Browns Island Motukorea Sea Kayak Tour

Paddle by sea kayak from Auckland CBD across the Waitemata Harbour to Browns Island, also known as Motukorea, with wide views over the Hauraki Gulf along the way. This beginner-friendly journey combines time on the water with close attention to the harbour environment, where you may spot marine life, seabirds, and, on occasion, dolphins or whales.

On Browns Island, the landscape reflects its origin as a volcanic cone formed around 25,000 years ago within the active Auckland Volcanic Field. The island is now uninhabited and protected as a recreational reserve and wildlife sanctuary, with native birds including tūī, pūkeko, and silvereye, along with skinks and geckos. As you explore, you can also see traces of earlier human use, including remnants of Māori pā sites linked to centuries of farming and fishing.

The island also holds a lesser-known place in New Zealand history. In 1909, Alex and Claude Barnard launched a homemade flying machine from the island’s peak during the country’s first aeroplane trials. After time ashore, kayak back from Browns Island to Auckland CBD, again taking in the harbour and gulf views that frame this distinctive volcanic island close to the city.