Tauranga residents and visitors will get a rare opportunity this Labour Weekend as Mayor Island is opened up for day visits and overnight stays.

New Zealand's rarest duck and the pāteke/brown teal are thriving on the island alongside a range of other rare species which are protected by the island's pest free status.

Mayor Island is being opened up to those who want to experience what the protected island has to offer.

This year's flock counts of pāteke on Tuhua are the highest ever.

Water levels on the island's two freshwater lakes are also the highest in decades due to New Zealand's wet winter.

Other rare birds on the island include kākāriki/orange-fronted parakeets which are successfully breeding on Tūhua following a series of translocations from populations in the South Island.

TÅ«hua Trust Board representative Jason Ake says it's important to enjoy the island while protecting the island values.

'Nau mai ki tō mātou taonga e noho ana ki te pae tawhiti” says Jason.

'This means you are welcome to visit our treasure that sits on the distant horizon. Please take care of our island as you would your own home. In particular we urge all visitors to follow the bio-security process which protects island wildlife from introduced pests such as rodents, weeds and insects.”

Tūhua is the ancestral home of Te Whānau a Tauwhao ki Tūhua and is administered by the Tūhua Trust Board.

The island is remote and visitors need to be well prepared for their trip.

Caretakers/kaitiaki live on the island and will help look after visitors and the island values.

Tühua is the Bay of Plenty's largest off-shore island and opens for visitors from Labour Weekend until Easter.

Visitors are reminded that Tühua is a privately owned island and the trust board asks visitors to respect it in the same manner as they would their own properties.

People wanting to visit the island can make contact through the Tauranga Area Office of DOC.