About the Camp

Motutapu (Sacred Island) is part of the Hauraki Gulf Maritime Park and is just a short ferry trip from downtown Auckland. Standing beside Auckland's most famous dormant volcano "Rangitoto", the islands, originally separated by a narrow tidal creek are now bridged with a causeway.

The islands are administered by DOC (Department of Conservation) Motutatpu is presently a Recreation Reserve undergoing major re-vegetation to eventually return it to 1/3 Native Bush.

Administration Bay, situated on the northern shore, is the site of the MOEC Camp. The camp was originally constructed as an Artillery Camp in WWII, providing the main accommodation facility on Motutapu Island, serving as barracks for the 6-inch battery personnel and as the overall headquarters and administrative centre for the island.

Since 1966 the camp has functioned as an Outdoor Education Camp. The Motutapu Outdoor Education Camp Trust (an IRD approved charitable trust) was formed in 1991 and is the Leaseholder.