Experience Cape Kidnappers Gannet Colony

Gannet Safaris Overland is simply the only company taking visitors to the world's largest accessible mainland gannet colony at Cape Kidnappers, where there are over 20,000 birds. The journey begins at our base in Te Awanga, heading out over the private farm of Cape Kidnappers Station. Traveling over a working farm and NZ’s largest privately owned wildlife sanctuary, stop several times at lookout points. Learn about the local history and culture from our knowledgeable guides while taking in the sensational 360-degree views over Hawke's Bay. While at the plateau, one is within a few meters of the remarkable birds with their stunning golden crowns. No walking required. The Australasian gannet, also known as tākapu, is a large seabird of the booby and gannet family. Adults are mostly white, with black flight feathers at the wingtips and lining the trailing edge of the wing. Their crowns are golden with bright blue eyes. The gannets are at this colony for most of the summer, leaving in the winter to find warmth. The young fly over to South Australia, and the adults head north, hugging the coast and finding warmth over the top of New Zealand.