Motuora Island

Motuora is exposed to most winds and I would not recommend it as an overnight anchorage in other than very settled weather.

However, as a stop over and a bit of exercise I highly recommend it.

If you are into camping and have a trailer boat, there is a very nice little camp sheltered by trees.

The Island is run by DOC and when we visited on 16 December 2006, they were ready for the influx of visitors over the holiday period.

There are walking tracks around the island with one that running the length of the island.

From the tracks, you get superb views of the Gulf, Mahurangi, Kawau and the surrounding islands.

It is not a big island but big enough to give the legs a good stretch. Take something to drink as there is little shelter along the tracks which are well marked and maintained.

Highly recommended as a stop over, allow a couple of hours if you want to circumnavigate the island via foot.

You can anchor off a pretty shelly beach on the western side of the island, the water is crystal clear and the holding seemed OK.

Postion: 36.30.5S 174.47.5E
Last Visited: January 2007

Kawau Island - Burgess Bay

We visited Burgess Bay on the way back to Gulf Harbour. The wind was 20-25knots from the southwest so Burgess Bay facing the east - north east provided a pretty sheltered anchorage for lunch.

The water was very clear, we anchored in around 5-6 metres and we could see the anchor in the sand below.

The surrounding country is very rugged and the shape of the scrub on the surrounding hills is testament to the strength of the noreasters that would blow in from time to time. It would certainly not be a place to be in those conditions.

However, I can certainly recommend it as a very pleasant picnic spot. There were several white sandy beaches and the water appears to be deep in reasonably close.

Anchorage: Burgess Bay - Kawau Island
Position: 36.26.6S 174.52.5E
Date Visited: September 06
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Kawau Island – Vivian Bay

We have only stopped off at Vivian Bay on several occassions to have a wander along the beach and a swim.

It is a nice golden sandy beach with very clear water, a great place to take a picnic ashore and or have a swim. The northern end did not have any baches but the rest of the bay has dwellings fronting onto the beach.

The water would get a bit rough in fresher northerly through to south west winds and most of the bay is occupied by permanent moorings.

Probably ok for over-night stays in settled conditions.

Anchorage: Vivian Bay – Kawau Island
Position: 36.24.8S 174.50.2E
Date Visited: May - November 2006, Feb 08
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Kawau Island - Bosanquet Bay

Spring 2006 was a procession of low pressure systems that generated an almost non stop south westerly of between 20 – 35 knots that usually occurred over the weekends.

Bosanquet Bay on the south eastern end of Kawau is not an anchorage for these conditions but finally on the weekend of 4 November we struck light north – north east conditions so headed up to this Bay.

I was very impressed, with a backdrop of hills covered in regenerating Kauri, it was a very pleasant spot.

A lovely sandy beach is found at the western end of the Bay but this tended to be a little more exposed to the north easterly that was blowing when we first arrived. However, the wind turned more northerly and this part of the bay became pretty sheltered.

We ventured ashore hoping to be able to go for a stroll up through the bush but the land is privately owned and the signage said keep out.

Overall impressions, a great spot, sheltered from north west through to easterly winds however, at the extremes of each range, particularly easterly, some of the bay may be limited. Very clear water, I noticed a number of people diving, probably for scallops.

Anchorage: Bosanquet Bay – Kawau Island
Position: 36:26.495S 174.51.468E
Date Visited: November 2006
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Kawau – Mansion House Bay

We have only anchored here to go ashore for a walk along the tracks that are available on Kawau.

On our last visit in November 2006, we came in from the School House Bay end and found an operating café completed with food, coffee, etc and a very nice outdoor setting. Unfortunately did not take any cash with us. Next time!

It is a lovely setting complete with Mansion (ex Governor Grey) and is now run by doc.

Grey was responsible for the introduction of a range of interesting exotic flora and fauna and a walk through the grounds is not a means of getting acquainted with native species.

We have taken the track through to School House bay on a couple of occasions. It is an easy 1 hour return trip that offers a pleasant walk through pines with great views of the old copper mine (you can walk down to it) and across the surround islands to Whangaparaoa Bay.

Along the way you will be bound to come across wallabies that are a pest on the island. At the School House Bay end the track runs onto the main drag through the Bay, offering an insight into the laid back island lifestyle.

If you anchor at School House Bay, the bay is full of local moorings. We anchored out past these and rowed ashore on the receding tide. A mistake, when we returned there was a fair expanse of firm(ish) mud to drag the dinghy over. Needless to say, we gave the cockpit shower a work out back on the boat.

School House Bay is further into Bon Accord Harbour and if you can find a suitable spot, I would imagine that it is pretty sheltered in most winds except a westerly.

Mansion Bay, at the entrance to Bon Accord, looks a little exposed to north through to westerly winds. On each occasion we have visited it has been either calm or from the south west. The water was reasonably flat with the latter although I probably would not anchor overnight. It is not a very big bay.

UPDATE: We have been back on several occassions and have had lunch at the cafe. Very pleasant, you will be pestered by the Wekas but when we had lunch we had been on the water for three weeks and could not give a damn. All part of the charm of the place.

Anchorage: Mansion House Bay / School House Bay – Kawau Island
Position: 36.25.7S 174.49.1E
Date Visited: May - November 2006, Feb 07
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