Another Fullers Grab One ferry special from Auckland to Tiritiri Matangi Island via Gulf Harbour. Lovely smooth trip up the harbour to the island, but during the day the wind and seas got up and without the skillful efforts of the skipper, loading only 5 people at a time onto the ferry, we would have been stuck on the island overnight. Tiritiri lighthouse was the last one to be manned and ran from 1865 until the 1980's when it was automated. Great to see the conservation happening on the island with our endangered birds; little spotted kiwi, takahe, kokako, hihi, brown teal, saddleback, kakariki, North Island robin, fernbird, whitehead, Duvaucel's gecko and tuatara are all thriving. Also interesting to hear that birds raised on the island, are being flown round NZ to populate other pest free bird sanctuaries.