Itinerary:

Day 1: Arrival

Pick up in Auckland, drive north to Dargaville, visiting Waipoua Forest and Trounson Kauri Park. We recommend a day in Auckland following arrival to recuperate from an International flight, as this first day will involve some travel, an introduction to the first New Zealand endemics, and a night walk to try and see northern brown kiwi. We will also visit one of the most amazing forests in New Zealand, home to several endemics, and if time permits visit Tane Mahuta - a 1600 year old Kauri tree.

Target Species: (endemics in bold, time of year dependent italics) Buff-banded Rail, New Zealand Scaup, New Zealand Grebe, Australasian Shoveler, Pacific Black Duck (grey), Black Swan, Paradise shelduck, Purple Swamphen (Pukeko), Swamp (Australasian) Harrier, Shining Bronze-cuckoo, White-faced Heron, Red-billed Gull, Black-backed Gull, Variable Oystercatcher, Masked Lapwing (spur-winged plover), Welcome Swallow, Sacred Kingfisher, Tui, Tomtit (North Island subspecies), Grey Fantail, Grey Gerygone (warbler), Silvereye, Fernbird, New Zealand Pigeon, Morepork, Northern Brown Kiwi

Day 2: Dargaville to Waipu

Estuary and then on to Orewa Head across to the eastern side of the island towards Whangarei, and explore the Waipu Estuary. This site is excellent for some of the endemic wading birds, and during summer for the critically endangered Fairy tern and migrant waders from the Northern hemisphere. Local areas will also be visited for other species.

Target Species: Fairy tern, White-fronted Tern, New Zealand Dotterel, Banded Dotterel (Double-banded Plover), Variable Oystercatcher, South Island Oystercatcher, Black-winged Stilt (pied), White-faced Heron, Red-billed Gull, Black-backed Gull, Welcome Swallow, New Zealand Pipit, Australasian Little Grebe, Purple Swamphen (Pukeko), Swamp (Australasian) Harrier.

Day 3: Orewa

To Orewa, undertaking a Hauraki Gulf pelagic trip The day will be spent (weather dependent) in the Hauraki Gulf on a pelagic sea-birding trip. The species seen depend entirely on the time of year and conditions, but the trip is worthwhile at any time of the year. During the summer we will try to focus our trip on finding the New Zealand storm-petrel, a species thought to be extinct for over 150 years until our rediscovery in Jan 2003. Apart from the species listed below, other vagrant seabirds may be seen.

Target Species: New Zealand Storm-petrel, White-faced Storm-petrel, Bullers Shearwater, Fluttering Shearwater, Little Shearwater, Flesh-footed Shearwater, Cook's Petrel, Pycroft's Petrel, , Grey-faced Petrel, Common Diving-petrel, Fairy Prion, Little Penguin, Australasian Gannet, White-fronted Tern, Grey Ternlet, Red-billed Gull, Black-backed Gull, Arctic Jaeger, Pied Cormorant, Little Pied Cormorant.

Day 4: Orewa to Tiritiri Matangi Island

We will travel out to Tiritiri Matangi Island in the Hauraki Gulf, one of the true New Zealand birding gems. This island, although administered by the Department of Conservation, is supported massively by the Supporters of Tiritiri Matangi Inc. We will focus our attention on seeing some of New Zealand's endangered passerines, such as stitchbird, North Island kokako, and saddleback, the latter two being the sole extant members of the New Zealand wattlebird family. Takahe and brown teal are also on the island, and a night walk will try to find little spotted kiwi. As well as these rarer species, an abundance of native forest birds can be found on the island, making this place one you will truly remember. The island almost vibrates with birdsong!

Target Species: Stitchbird, North Island Kokako, Saddleback (North Island subspecies), Tui, Bellbird, Whitehead, New Zealand Robin (North Island subsp.), Grey Fantail, Grey Gerygone (warbler), Silvereye, New Zealand Pigeon, Red-crowned Parakeet, Brown Teal, Takahe, Purple Swamphen (Pukeko), Pied Cormorant, Little Pied Cormorant, Brown Quail, Spotless Crake, Little Spotted Kiwi, Morepork, Grey-faced Petrel, Common Diving-petrel.

Day 5: Tiritiri Matangi to Miranda

Having spent a few more hours on Tiritiri Matangi in the morning we will depart and head back to shore. Heading south we may stop at wetland areas on the way to Miranda in the Firth of Thames. This area is a world renowned destination for birders, supporting thousands of Arctic-breeding and indigenous shorebirds, and has justly been listed under the Ramsar Convention as a wetland of international significance. Depending on the timing of high tide, we will visit several key sites in the area to view roosting and feeding shorebirds.

Target Species: Wrybill, New Zealand Dotterel, Bar-tailed Godwit, Red Knot, Ruddy Turnstone, Red-necked Stint, Sandpipers (Pectoral, Sharp-tailed, Terek, and Marsh are possible), Black-winged Stilt (pied), Banded Dotterel, Black-fronted Dotterel, South Island Oystercatcher, Variable Oystercatcher, Masked Lapwing (Spur-winged Plover), Great Cormorant, Pied Cormorant, Little Pied Cormorant, Little Black Cormorant, Caspian Tern, White-fronted Tern, Little tern, Red-billed Gull, Black-billed Gull, Black-Backed Gull, Buff-banded Rail, Royal Spoonbill, Grey Teal, Australasian Shoveler, Black Swan, Swamp (Australasian) Harrier, Welcome Swallow, Sacred kingfisher.

Day 6: Miranda to Taupo via Pureora Forest

Head south through to the amazing Pureora Forest in the central North Island. Forest walks should enable us to see forest passerines, and

We will spend the night in Taupo, on the shores of the famous volcanic Lake Taupo.

Target Species: Yellow-crowned Parakeet, New Zealand Kaka (North Island subspecies), Long-tailed Cuckoo, New Zealand Falcon, Rifleman (North Island subsp.), New Zealand Pipit, Whitehead, Tomtit (North Island subspecies), New Zealand Robin (North Island subspecies), Grey fantail, Grey Gerygone (warbler), Silvereye, Tui, Bellbird.

Day 7: Taupo south to Turangi, Ruatiti and on to Feilding

Heading further south we will drive along the shore of Lake Taupo, stopping at several locations to see forest passerines along the way, before visiting a central North Island river famous for its remnant blue duck population. Every effort will be made to see these fantastic river ducks. Depending on time constraints and interest we may then visit another forest area which holds a small wild population of

Target Species: Rifleman (North Island subspecies), New Zealand Pipit, Whitehead, Fernbird, Tomtit (North Island subspecies), New Zealand Robin (North Island subsp.), Grey Fantail, Grey Gerygone (warbler), Silvereye, Tui, Bellbird.

Day 8: Feilding to Waikanae and Wellington (drop off at Hotel, Airport, or Ferry)

Depending on the timing of high tide, we may visit the renowned Manawatu Estuary just south of Feilding. This site is recognised as one of the premier shorebird viewing locations in the country. We will then head south along the coast towards Wellington, making several stops to view shorebirds and waterfowl, before arriving in New Zealand's capital city. We can drop-off anywhere in the city, or if we are continuing on to do a South Island tour, will cross the Cook Strait on the Interisland Ferry.

Target Species: Wrybill, Bar-tailed Godwit, Red Knot, Ruddy Turnstone, red-necked stint, Black-winged Stilt (pied), Pacific Golden Plover, Banded Dotterel, Black-fronted Dotterel, South Island Oystercatcher, Variable Oystercatcher, Masked Lapwing (Spur-winged Plover), Caspian Tern, White-fronted Tern, Red-billed Gull, Black-billed Gull, black-backed Gull, Royal spoonbill, New Zealand Grebe, Grey Teal, Brown Teal, Australasian Shoveler, Black Swan, Swamp (Australasian) Harrier, Welcome Swallow, Sacred Kingfisher. As well as the species mentioned above during the daily itinerary, expect to see a host of other introduced species along the way. Species such as Mallard, Common Pheasant, California Quail, Eastern Rosella, Sky Lark, Dunnock, Common Blackbird, Song Thrush, Yellowhammer, Chaffinch, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Common Redpoll, House Sparrow, Common Myna, Common Starling, and Australian Magpie.