Fodor's Expert Review Quail Island

Located in Lyttelton Harbour, Quail Island was used by the early European settlers as a quarantine zone and leper colony and was named after the now-extinct native quail. It was once a significant area for collecting birds' eggs by local Māori. These days, Quail Island, also known as Otamahua, is being restored as an ecological reserve, and is home to many native birds including kingfisher, fantail, silvereye (a small bird common in New Zealand), and various seabirds. The Black Cat ferry from Lyttelton can zip you out here for a hike or a picnic.