J&V Down Under: Matiu Island

Today we went and explored Matiu/Somes Island. It is a tiny island just off Wellington Harbour, which you can actually see from our bedroom window on a clear day. It was a pretty windy day, but bright and clear, so we decided to go over anyway. The ferry (aka small catamaran) ride there and back was fairly vom inducing as it was quite rough, but it took less than 20 minutes each way so it wasn't really a problem.

Matiu has a really interesting history. Being a land mass that is less than a few miles away from the city, yet still an island, means that it's been used for all sorts of things over the years. When ships sailed in that were carrying any kind of disease, sailors were kept there in a human quarantine. During the Second World War, it was used to house prisoners of war (this meant anyone from main land NZ that happened to have a foreign accent), and more recently it was the country's largest animal quarantine. Like many areas of land in NZ, Matiu/Somes has also been involved in disputes related to the Treaty of Waitangi (long story), hence both the Maori and English names.

These days, the Island is focused on conservation. They have apparently worked very hard over the last few years to make the island pest free, with particular focus on getting rid of rats. When we first got off the ferry we had to check bags and the bottom of our shoes etc to make sure we weren't bringing anything on to the island that we shouldn't.

It took about an hour and a half to stroll round, and it was lovely. There were great views back over to Wellington, and lots of wildlife to try and look out for. We also got to see a Weta - an ugly looking insect endemic to New Zealand. On the island there are little boxes for them to nest in with Perspex viewing windows.