Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
Balkans road trip
Bosnia and Herzegovina • 9 days, 8 nights
Balkans Road Trip: Serbia, Croatia & Bosnia and Herzegovina
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Parking Lot Shoeprints
Dewey Square Pylon & Bent 38
Black Rocks of Pungo Andongo
Abandoned Observatory of the Pioneer Palace
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Names on the bartop.
The Dive
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Two suitcases in an empty airport hall.
AO Mailbag: Is It Normal to Share a Checked Bag With Your Boyfriend?
about 19 hours ago
Kolaches
How Texas Became an Unlikely Epicenter for Czech Pastries
1 day ago
What I Found Driving Across Northern Michigan
2 days ago
What I Found Driving Down Highway 61
2 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All New Zealand Muriwai Muriwai Gannet Colony

Muriwai Gannet Colony

New Zealand's west coast is one of the best places in the world to view these large seabirds.

Muriwai, New Zealand

Added By
imaree
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
  DPK-Photo / Alamy
  DPK-Photo / Alamy
  lucidwaters / depositphotos.com
Mature Tākapu flies over nesting birds at Muriwai.   imaree / Atlas Obscura User
  russellstreet
Otakamiro Point.   Sid Mosdell Follow
  lucidwaters / depositphotos.com
Costal breeding platform for Tākapu.   imaree / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Hang on to your hairpiece because the winds at Muriwai will send whatever isn't secure into flight, just like the thousands of Tākapu, or Australasian gannets, who gather to breed on the spectacular costal platforms of this west coast beach. 

Tākapu is the Māori name for these southern seabirds, which are native to New Zealand and known to mate for life. The female lays one single pale blue egg, and co-parents with her partner, taking turns at hatching, sheltering and feeding their juvenile.  

In its fourth month, the young Tākapu embarks on a 1,700-mile journey across the Tasman Sea to the east coast of Australia. The journey takes anywhere from 8 to 14 days and is repeated four years later when the birds return to New Zealand to breed.   

Once back in New Zealand, the adult birds won't usually migrate again. They spend spring and summer at the breeding colony and during the winter months disperse to local coastal waters. Breeding takes place anytime between mid-September until mid-December. By March or April, the feathered fledgelings are ready to migrate. 

Related Tags

Birds Animals Nature Oceans

Know Before You Go

Muriwai is located an hour from Auckland Airport (depending on traffic)

Atlas Obscura Adventures

Wild New Zealand: Exploring the North & South Islands

Stunning landscapes, unique wildlife, and rich Māori culture.

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

imaree

Edited By

Meg

  • Meg

Published

February 26, 2018

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://www.newzealand.com/ie/feature/muriwai-gannet-colony/
  • https://teara.govt.nz/en/gannets-and-boobies/print
  • http://regionalparks.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/muriwai
Muriwai Gannet Colony
449-453 Motutara Rd
Muriwai
New Zealand
-36.829546, 174.429904
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Waikumete Cemetery

Auckland, New Zealand

miles away

Electrum

Kaukapakapa, New Zealand

miles away

Sky Tower

Auckland, New Zealand

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of New Zealand

New Zealand

Oceania

Places 141
Stories 44

Nearby Places

Waikumete Cemetery

Auckland, New Zealand

miles away

Electrum

Kaukapakapa, New Zealand

miles away

Sky Tower

Auckland, New Zealand

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of New Zealand

New Zealand

Oceania

Places 141
Stories 44

Related Places

  • A tree makes its last stand against the ocean.

    Ndieulé Mbam, Senegal

    Langue de Barbarie

    A tree seems to grow from the ocean floor on this strange strip of sand slowly being overtaken by the sea.

  • Mesetas, Colombia

    Cañon del Guejar (Güejar River Canyon)

    River raft through rural Colombia’s ancient rock formations, pristine landscapes, and towering waterfalls.

  • Hawk Mountain Sanctuary

    Kempton, Pennsylvania

    Hawk Mountain Sanctuary

    Beautiful views of the surrounding hills and birds of prey can be found at this sanctuary.

  • Birds of prey are a frequent sanctuary visitor.

    Minneapolis, Minnesota

    Thomas Sadler Roberts Bird Sanctuary

    A hidden oasis in the heart of Minneapolis is also an Important Bird Area.

  • The Wren’s Eggs

    Whitehead, Northern Ireland

    The Wren's Eggs

    These huge glacial erratics are humorously named after a much much smaller bird.

  • Bath Road Heronry Photographers

    Peninsula, Ohio

    Bath Road Heronry

    Beside a busy highway, a colony of Great Blue Herons raises hundreds of offspring each year.

  • Cheyenne Bottoms.

    Great Bend, Kansas

    Cheyenne Bottoms

    This 41,000-acre wetland complex is the largest marsh in the interior of the United States.

  • The salt marsh south of the nature center.

    Brooklyn, New York

    Marine Park Salt Marsh

    This preserved wilderness hides the remains of a colonial grain mill used to feed George Washington's troops.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.