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Kawau Island, whose name stems from the many shag colonies there, lies just off shore in Hauraki Gulf, due east of Warkworth and 30 miles north of Auckland City. Approximately 5 miles long and 3 miles wide, the island is almost split in two by Bon Accord Harbour, which opens towards the mainland, so forming a fine natural anchorage.
Kawau Island has holiday baches and houses to let, self contained holiday flats and bed and breakfast accommodation (all meals available). The range is from high-end luxury to look-after-yourself baches. Only minutes from the mainland, Kawau Island offers the ideal “away from it all” holiday venue:
Kawau Island has long been a favourite destination for boaties thanks to its numerous bays which provide shelter from almost any weather. The 45k m journey from Westhaven Marina in downtown Auckland takes approximately an hour, making it close enough to visit for a day trip, and an ideal weekend getaway.
Kawau Island is a nature enthusiast's haven steeped in history. Start your day with a visit to Governor Grey’s “gentleman’s estate”. Built in 1845, the mansion was once a meeting place for politicians and royalty.
Kawau is home to the iconic Mansion House. Surrounding the house and extending up the valley are exotic gardens established by Sir George Grey. Kawau Island is also the site of one of New Zealand's earliest mining ventures. Remnants of the copper mining industry remain and can be explored using the ...
Learn about the local community associations on Kawau Island. These include: Kawau Island Residents and Ratepayers Association (KIRRA), Kawau Island Advisory Committee (KIAC), Kookaburra Magazine, Fire Emergency New Zealand (FENZ), Pohutakawa Trust, Kawau Emergency Response Trust (KERT), Camp Bentzon, and Department of Conservation (DOC).
Kawau Island was originally settled by early migrations of Maori people. From time to time tribes contested the right to live on the island, which was eventually abandoned in the 1820s after a particularly bloody skirmish during the musket wars.
