Welcome to Matiu, a Tropical island in the Solomon Sea, part of the majestic Pacific Ocean. This guide offers a comprehensive overview of what makes Matiu unique – from its geography and climate to its population, infrastructure, and beyond. Dive into the details:
Geography and size of Matiu
Size: 1.26 km²
Coastline: 11.7 km
Ocean: Pacific Ocean
Sea: Solomon Sea
Continent: Oceania
Matiu is a Small Island spanning 1.3 km² with a coastline of 11.7 km.
Archipel: Melanesia – A subregion of Oceania in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, including countries like Fiji, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu, known for their diverse cultures and languages.
Tectonic Plate: Pacific – The world’s largest tectonic plate, covering much of the Pacific Ocean, known for the Pacific Ring of Fire with extensive seismic and volcanic activity.
The geographic heart of the island is pinpointed at these coordinates:
Latitude: -8.48462558 / Longitude: 158.14085405
Climate and weather of Matiu
Climate Zone: Tropical
Climate Details: Tropical Rainforest Climate
Temperature: Hot
Climate Characteristics: This climate is typified by heavy rainfall throughout the year, high humidity, and consistently high temperatures, leading to lush rainforests and rich biodiversity. Seasonal temperature variations are minimal.
Topography and nature of Matiu
Timezone: UTC+11:00
Timezone places: Pacific/Guadalcanal
Max. Elevation: -47 m
Mean Elevation: -63 m
Vegetation: Evergreen Broadleaf Forest
Tree Coverage: 21%
The mean elevation is -63 m. Remarkably, this unique island barely emerges above the sea level, showcasing nature’s fascinating interplay with the ocean. The island is characterized by Plains: Flat, low-lying lands characterized by a maximum elevation of up to 200 meters. On islands, plains are typically coastal lowlands or central flat areas.
Dominating Vegetation: Evergreen Broadleaf Forest
Characterized by dense, lush canopies of broadleaf trees that retain their leaves year-round. These forests are typically found in tropical and subtropical regions and are known for their high biodiversity. Matiu has a tree cover of 21 %.
Vegetation: 2 vegetation zones – Low Diversity Island
Islands with two distinct vegetation zones offer slightly more ecological variety. These zones could be due to differences in elevation, moisture, or other environmental factors. While still limited in biodiversity, these islands may offer a contrast between the two zones, such as a coastline with mangroves and an inland area with grassland.
Infrastructure and Travelling to Matiu
Does the island have a public airport? no.
There is no public and scheduled airport on Matiu. The nearest airport is Gatokae Aerodrome, located 27 km away.
Does the island have a major port? no.
There are no major ports on Matiu. The closest major port is PORT NORO, approximately 108 km away.
The mean population of Matiu is 27 per km². Matiu is Gently Populated. The island belongs to Solomon Islands.
Continuing your journey, Vangunu is the next notable island, situated merely km away.
camping on an island with living fossils!! | MATIU/SOMES ISLAND VLOG
amazing New Zealand animals to behold in this vlog on predator free ...
amazing New Zealand animals to behold in this vlog on predator free island, Matiu/Somes! These 'living fossils' have been in ...
Telling Tales: Matiu/Somes Island
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FAMILY SHORT TRIP TO MATIU ISLAND
matiuisland #wellington #utafamily #shorttrip.
matiuisland #wellington #utafamily #shorttrip.
One hour to explore Matiu Somes Island
You can get the East by West Ferry to Somes Island from Queen's Wharf, ...
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Somes Island / Matiu, Wellington
wellingtonharbour #wellingtonnz #explorenz.
wellingtonharbour #wellingtonnz #explorenz.
Sneaking into MrBeast's Abandoned Island!
Download State of Survival for free HERE: ...
Matiu/Somes Island, Wellington
Matiu/Somes Island, New Zealand
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Matiu Somes Island, New Zealand Matiu / Somes Island is the largest of three islands in the northern half of Wellington Harbour, ...
Matui/Somes Island Scientific and Historic Reserve
This video offers a glimpse of Matiu/Somes Island in Wellington ...
This video offers a glimpse of Matiu/Somes Island in Wellington Harbour, New Zealand. It reveals centuries of human occupation, ...
Summer Holiday Vlog! | A Visit to Matiu/Somes Island in Wellington, New Zealand
Hi everyone! I hope you enjoy this visit to Matiu/Somes Island in this ...
Hi everyone! I hope you enjoy this visit to Matiu/Somes Island in this extra holiday vlog! More information on Matiu/Somes Island: ...
EAST WEST FERRY TO DAYS BAY AND MATIU (SOMES ISLAND)
Leaves from Queens Wharf. Filmed on Thursday 27/2/25. (A tourist asked ...
Leaves from Queens Wharf. Filmed on Thursday 27/2/25. (A tourist asked is where the Ferry to Picton departs?)
Matiu / Somes Island - Whanganui-A-Tara
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Video showing East by West ferry trip to Matiu / Somes, wild life on the island, and return (to Days Bay, Eastbourne) -video by ...
Wellington New Zealand Matiu Island
Trip to Wellington New Zealand Matiu Island.
Trip to Wellington New Zealand Matiu Island.
Trip to Matiu/Somes Island, New Zealand
Matiu/Somes Island: ...
Matiu Island Lambs
A Sunday afternoon visit to the lambs of Matiu Island.
A Sunday afternoon visit to the lambs of Matiu Island.
Matiu/Somes Island - Wellington
via YouTube Capture.
via YouTube Capture.
Overnight on Matiu Somes island, Jan 2020
filmed 9.1.2020, members of the Wellington Sea Kayak Network paddled ...
filmed 9.1.2020, members of the Wellington Sea Kayak Network paddled over to Somes island, and stayed the night at education ...
Matiu / Somes Island - Old WW2 Gun Emplacements
A world at war For such a small island, Matiu / Somes played a large ...
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Anzac Special - Pacific Islanders interned on Somes Island
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During the World Wars some Tongans and Samoans were interned in Somes Island, near Wellington. It's hard to believe that ...
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MATIU/SOMES ISLAND | NZ Vlog 10
Tuesday March 4th, 2025. Everything about this day trip was amazing ...
Tuesday March 4th, 2025. Everything about this day trip was amazing from the ferry ride with dolphins to the beautiful island.
Exploring Wellington Harbour’s Matiu Somes Island for the day
We caught the East by West ferry from Days Bay in Eastbourne, Lower ...
We caught the East by West ferry from Days Bay in Eastbourne, Lower Hutt over to Matiu Somes Island for the day. Lots of nice ...
Solomon Islands is classified as Least developed region: Countries that exhibit the lowest indicators of socioeconomic development, with the lowest Human Development Index ratings. The level of income is Lower middle income.
News – Latest Updates and Headlines from Matiu
Stay informed with the most recent news and important headlines from Matiu. Here’s a roundup of the latest developments.
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Please note: The data used here has been primarily extracted from satellite readings. Deviations from exact values may occur, particularly regarding the height of elevations and population density. Land area and coastline measurements refer to average values at mean high tide.
