Cape Kidnappers Gannet Reserve

Cape Kidnappers, southeast of Napier on the Hawke's Bay coastline, is home to one of the only mainland nesting colonies of gannets in the world.

Located on a 13 hectare reserve, and managed by the Department of Conservation, care has been taken to ensure the gannet colony remains in the home it first adopted in the 1870s.

Currently 6,500 pairs of gannets make their home at Cape Kidnappers - ensuring a spectacular view of yellow and white feathers for visitors to the colony.

With an average lifespan of 25 - 40 years, the Cape Kidnappers gannets migrate to New Zealand across the Tasman when they are 16 week old chicks - a massive journey of 2,800 kilometers. Two years later the young birds migrate back to Australia for mating, before returning to Cape Kidnappers around the age of 5.