Heritage on the Horizon.
Nestled on the stunning Motutapu Island, the outdoor education centre offers a unique coastal adventure experience for people of all ages. It was a privilege for our team to help upgrade the facilities and ensure this inspiring place continues to thrive.
M O T U T A P U
Escape the city and reconnect with nature at Motutapu Outdoor Education Camp — a place where adventure meets learning. Set against the backdrop of one of Auckland’s most scenic islands, it’s a space that inspires curiosity, confidence, and connection. We were proud to play a role in enhancing this special place, upgrading its facilities to better support the camp’s mission and the people who pass through its gates each year. It was a joy to contribute to an environment where architecture helps adventure thrive.
Working on Motutapu Island came with its own set of unique challenges — the remote location meant tricky logistics and limited access, making careful planning essential from the start. We were proud to take on the renovation of the island’s historic lodge, thoughtfully updating it to better serve the needs of the outdoor education camp while preserving its original character. The result is a more functional, welcoming space that supports both adventure and learning — a place where heritage and purpose come together.
Upgrading a remote island lodge to support learning, adventure, and connection with nature.
Where are we now?
Design updates to the staff accommodation are currently in progress, focusing on reworking the kitchen and bathroom layouts for better functionality, and refining the sleeping quarters for a better use of space. These interior enhancements have been carefully planned to respect the existing structure, with minimal impact to the exterior form and character. Stay tuned for up coming updates…
Clients Comments.
“The Motutapu Outdoor Education Camp Trust has used the design services of Architecture Smith + Scully on several occasions including new buildings & renovations. All projects have been totally successful delivering the functional requirements and coming in on (or under) budget due to very clear & precise detailing that has enabled our construction contractors to accurately price the works. No surprises, nothing left to chance!....
Through incredibly smart design by Architecture Smith + Scully we were able to increase the number of toilets from 2 to 5, including 1 assessable toilet and showers from 5 to 7. This was achieved without changes to the exterior / building envelope which would have triggered substantial and expensive approval processes. Innovative but subtle / appropriate use of modern systems has improved the internal environment of the building and are generating significant saving in energy & water use.”