New Zealand Walk: Somes Island Track

Above left: The view on Somes Island today. Above right: Memorial of Quarantine Victims on Somes Island. View of buildings on Somes Island, taken by an unidentified photographer, circa 1915.

Source: Alexander Turnbull Library.

migrants and the city, so as to allay all alarm and reduce the chance of the disease spreading to the shore to a minimum…” [i]

Once on the island those quarantined were fumigated, some losing clothing and belongings as these were burnt to prevent the disease from spreading. By late April, those that had survived and recovered from the quarantine process were eventually released to their new life in New Zealand.

In an act of kindness, locals quickly came to the call to support those on the island by providing replacement clothes and other items to help them become established.

This was the first of numerous vessels to be quarantined at the island, particularly between 1872 and 1876. More permanent facilities were built including a fumigation shed for passengers and luggage at the wharf, a horse track to transport luggage to the purpose-built quarantine station, and an island cemetery. .The island was used for human quarantine for last time during the influenza pandemic of 1918/19. The grave of George Stanley – A Royal Navy Signalman died on the island in 1919 and poignantly symbolises this period. The island continued to be used for the quarantine of livestock up to 1995.

Today the island is owned again by Taranaki Whānui and managed by DOC, but visitors can explore its history. New storyboards tell iwi stories and visitors can still see structures from the time of quarantine: the fumigation shed lying in the tide by the wharf, a memorial with the names of those recorded buried on the island, and the barracks building constructed in 1919.

Matiu/Somes Island was one of a number used for human quarantine purposes in New Zealand. Others that can be visited include Quarantine Island/Kamau Taurua – Otago Harbour, Otamahua/Quail Island – Lyttleton Harbour and Motuihe Island/Te Motua-Ihenga, Auckland Harbour.

Below left: Quarantine Barracks Building on Matiu/Somes Island, built circa.1919.

Somes Island Loop Track

There is a 40 minute easy loop track around Matiu/Somes Island that offers 360 degree views of Wellington harbour and Hutt cities, together with native wildlife, remnants from the world wars, historic quarantine buildings, and a lighthouse.

There is also plenty to keep kids interested.

Along the way check out the island’s historic and ecological attractions, including introduced wildlife that are thriving in native vegetation planted by Lower Hutt Forest and Bird since 1981.

Getting there

You can get to Somes Island on the scheduled ferry service that runs between Queens Wharf and Days Bay seven days a week, and from Seatoun on Saturday and Sundays.

The island is open to the public from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm daily.

No dogs are allowed

It is highly recommend groups of more than 20 people, and those staying overnight, book a place on the ferry. In severe weather conditions one or both ferries can be cancelled.

Above: Southern lookout, along the loop track.