Quail Island
Quail Island, at just 81 hectares, lies in the heart of an extinct, collapsed volcano, now known as Lyttleton Bay. The Quail Island (Ôtamahua) Restoration Trust has a long-term aim to restoring Quail Island back to pristine native bush through reforestation of the island with appropriate native plants, while repopulating the island with native birds, insects and reptiles. Some 40,000 trees and bushes have been planted, and many pests, including rabbits, rats, mice, stoats, ferrets, easels and hedgehogs, are being removed from the island to make a safe haven for birds such as tui and tomtit, reptiles like the jewelled gecko, and invertebrates.
Wildlife highlights: Ôtamahua, the Maori name for Quail Island, means "Place to gather sea-bird eggs. Fantail, kingfisher, silvereye, bellbird, harrier hawk and pipit can all be seen, and some sea birds though it is thought that little blue penguins have disappeared. Common skink and geckos are also found on the island.
Click here to go to the website of the Quail Island Restoration Trust.
How to get to Quail Island: Quail Island can be reached easily by regular boat trips from Christchurch.
These maps are intended as a guideline only; you must check the exact location of the reserve yourself. Wildlife Extra assumes no responsibility for the accuracy or usefulness of the information on this website.
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