Some native trees and shrubs are present, though most have been planted. Two low-lying areas have been planted as wetlands, one having a small area of open water. Plants here include flax, toetoe, rushes and cabbage trees. Lowland flax was seen here and in a few localities elsewhere, though these are apparently planted. The tip of the Spit is one of the best places adjacent to the estuary to see waders, oystercatchers and terns.
Birds congregating here include variable oystercatcher, South Island pied oystercatcher and godwits.
Cormorants and shags roost off the western side of the Spit, and there are white-faced heron feeding grounds there. Waterfowl are associated with the island and the area around it. Oystercatchers, gulls and terns are common along the ocean beach of the Spit. Within the vegetated dunes of the Spit, passerines are common. Little is known about the other fauna of the Spit, but given the dominance of introduced vegetation, the distribution of indigenous fauna is likely to be limited in comparison with more natural dunelands.