Before man arrived on these islands, there were massive trees and birds, and little else. Apparently the land was more heard than seen on approaching. With man came rats, possums, and other predators. We also cut down a LOT of trees. Result...more silence, less song. On places such as Tiritiri island, (less than an hour by ferry from Auckland's central business district) DOC, the Department of Conservation, along with volunteers, have replanted, got rid of predators, and reintroduced native birds.
Felicity and I visited on one of those sparkly sun-kissed days when the islands and bays around Auckland can only delight. When we give back to nature, she certainly gives back in abundance. To sit in the bush surrounded by the joyous calls of bellbirds defies description. A similar experience in slightly more luscious and dense bush was to be had two days later on another DOC reserve, the Tawharanui Peninsula, near Warkworth, just north of Auckland.
We may not have the spectacular scenery of South Island but we sure got plenty of gems near by.