Sight Seeing
Kawau Island Experience
Take a trip to explore the area surrounding Kawau Island. Your trip can be as long or as short as you choose. Places to visit can include but are not limited to:
- A circumnavigation of the island.
- Bostaquet Bay - site of the infamous massacre in the 1700's.
- Coppermine - site of NZ's first export industry started in 1844.
- Moturekareka Island - view the wreck of the "Rewa", dinghy around or snorkle over the wreck.
- Combine your cruise with a walk through the Conservation Reserve, which includes giant redwoods planted over 150 years ago. Walk from Schoolhouse Bay through to Mansion House Bay via the old Coppermine.
- Bon Accord Harbour - home to the historic Mansion House with park-like gardens and Governor Grey's old homestead.
- Stop off at a secluded beach for lunch and a swim.
- Weather and season permitting, stop off for a fish on the way.
Cost: Depends on trip duration and areas visited – for example a 3 hour sightseeing trip for six people covering Moturekareka, Bostaquet Bay, Bon Accord Harbour and Mansion House will cost $345
Email: Dave at dave@kawaulodge.co.nz
Phone: 09 422 8831 or 021 951038
Tiri Tiri Matangi Bird Sanctuary
A 45 minute trip on a bus New Zealand offers, will take you to one of the highlights of the Hauraki Gulf. The world recognised Tiri Tiri Matangi Bird Sanctuary is home to some of New Zealand's most endangered birds and the open sanctuary provides a unique opportunity to see them close up in their natural habitat.
Tiritiri Matangi is one of only two Open Scientific Reserves in New Zealand, the other being the Albatross colony at Taiaroa Heads near Dunedin. Tiritiri Matangi Island is a successful partnership between the Department of Conservation and the Supporters of Tiritiri Matangi ( Inc ) a dedicated group of volunteers.
Some of the rarer birds that have been introduced are Tieke, the saddleback, Kakariki, the red crowned parakeet, Toutouwai, the north island robin, Popokatea, the whitehead, little spotted Kiwi, Hihi, the stitchbird, Kokako, Pateke, the brown teal and the flightless Takahe once thought to be extinct. The Takahe seem almost too easy to see. All of them are colour banded and have names, some English, some Maori. It is interesting to see Takahe and Pukeko together and compare size, shape, and behaviour.
Korimako, the bellbird, is almost everywhere. Their vocalisations are quite wonderful, extremely liquid and loud. The call for which they are named, a three or four note bell-like sequence is their morning call. It is like being surrounded by a bell-ringing chorus. Brown Teal were reintroduced to the island in 1987 and now occupy most ponds and wet places on the island. Blue penguin are numerous with artificial burrows set up for them. As well as the more common bush birds such as Piwakawaka, the fantail, Tui, Tauhau, the silvereye, and Riroriro, the grey warbler, there are grey-faced petrels in the breeding season and Puweto,the spotless crake, all making it is one of the few places left where one can hear the dawn chorus of our birds as they once were heard.
Approximate duration 5 hours. Round trip boat cost depends on number of guests and areas visited. For example a round trip for six people would cost $460. Trips are weather dependent.
Email: Dave at dave@kawaulodge.co.nz
Phone: 09 422 8831 or 021 951038
Kawau Cruises Daily Super Cruise
Ever wanted to explore an island that has no road access?
Want to learn more about the people living there?
This is your opportunity, with the Royal Mail Run Cruise!
This is the largest mail run by water in the Southern Hemisphere, and is a delightfully relaxing way for people of all ages to learn about the history and admire the natural beauty of Kawau Island.
Cruise the beautiful bays, gaining a rare glimpse into life on an island that has no roads. From the comfort of our large and luxurious ferry you will have uninterrupted 180 degree views of this scenic wonderland and historic landmarks, while your experienced and informative skipper guides you around over 75 different wharves delivering freight and mail to the island residents.
While on the mail run, you can watch Gannet birds diving for food and hear the melodic call of the Tui bird - don't forget to keep a watch out for penguins & dolphins!
A traditional kiwi BBQ lunch enjoyed aboard the boat is an optional extra, or you can take your picnic ashore and enjoy it in the historic Mansion House grounds and subtropical gardens, where Wekas, Wallabies & Peacocks abound.
This is a once in a lifetime cruise, and is definitely one not to be missed!
Departs daily at 10.30am
For more info or to view map visit www.KawauCruises.co.nz
Phone 09 425 8006 or 0800 111 616
Bookings Essential.
Kawau Cruises Daily Mansion House Cruise
The perfect day trip with so many choices you'll want to do it over & over again!
Sir George Grey, the third Governor of NZ purchased Kawau Island in 1862 and began establishing a ‘Garden of Eden' including transforming the old Copper Mine Manager's house into an imposing mansion.
Wander through the carefully restored Mansion House and admire the many artifacts gleaned from his travels through the Pacific, or marvel at the everyday objects of the Victorian era.
Quietly amble through the elegant subtropical gardens with Weka, Wallabies and Peacocks.
Enjoy freshly roasted coffee and tempting treats at the Café, or take a short stroll to swim in the clear waters of sandy Lady's Bay. It's an easy walk to the lookout for spectacular views of the Coppermine.
The more active can relive history by following the Miners Track through bush and along the foreshore to the Coppermine itself (fun for the kids) or follow Redwoods Track over to School House Bay, experiencing native NZ bush with Tuis, Wood Pigeons and even Kiwis.
Departs daily at 10.30am (& 2.30pm during summer season)
For more info or to view map visit www.KawauCruises.co.nz
Phone 09 425 8006 or 0800 111 616
Bookings Essential.
Kawau Cruises High Speed Discovery Tour
Shipwreck * Maori Wars * Copper Mine * Mansion House
An exceptional historical experience for those with limited time. Learn the history and legends of this unique area in only 2 hours!
Our informative skipper will whisk you past Beehive Island (where the sting is more likely to come from the plentiful Katipo spiders residing there) to Moturekareka Island where you will see the shipwrecked ‘Rewa' - the largest four-masted steel barque afloat in its day.
Then you'll glide over reefs to Motutara Island, a former quarry, before dashing off to Bostaquet Bay on Kawau Island where you'll learn the macabre story of warring Maori Tribes and cannibalism!
Next it's off to the Copper Mine where hundreds of people worked, followed by a high speed dash into Kawau's largest harbour to view Mansion House and its stunning gardens, before returning to Sandspit Wharf.
Departure time to suit you. Minimum of two paying adults.
For more info or to view map visit www.KawauCruises.co.nz
Phone 09 425 8006 or 0800 111 616
Bookings Essential.
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Posted is a 3-page pdf file showing the proposed SEA zones (Special Environmental Area).