AUCKLAND, Today: As thousands of gannets return to Hawke’s Bay to nest, Gannet Safaris Overland is gearing up for a busy season at Cape Kidnappers, home to the world’s largest accessible gannet colony.
Recently recognised as the only New Zealand attraction in Tripadvisor’s Best of the Best family-friendly experiences, Gannet Safaris Overland has seen a surge in visitors. Tripadvisor’s poll, drawing from millions of reviews, highlights the exceptional quality of this guided experience.
“We are just over the moon about it,” says GM Sophie Phillips. “It’s a real testament to the commitment of our whole team – our wonderful drivers, who love what they do and enjoy each and every encounter with our visitors, our admin staff, and the volunteers who maintain and care for this precious land. We’re all on a high.”
The company also won the Tourism Export Council’s Small Operator of the Year award, recognising excellence in sustainability and visitor experience. “We’re very proud to have been acknowledged.”
Cape Kidnappers’ gannets, known for their cheeky nature, arrive each August and stay until May. Eggs have appeared, and chicks will be born this month. “It’s the most magical time of year.
Sophie adds, “It doesn’t matter whether you catch the gannets mating, nesting, or observe the baby chicks, it’s always an enthralling experience.”
“We are just over the moon about it. It’s a real testament to the commitment of our whole team.” – Sophie Phillips
After a challenging few years, the 2023/24 season marked a significant recovery, with record visitor numbers and cruise ships returning to Napier Port. “The cruise ships were back, and we enjoyed record numbers here at the Cape.”
Excitement for the upcoming 24/25 season is high, with some dates already sold out. “We’re running wait lists for the days when cruise ships are in Napier Port. We find that our cruise customers love the encounter so much, they’ll come back to their ship and jump straight into one of their cruise Facebook groups to tell other cruise customers all about it.”
The safari now offers a range of gannet tours, from sunrise to Christmas Day experiences. For the first time, some visitors will enjoy the scenery in eco-friendly, low-emission buses.
“We have two new vehicles – we’ve named one Flash and the other Rakaia. These are Mitsubishi Fuso buses, and are super comfortable, automatic and – crucially – four-wheel drive, to cope with our rugged terrain.”
Drivers will receive training on the new buses, led by Operations Manager Richard Hibbert and former guide Tony Morris, who is a fixture in Tripadvisor reviews. “With decades of knowledge, we simply couldn’t let him retire,” says Sophie.
“Like our gannets, who are faithful to their territory and return year upon year upon year, Tony is 100% loyal and we rely on his expertise!”
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