Matiu/Somes Island | Wellington, NZ
Here a quick little vlog/recap from a short day trip to Matiu Somes Island, located right inside the Wellington Harbour.
New Zealand 2018 Visiting Matiu Somes Island
New Zealand 2018 Visiting Matiu-Somes Island by ferry. Walking around the Island. At the begining there is a ray swimming under the pontoon in Wellington. The more boring bits are speeded up *4.
Matiu / Somes Island, Wellington. A weekend with friends and family.
Last weekend my family and I and one other family stayed at a DOC house on Matiu / Somes Island in the Wellington Harbour. My oldest daughter regularly got in the way of a great video production, one that would show of Matiu / Somes much better than this effort.
However, I want to encourage all Forest & Birders to take a camera with them on all their nature trips and send them to me to post on Youtube or Facebook show we can show each other and all New Zealanders some of the great work that we have been doing over the years.
Matiu/Somes Island - Wellington
via YouTube Capture
Day Trip to Matiu Island (Somes Island) - Best Things to Do in Wellington New Zealand
Kia ora!
One of the best things to do in Wellington, New Zealand is to take a day trip to Matiu Island (Somes Island). There's nothing better than Wellington on a fine day!
Matiu Island is a preserve in Wellington Harbour. It is a wonderful place to have a picnic and enjoy the walk and absolutely spectacular views. From Wellington, the ferry leaves from Queens Warf, or you can park for free in Days Bay on the Eastbourne side of the Harbour and take the ferry from there. On the Island there is a small museum (with toilets and a place to refresh your water bottles). No food or refreshments are available on the island, so make sure to pack your own. And check the the DOC website for biosecurity restrictions in place to protect the fragile ecosystem of the island.
Information:
Ferry Schedule:
Leave a comment below if you have any questions!
Meet the Locals: Matiu/Somes Island
Season 1, episode 20: Matiu/Somes Island sits in the middle of Wellington Harbour. This video explores the island's history and its many roles, including quarantine station, military outpost and now wildlife refuge.
Meet the Locals is a series of mini-documentaries about New Zealand's wildlife, wild places and the people working to protect them.
Each four-minute episode showcases the inspiring work of local communities, businesses and individuals, who make a difference to protecting our natural areas, native species and historic places.
Meet the Locals is a partnership between DOC and TVNZ.
Well Explained - Matiu / Somes Island
Jeff Hall, Ranger for the Department of Conservation, talks to us about the history of Matiu / Somes island and what you can expect when you take a trip to the island.
Boat Trip to 'Somes / Matiu' Island - Wellington Harbour / New Zealand
From the early 1870s Somes Island was frequently used as a human quarantine station, which was built on the island in 1872, shortly after the immigrant ship 'England' came into Wellington Harbour flying the yellow quarantine flag. For over 100 years, beginning in the early 1880s Somes Island served as an animal quarantine station. On the summit are five concrete gun emplacements built in 1942. The island was opened to the public in 1995 The Māori name for Somes Island is 'Matiu'
Matiu / Somes Island, Looking towards Wellington City.
Matiu / Somes Island, Looking towards Wellington City.
Matiu/Somes Island, at 24.9 ha (62 acres), is the largest of three islands in the northern half of Wellington Harbour, New Zealand.
The island is a stronghold for the little blue penguin, several species of shag, the spotted skink, the silver gull and several rare and endangered species of plants.
The Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand has been revegetating the island since 1984 and successfully eradicated rats and mice over a period between 1988 and 1989. Eleven male red crowned kākāriki (parakeets) were first introduced to the island in 2004 and immediately began breeding with a further eleven released in 2005. There are more than 500 species of invertebrates on the island including a couple of species of weta - Wellington tree wetas and Cook Strait giant wetas have been successfully transferred from Mana Island. A number of endangered plant species have found a refuge in the island.
The island is home to 6 species of native reptiles - Common skink (Oligosoma Nigriplantare), Spotted Skink (Oligosoma lineoocellatum), Copper skink (Cyclodina aenea) and the Common gecko (Hoplodactylus maculatus). Brothers Island tuatara were released in 1998. Forest geckos (Hoplodactylus granulatus) were transferred to the island in 2006. North Island robins sourced from Kapiti Island were released in April 2006, they bred for the first time that September.
Matiu / Somes Island - Shag Point
In Wellington Harbour there is a large colony on a rocky outcrop known as Shag Rock just off the south-west end of Matiu/Somes Island.
The spotted shag or parekareka (Stictocarbo punctatus) is a species of cormorant endemic to New Zealand.
Matiu/Somes Island
Das Historische und Natu-Reservart Matiu / Some Island liegt nur eine kurze Fahrt mit der Fähre vom Hafen von Wellington entfernt.
Wir haben dort einen schönen Tag verbracht. Mit diesem Video könnt ihr Matiu Island aus unserer Perspektive betrachten.
Viel Spaß!
NEW ZEALAND TRAVEL: Exploring Matiu/Somes Island
I went to Matiu/Somes Island together with another au pair. The weather was so good. I enjoyed the visit to the Island in the middel of Wellingtons Harbor. It is differently worth a visit! One of my favorite places in Wellington.
Somes Island Wellington
A day trip to Somes Island in Wellington
matiu somes island
on our tour of matiu somes island, which is a predator-free bird sanctuary in the wellington harbour.
Matiu / Somes Island, South Coast, Looking towards Wellington City.
Matiu / Somes Island, South Coast, Looking towards Wellington City. With the Vintage working Light house in View.
Tuatara Matiu Somes Island
I came accross this Tuauara baking in the sun on Matiu Somes Island in the middle of Wellington habour. Such an ancient creature! Subscribe and like to see future New Zealand Nature videos.
Wellington vue de Matiu/Somes Island...On entend les oiseaux !
Matiu / Somes Island - Lighthouse
The Matiu / Somes Island lighthouse was the first inner harbour lighthouse in New Zealand.
After several safety incidents at the entrance of Wellington harbour, the Wellington provincial council built New Zealand’s first permanent lighthouse at Pencarrow in 1859. Before too long it became clear that there was a need for another navigational aid within the harbour itself.
The lighthouse at Somes Island (re-named after Joseph Somes, the Deputy Governor of the New Zealand Company) was erected in 1865 along with a 6-room lighthouse keeper’s house. The lighthouse was a 14-foot cast iron tower that had been imported from England. The light entered service on 17 February 1866, burning colza (rapeseed) oil and shining a white light down the centre of the channel and a red or green light at either side.
A new lighthouse
By 1895, there were calls for a stronger light on Somes Island that could be seen further out to sea. A new lighthouse was built and began operation on 21 February 1900. The old tower was removed and taken to Jack’s Point, Timaru where it can still be seen today. This new light was considered to be a great improvement, visible for 16 miles into the Cook Strait.
The new light initially used paraffin oil. It wasn’t considered to be particularly fuel-efficient and over the years it was replaced by an incandescent burner which vaporised oil under pressure, then improved to use acetone acetylene gas as a fuel. After World War II it was converted to electricity, provided by a generator.
Between 1866 and 1924 lighthouse keepers were employed to watch out for ships in distress. The first keeper, William Lyall, transferred from Pencarrow for the job. He served until his death in 1871. The award for the longest serving lighthouse keeper goes to William Achison who worked on the island from 1871 to 1910 (with a brief three year gap). Supplies for keepers and their families were landed in the bay below the lighthouse and a tramway was used to haul them up to the lighthouse.
Today
The light is still in use today. When the lighthouse became automated in 1924 the buildings of the settlement were removed.
The lighthouse
“The lighthouse lamp shines forth from far to guide their
course aright.
Tis like the eye of Providence that sheds its glorious ray
And now the weary mariners no longer feel dismay.
The Port of safety is in view – the winds and ocean roar
As if in rage to lose their prey that hums to the shore.
But soon the Harbour’s mouth is gained – all dangers at an
end.”
William Lyall, the island’s first lighthouse keeper
Wellington - Matiu/Somes Island and Mount Victoria
Matiu/Somes Island is an uninhabited conservation area in the middle of Wellington Harbour, and Mount Victoria gives amazing views over the city.