Motiti Island

New Zealand / Bay of Plenty / Maketu /
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Motiti is roughly 1500 acres and has about thirty permanent residents on the northern half and six on the southern half. The island has a rich Maori heritage evidenced by pa sites and diggings. In 1850 the first European settlers bought the southern half.

Motiti has been owned since 1979 by the Wills brothers who farm over 1200 head of cattle and grow over 20 acres of avocados. Cattle bound for the mainland are transported by barge, which was built in 1966. People travel to Motiti either by boat or plane.

In the early days, communication with the mainland was done by signal fire! This progressed to carrier pigeon, then thankfully, in 1946 the radio telephone was introduced. The year 2000 saw the first email link established.

Motiti has an abundance of natural fresh water springs. The land is fertile, the surrounding ocean boasts prolific sea life and birds thrive in the unpolluted environment. The rock fishing and diving are legendary!

The Motiti Bunkhouse sleeps 16. Four bunk rooms each sleep four and there are two sets of ablutions.

In between is a central fully equipped kitchen and dining hub. Cooking and hot water heating is by gas. There are the two refrigerators and a small chest freezer. Electricity is by generator which is on for a few hours in the evening. When the generator is off minimal lighting is provided by 12 volt battery or candlepower! Winter fishing enthusiasts can thaw out by the pot belly stove. Outside there are two barbeques, outdoor eating facilities and a shower.
A cricket pitch and tennis court are available for those energetically inclined!

Bunkhouse guests will need to bring all food and liquid refreshments (there are no shopping facilities) as well as sleeping bags, pillow cases, towels, personal items, fishing gear, bait(in buckets please!), snorkeling and dive gear (tanks and air available),warm clothing and walking shoes.
It also pays to bring a torch!

If there’s just two of you and you’d prefer a little pampering and lazing about, then our Guest Unit would suit you. With million dollar views over Home Bay, very comfortable surroundings and ALL MEALS PROVIDED - now that’s a real holiday!

Guests are welcome to relax in the garden and enjoy refreshments in Home Bay Saloon.

The fishing at Motiti is great whether off the rocks or by boat with catches including snapper, kingfish & many others.

5 to 10 minutes walk from the Bunkhouse will bring you to ‘The Beer Garden’, ‘The Plank’ and ‘Shag’s Roost’ world famous (in Motiti at least) rock fishing spots.
Ease the inflatable into the water and zip out to some of the best Snapper, Tarakihi and blue mao mao fishing grounds in the Bay of Plenty.
All within 100mtrs of the shoreline.

The diving and snorkeling at Motiti is spectacular. There’s terrain to suit beginners through to experienced divers. The tug boat, Taioma, scuttled just a few metres off Motiti is an awesome underwater sight and we have some wonderful spots for scallops, crayfish, spear-fishing and photography. Two 5 meter inflatables are available for hire as well as dive tanks and refills
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   37°37'30"S   176°25'20"E

Comments

  • Motiti Island is NOT owned by the Wills Brothers
  • How do I get hold of the people who have / own the Motiti Bunkhouse
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This article was last modified 15 years ago