Tiritiri Matangi Island is a popular day trip destination for New Zealand North Islanders, located less than 20 minutes northeast of Auckland's city center within the waters of the Hauraki Gulf near the Whangaparaoa Peninsula. The one-square-mile island is maintained as an open nature reserve by the New Zealand Department of Conservation and is noted as an important wildlife refuge for native birds, including kokako, kiwi, and takahe. It is named for the Maori phrase for "tossed by the wind" and has played an important part in indigenous mythology throughout history. Today, it attracts over 30,000 annual visitors and is known as a prime birdwatching site throughout the year.

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