Mana Island is one of those places that I've looked at so often over the years whilst driving on SH1 and thought "one day"...
A plan was hatched recently between some friends and I to finally pay it a visit, and whilst there I might place a cache, or two. That visiting party went by the collective name of 'Mana24', and in various ways they assisted with the placement of this cache. My thanks goes to everyone who came along on the trip.
Members of Mana24 may log their Find on this cache as a HTH (Helped to Hide) with the date 5.5.24
So here is one of the four caches I have placed to hopefully enhance your visit to Mana Island Scientific Reserve. It's not vital but I would encourage visitors to traverse the island in an anti-clockwise direction, sticking to the established walking tracks and obeying all signage placed by DOC.
I hope you enjoy your visit to the island. I know that I certainly did.
The cache should be an easy find. Please replace as found, to hide it from muggle eyes.
About Mana Island: Mana Island is one of Wellington’s oldest preserved marine terraces. Formed during an interglacial period 200,000 years ago, it now sits 398 feet above sea level at its higher northern end and 291 feet at the southern end.
Mana Island has seen many changes in its colourful history, beginning with Kupe’s visit, early Maori settlement, European visits and later whalers, to John Bell’s first farming efforts, John Wright’s and the Vella family’s long association with farming the island, the Gault family, and then being a research and quarantine station.
With the guiding hand of the Department of Conservation and the help of Friends of Mana Island, the island is now reverting to how it was prior to human settlement.
The island provides shelter to many special insects, reptiles, birds and plants. Its surrounding waters have an abundant sea life. The island’s Cook Strait giant weta, deinacrida rugosa, is believed to be the world’s heaviest insect. The McGregor skink can be found in the shingle on the beaches, and the gold stripe gecko can be found in the flaxes in the wetland. There are 39 bird species on the island, which have the added chance of survival due to it being a rodent-free domain. The endangered Cooks scurvy grass, ngaio, taupata, manuka and kanuka all contribute to Mana’s floral diversity.
Source: Friends of Mana Island
More information can be found on the Department of Conservation factsheet (linked)
Getting there: Mana Island is open to visitors, 8 am – 5 pm, all year round. You may only land in the bay between the old woolshed and the wharf. Boats must remain offshore after visitors have landed. Two moorings, marked by buoys, are available in the bay for daytime use. They are not available for overnight mooring. Dinghies may be pulled up the beach after transporting passengers from their boat.
Ferry Service: Alternatively, a seasonal guided tour ferry service is available through Go Mana. Visit their website for more details and to make bookings.