To Somes with a Gnome

With Harold the Gnome, Amanda and Sarah

This weekend was our grand flat adventure to Matiu-Somes Island, a belated birthday day out for Amanda. We’ve been waiting for a perfect weekend since September, so Mands has had to suffice with a garden gnome we got her until we could head on over on the little ferry. Sarah and I made a picnic of joy in the morning, and then we all, including Harold the gnome, caught the 12pm Dompost ferry across the harbour to the little island. It is a natural conservation reserve, with a colony of 500 blue penguins, no natural preditors and some killer fat gulls the size of small cars. Don’t mess with them! I always wondered why there were “penguins crossing” signs on some of the coastal roads in Wellington, and now I know!

Matiu Somes Island

Consulting the map

At the Summit with Wellington in the background

The weather was stunning, and after being hauled into a little hut to check for mice and stray seeds in our bags, yes, we had a couple of hours to wander around. This was one of the best adventures I’ve had all year, with some of the most incredible views of the city. I am constantly amazed by how beautiful this city is, from the many different look outs and view points. But today was pretty special, and I’ll let the photos do the talking. After a trip to the summit, we found a perfect picnic table with a view that reminded me of those Enid Blyton books, where kids would jump into a little boat, armed just with jam sandwiches, and undercover Cornish pirate shenanigans. We had lunch of gourmet smoked salmon sandwiches, pink champagne, chocolate cake and strawberries, and some good yarns meant for a splendid time.

We then walked around to a lighthouse, stopping by to see some Wetas at a “Weta motel” (a hole in a tree), and then around the circuit track to the wharf to get the boat back. An awesome awesome adventure.

Wellington and the lighthouse

Somes Island