Top picks:

• Visit the chapel, jail house and school house to absorb the island’s fascinating history
• Prepare a lunch and cook it at one of the island’s free BBQs
• Walk to the island’s cemetery and contemplate views of Ponui Island and Hauraki Gulf
• Swim and picnic at one of the island’s four beautiful sandy beaches

Fact file:

• The island was New Zealand's first and longest running addiction treatment centre
• There has been no public access to Rotoroa Island in over 100 years
• The island has recently opened to visitors and is now a public conservation estate

Why visit?

Just a 75 minute trip from Auckland, and nestled among a chain of islets off Waiheke’s east coast, you’ll find Rotoroa Island. It’s the place to discover a rich social history with beautiful beaches, walking trails, heritage buildings, art, and a state-of-the-art exhibition centre which tells the story of the island’s unique history.

For 100 years this island was off limits to all but those going there for alcohol or drug rehabilitation in the care of the Salvation Army.

Now operated by the Rotoroa Island Trust, this unique island was opened to the public in March 2011, thanks to the generosity of philanthropists who negotiated a 99-year lease to allow public access and the island’s redevelopment.

Explore the heart of the old Salvation Army settlement, including the jail, chapel and school house. Visit the island’s exhibition centre detailing the island’s history and conservation programme. Swim or picnic at one of four beautiful sandy beaches, explore walking trails among regenerating bush, or stroll to the landmark Chris Booth sculpture on the island’s southern headland.

Location

View Rotoroa Island in a larger map