Wellington & a trip to Matiu / Somes Island December 2022

Enjoying the view from S&A's in a comfy chair 😆

 Earlier in the year, Shannon invited us for a weekend on Matiu / Somes Island in the middle of Wellington Harbour in December. As the bookings have to be done early if you want one of the two houses, which we did as you can't predict the weather. There are 12 tent sites but we left those to the harder people of which there were only 3 others that weekend.

Lunch before crossing out to the Island

December is always busy enough getting ready for Christmas and this weekend came around surprisingly quickly. I booked Bill's and my flights to cover a few days either side of our adventure to the island so we had time to check out Wellington too. I was pleased I had as the weather was perfect for the whole week.

Shannon & AC had also invited friends and colleagues Pip/Micky/Kelvin to join us. And the plan had changed to just one night on this historic island which worked well. We caught the Electric Ferry, Ika Rere, down on the waterfront after a delicious lunch and refreshing beer. I used my Gold Card once again for my return trip, which takes just under the hour.

All aboard the Ferry to Matiu / Somes Island

Arriving on the Island you are met by DOC Staff as the Island is predator free and they wish it to stay that way, so everyone has to empty their bags and check they have no stowaways or foreign seeds or plants that could become invasive on the island.

Our accommodation and view

Shannon and AC trying to hide
their excitement😉 

We headed off to find our house which was a basic Doc house that was used for staff and now tourists. It had everything we needed, including a bbq which we would need to cook our dinner later😀. Then we headed off to explore the island. This was our second visit to the island but just as exciting as the first, looking for Skinks, Gecko's and Tuatara. The island has a lot of history starting with the Maori who used the local islands as strategic Pa sites as they were easy to defend until  the New Zealand Company took it over in 1839 and renamed the Island from Matiu (named after one of Kupe's daughters) to Somes Island. ( Doesn't sound as beautiful). The NZ Government used the island as a quarantine facility for humans before becoming one for animals coming into NZ. The buildings still have a lot of history and stories to tell.

A little history in the making was the walk around the island, where Kelvin and Bill took a side track onto the top of the hill, where there was a huge gull nesting, and none to happy about them getting too close, but its protector was up for the challenge and divebombed Bill, a little unnerving, with a well placed shite, delivered onto the back of his head with such force it permeated through the hat fabric and actually caused a hot urea? rash on his neck. Ow and yuk...they beat a hasty retreat.😖 

Walking the tracks on the Island

Bill cooked food (no not the offending bird) on the bbq as the rest of us put together a combined dinner. It was nice to meet the others ( We knew Pip from Shannon's Uni days) and listen to the woes and highlights of their jobs in Government. All sounded very full on but they all seemed to thrive on the pressure. Wellington City is a small community really, so nearly everyone knows who is who in Government. They were all looking forward to the break on the Island.

Bill in his happy place

After dinner, some of us relaxed and read books, others went looking for the Penguins and Tuatara's which like to come out in the evenings. It was lovely looking back to the City lights which was so close but you felt so far away. And the stars, which unfortunately had a bit of cloud hiding some of them, were amazing.

Our little friend

The next morning after breakfast and packing up, we caught the morning Ferry back into town. Although the visit was short, the Wellingtonians felt like they had a decent break. It is a special place to visit, and so handy to the City centre but you feel like you're a world away. A lovely weekend thank you Guys.

With a few days up our sleeves and Shannon and AC working, we did get out for a few walks and caught the Bus into town one day to have a look around Parliament as we hadn't been down that way for a while. The buildings and gardens are beautiful. And to our surprise we found there was an event on just outside the Beehive. We caught the Black Ferns celebration of their win of the World Cup with Whanau and friends and lots of school children all enjoying the event. A nice use of Parliament's gardens instead of Protesters! 

Parliament Grounds awaiting the Black Ferns

Shannon heading out to the new pontoon.

Wellington was looking very Christmassy with it's street lights and the Pohutukawa's were such a vibrant red - beautiful. As I said the weather was perfect and as Wellingtonians say "You can't beat Wellington on a good day"😍. 

Shannon and AC spoiled us with a couple of dinners out and showing us their local spots that they enjoy. All so handy. It was a lovely week thank you S&A. We will be back in a couple of weeks of course for Christmas but sadly S&A won't be there, so this was our Christmas catch up too.

Stunning sunset from Evans Bay

The Pohutukawa's on show

Island mode of 
transportation
Kelvin giving Pip a ride