Motu Moana Scout Camp

This scout camp is about 20 minutes bus ride out of Auckland Center and is a beautiful area with lush forest, giant ferns, beach and ocean access, abseiling tower, a fantastic COPE coarse, sports fields, outdoor chapel and so much more.

"Motu" means island and the original name, B-P Memorial Camp, was changed to Motu Moana because the Scouts that it was like an island in the midst of a suburban dwelling area.

The property was originally farm land and in 1926 the Scouts were invited to use the property down by the beach at Green Bay for the first NZ Scout Jamboree. In 1934, arrangements were made to lease about 21 acres of the property for 21 years by the Scouts. During the 1936 camping season, 1,055 boys camped at Motu Moana. In 1940, upon the death of Mrs. Preston, the owner of the property, the Scout Association was given 6 months to close the camp. The trustees were approached and in 1941, the camp was purchased by the Scouts with support from the Auckland Rotary Club.

Early in 1942, the public works department excavated an "Anti Tank Defense Ditch across Green Bay , part of it going across one corner of the camp, but it was filled in by 1943 and is now known as the "Tank Trap"