [email protected] or contacting our ranger on 09 283 0849.

Guests are required to follow the Covid-19 requirements of the current NZ Government level during the time of their stay. We realise this advice can change so offer a generous cancellation and rebooking policy for our accommodation.

If you cannot travel due to a change in COVID-19 requirements (government required lockdown or isolation) within 30 days of check-in, you may:
• Reschedule your stay within 12 months, or
• Request a refund, less a $50 cancellation fee per booking.

Deposits for bookings 30 days or more from check-in are fully refundable as detailed in our regular cancellation policy (less insurance premium if applicable).

We encourage guests to consider insurance and offer this option in the booking process.

No. Bicycles are not permitted on the island. This is to protect our protected wildlife from contamination.
If you're bringing a buggy please be sure to thoroughly remove any soil or seeds from the treads.

Due to Rotoroa Island's predator-free status, we require all visitors to carry food in sealed bags or containers. (no open boxes or bags) Please check all bags for insects (especially ants), rodents, and other pests prior to boarding the boat.

Day visitors need to take all rubbish home with them. Visitors staying overnight are required to take home their recycling.

Camping is not permitted on the island. However we do have shared hostel accommodation at the Super's House.

Drones are not permitted on Rotoroa Island

The main wharf is for commercial ferries only. There is a side pontoon which is available for drop-off and pickup only, with permission from the island manager. Your skipper must stay onboard and boats cannot be left unattended as it's a biosecurity risk.