Matiu/Somes Island Campsite
Matiu/Somes Island
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Matiu/Somes Island Campsite
Camp in a sheep paddock on this historic island.
Matiu / Somes is a wildlife reserve and makes for a fantastic Wellington overnight option. It's far easier than you might expect. Just book your campsite online here at ( http://booking.doc.govt.nz/default.aspx?sg=msc ) then drive to an overnight carpark and take one of the many scheduled East / West Ferries over to the island. You won't regret the little bit of extra effort. Kakariki are all over the island and if you see a ranger ask them if you can see if the oldest tuatara around is out of his burrow.
Notices
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Matiu/Somes Island closure
Matiu/Somes Island is closed for the rebuilding of the wharf. The island is inaccessible to the public.
Landing on the island by kayak, private boat or waka is also prohibited.
The island is planned to be open to the public again by spring 2024, depending on weather.
The booking system for Matiu Somes accommodation will open when we are certain of a completion date for the ongoing work.
First published on 18 January 2024. Last reviewed on 3 September 2024.
DOC Campsite Pricing
Matiu/Somes Island Campsite is categorised as a DOC Standard Campsite. The following pricing indicates usual pricing. Prices vary for some campsites and may include seasonal pricing. Visit the DOC website for exact pricing.
DOC Standard Campsite
Standard campsites have a more limited range of facilities and services than Serviced campsites. These campsites have toilets, a water supply that could be treated or untreated tap water, or from a stream or lake, and vehicle or boat access. Bring your own soap for washing hands. Untreated water should be boiled before use to ensure it's safe. Wood BBQs and fireplaces, cold showers, picnic tables, a cooking shelter and rubbish bins may be provided; this will vary from site to site.
| Feature | Value | Value |
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| Unpowered Site | Adult | $10.00 to $15.00 per night |
| Unpowered Site | Child | $5.00 to $7.50 per night |
| Unpowered Site | Infant | $0.00 per night |
Adults are 18+ years, children are 5-17 years, infants are 0-4 years.
Details
| Feature | Value | Info |
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Organisation |
DOC Wellington/KapitiCentral government organisation |
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Location |
North Island ▷ Wellington Region ▷ Wellington |
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Basic Camping
Reviews
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4.5/5
Great place to camp, if the wind isn’t too bad!
We stayed here for one night with our kids and had a great time. The kitchen and bathroom facilities were great. There an oven, stove, and fridge, as well as a small lounge area for relaxing or escaping the wind in.
The kitchen was fully stocked with cutlery, pots, pans, plates, you name it. Plenty of stuff for making kai as long as your bring the ingredients.
Plenty of places to explore, we went diving after the ferries had left and caught some scallops and saw some interesting fish life, and went down at dusk to see the little blue penguins coming ashore.
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5.0/5
I camped on Matiu Island with friends some years ago.
The ferry runs between Wellington Central and Eastbourne (and sometimes Seatoun) but stops at Matiu on the way.
Upon disembarking, security was tight, with all visitors getting a safety briefing and a gear check for uninvited stowaways. A walkway runs around the island for daytime exploration and IIRC there is a separate smaller island where a poor guy was quarantined for the long term some years ago.
Staying on the island offers a very different perspective on the nearby city and it was a very peaceful experience. I especially enjoyed watching the slow blinking from lighthouses marking the shipping corridor. I would definitely go back again.
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4.0/5
This was a great campsite for my daughter and myself.
The rangers are very picky of course about how clean your gear is when you arrive. They literally went through our tent with a dustbuster before we were allowed out of the hut they send you to when you arrive, but everyone there was super friendly. The campsite itself also has a kitchen and toilet facility, and power for charging stuff, The bird life is really close and accessible, we went for a night walk and also saw Weta and Tuataras on the path. We also went up to the old gun emplacement at the summit of the island. Great safe place to let your kids explore.
The boat trip just make it more of an adventure. Great time and would recommend it, especially for families.
