School camps at Mamaku Point, Stewart Island / Rakiura
Mamaku Point is a 172-hectare conservation reserve on the north-eastern coast of Stewart Island / Rakiura, about 4 km from Oban. A predator-proof fence protects the headland, and the reserve runs from sandy beaches and coastal cliffs up through regenerating bush and old podocarp forest. It adjoins Rakiura National Park.
The camp is based in the reserve’s former Forestry Service outdoor education centre, a popular school camp from the 1970s to the 1990s that closed in 2000. After major renovations by the Trust, it welcomed school camps back in April 2018, and many schools now return year after year. For students, it’s a rare chance to stay inside a working conservation project and see native wildlife living without introduced predators.
Accommodation
The camp sleeps up to 38 people across two buildings, with room for more in tents.
- Bunkhouse: up to 24 in three rooms of 8 bunks
- Main lodge: up to 14. Room one has 6 bunks, room two has 5 bunks and a double bed, and room three has a single bed, which suits teachers and parent helpers
- Tenting area: for up to 40
- Modern kitchen for self-catering
- Cosy lounge with a wood burner
- Modern shower and bathroom block
- 12-seat 4WD van for group transfers between Oban and the camp (conditions of use apply)
A predator-free reserve
A 2.1 km predator-proof fence, built in 2005, runs across the neck of the headland from Horseshoe Bay to Lee Bay. Inside it, pest mammals have been removed and are kept out by a network of traps and monitoring. Since cattle, deer and possums were removed, the forest has recovered strongly. Ground orchids and seedlings now grow where they previously couldn’t survive.
The reserve is owned by Roy and Rachel Thompson and managed by the Mamaku Point Conservation Trust. Education is one of the Trust’s main aims, and school numbers have grown strongly since the camp reopened.
Wildlife and plants
- Stewart Island tokoeka (kiwi): kiwi live in the reserve, and night-time kiwi-spotting walks are a highlight for most groups
- Birds: more than 25 native species, including kākā, tūī, bellbird, rifleman, brown creeper and tomtit
- Forest: old podocarp forest with rimu, rātā and miro, some trees hundreds of years old
- Other wildlife: long-tailed bats, native skinks and invertebrates, and marine mammals along the coast
What students can do
- Guided kiwi-spotting walks after dark
- Hands-on conservation work, such as native planting and predator-trap checks
- Walks through bush and coastal ecosystems, from beach to ridge
- Plant tours covering traditional medicinal and edible uses, run with local ecotourism operators
- Outdoor skills and learning about the area’s Māori history
- Nearby options include the open bird sanctuary on Ulva Island and tracks in Rakiura National Park
Curriculum links
A camp here fits science and Nature of Science topics (ecosystems, native species, biosecurity and pest control), sustainability and Education for Sustainability, and Social Sciences through local and Māori history. Seeing a restoration project up close makes ideas like kaitiakitanga and predator-free goals concrete for students.
Who comes here
Primary, intermediate and secondary schools from Otago and Southland visit regularly, and several make it an annual camp. Scout and Girl Guide groups from around New Zealand also use the camp.
Getting there
Stewart Island / Rakiura is about an hour by passenger ferry from Bluff, or a short flight from Invercargill. From Oban, the camp’s 4WD van can transfer groups the 4 km to the reserve.
Frequently asked questions
How many can the camp take?
Up to 38 in beds: 24 in the bunkhouse and 14 in the main lodge. The tenting area takes up to 40.
Is it self-catering?
Yes. The camp has a modern kitchen for groups to use.
Will students see kiwi?
Stewart Island tokoeka live in the reserve, and night walks give groups a good chance of seeing them. As with any wild animal, sightings aren’t guaranteed.
How do we get from the ferry to the camp?
A 12-seat 4WD van is available for transfers between Oban and the camp (conditions of use apply).
What makes the reserve different from other camps?
It sits inside a predator-proof fence, so native birds, kiwi and forest are recovering without rats, stoats, possums or deer. Students stay inside a working conservation project rather than just visiting one.
