Owned by the Salvation Army, Rotoroa Island was used for many years as a sanctuary for recovering addicts, a drug and alcohol free place just off Waiheke Island. In 2008 Neal and Annette Plowman took a 99 year lease out on the island and through spending a fair bit of money managed to achieve in a few years what it took Tiritiri Matangi volunteers decades to achieve, namely removing introduced animal and plant species, and restoring native species.
They’ve also built an interesting little museum about the history of the island, renovated many of the buildings, which available to rent, and installed artwork. This all makes for a great day trip from Auckland.
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