Events

Tēnā koe te Whenua: A Day of Discovery on Kamautaurua / Quarantine Island– Wild Dunedin Festival of Nature | April 12th, 18th & 19th

  • Sunday 12th April: Guided Discovery Join us for guided history and ecological tours at 10am, 12pm, and 2pm. Between tours, help us tend to the land with light Kaitiakitanga – stewardship activities (mahi) or simply find a quiet spot to recharge. Register for April 12th here

  • Saturday 18th – Sunday 19th April: The Overnight Immersion For a deeper connection, join our weekend gathering. Spend your days caring for the island’s ecosystem or just resting and relaxing, and your evenings under the stars. Register for April 18th/19th here 

  • Special Feature: Tēnā koe te Whenua – Dear Earth – Letters to the Land – Keeping this legacy of land connection alive, we invite visitors to participate in Tēnā koe te Whenua. Take a moment during your visit to write a “letter to the land”, a reflection, a poem, a drawing, or a thank-you note to the environment. Maps, paper and pencils will be available, and a place to either post your letter, or display for all to enjoy!
  • Boat Transport (Back Beach, Port Chalmers): A charter boat departs at 9:30am sharp. Please arrive 10 minutes early. Returns depart the island at 12:40pm or 3:30pm. Pick-up from Portobello pontoon may be available depending on interest.
  • Stay Connected- Can’t make it this time? Subscribe to our mailing list here for future Island opportunities.

Welcome Days

Join us on the next Welcome Day on Saturday 28th March 2026

Find out more about our next Welcome Day here

Mahi Days

Volunteering mahi days on the island vary week to week, usually on a weekend day or less often during the weekdays. If you’re keen to hear about all the opportunities to visit/ volunteer on the island you can also Subscribe to our mailing list to hear about the latest opportunities. 

Bird Count Days

Join us for Bird Counts on the Island which consist of 5-minute bird counts at nine sites around the island. We do this in Autumn (April-May) and Spring (October-December). If you think you might be interested in being involved or would like more information, please contact us.

Your Event

We host many public events on the Island. Our Facilities Day Hire Brochure is available on request.

Day rates for hire of the St. Martin Lodge – $250 plus $10 per person.

Day rates for hire of the Married Quarters – Up to 4 hours $120; Over 4 hours (all day) $360.

Please contact us to tell us about, and book an event you would like to take place on QI/KT.