Island Bay in Wellington has quirky houses and a better beach than nearby Ōwhiro Bay. Boat access is also easier. Taputeranga Island sits at the front of the bay and is particularly photogenic. But more importantly, it is the centre of the Taputeranga Marine Reserve, which extends from Ōwhiro Bay to Te Raekaihau, the eastern point of the next bay along the coast, Houghton Bay.
Although the Island is only 80 metres from the shore, it is not considered safe to swim out to it. But if you can access a kayak, you can use this to explore around the island’s rock pools. These pools are even more spectacular than the ones closer to the shore.
The Reserve, with its “no take” rules, helps to explain why the rock pools around Ōwhiro, the Sirens Rocks and the island are so colourful, with a dramatic recovery in marine life since the reserve was implemented.
