Travel Guide Rotoroa Island

Rotoroa Island is an 82-hectare bird sanctuary. Its unique history had long made it a place cut off from the world when, in 1908, the Salvation Army bought it from the Ruthe family to set up a rehabilitation center (closed in 2005). In 2009, the Rotoroa Island Trust was founded to take over the keys to the site and turn this little corner of paradise into a reserve dedicated to endemic bird species. Predators were removed, 400,000 native plants replanted and species such as kiwi, takahe and pateke reintroduced. Today, Rotoroa is open to the public for a relaxing day out or an extended stay.