Sailing in the Hauraki Gulf

| Overview | Map | Possible Sailing Trips | Inner Island Group | | East to Waiheke | North to Kawau | Great Barrier Island | Climate |

	Overview of the Hauraki Gulf The Hauraki Gulf is one of the most superb cruising grounds in the world. This Gulf is a magnificent Maritime Park with over 70 islands able to be explored. The scenery is marvellous and there are innumerable sheltered bays to tuck into - often as little as half an hour apart. To fully appreciate the beauty of the gulf you need to be on a comforatable yacht, cruising amongst these charming islands and exploring them at your leisure. It can be a truly a great experience. Back to Top	Rangitoto Island Icon gateway to the Gulf

	Hauraki Gulf Map Click on an island or feature on the map to take you to its description. Back to Top

Possible Hauraki Gulf Sailing Trips Starting from Auckland, a week is a good duration for an east-bound trip to the far end of Waiheke Island commencing with the inner islands of Rangitoto, Motutapu and Motuihe. On Waiheke Island you can explore some vinyards as well as the township of Oneroa. This duration would also allow a visit to the island group of Ponui, Rotoroa, Pakatoa etc off the east end of Waiheke Island. Alternatively, a week is a good duration to travel north via the inner islands of Rangitoto, Motutapu and Rakino to the Whangaparaoa Peninsular, Mahurangi Harbour and Kawau Bay. A special feature of this trip is to visit the especially beautiful Kawau Island with its charming Mansion House Bay. This north-bound excursion could include a stop at Waiwera Springs for a hot swim (wind direction permitting). A duration of between 12 and 14 days would allow further time to sail both east to the far end of Waiheke Island and north to Kawau Island. Within that 12 to 14 day period it should also be possible to sail to the spectacular outlying Great Barrier Island (weather permitting) possibly making a round trip of it around the edges of the gulf. Back to Top

The Inner Island Group The following islands lie in a group closest to Auckland:
Rangitoto Island (back to map) Auckland is sited amongst over 60 extinct volcanoes. At only 600 years old, Rangitoto is the largest and most recent of these. While the island appears heavily bush-clad from the distance, once ashore the landscape changes to more like a moonscape with predominantly dark black rock formations and with the trees seemingly growing from the cracks. The island is a public reserve. A wide, well-made track leads you to the summit where you can peer down into the deep bowl of the now-dead crater and take in the best and most spectacular views over the entire gulf. Islington Bay, tucked between Rangoitoto and Motutapu Islands affords an all-weather anchorage, one of the most sheltered in the gulf.
Motutapu Island (back to map) Motutapu is a large grass-covered island having been farmed for many years. However, a major re-vegetation programme has been implemented and it will eventually be returned to bush. The Maoris were living on Motutapu Island when Rangitoto began to erupt out of the water right beside them. Numerous archaeological sites have been found of this earlier Maori habitation. There are many bays and beaches around all sides allowing access to this island in most wind conditions. Tracks link most of these bays enabling easy exploration of the island.	Home Bay, Motutapu Island
Motuihe Island (back to map) This attractive grass-covered public reserve is roughly triangular in shape and has white sandy beaches on each of its three sides making it a favoured weekend picnic spot for Auckland yachties and always a great place to stop at. Rakino Island (back to map) Rakino is a most picturesque island with a number of safe swimming beaches in sheltered coves. It is one of only a couple of islands in the gulf that has a residential subdivision but most of the cottages are used mainly as weekender accommodation. Back to Top

East to Waiheke In addition to visiting the inner island group, the following are just some of the many places to stop and see on the trip east from Auckland to the far end of Waiheke Island: Waiheke Island (back to map) At 26 km long, this is the second largest of the Hauraki Gulf islands. Waiheke island has about 7,000 residents and has a regular fast-ferry service to Auckland. There is a road network and a bus service on the island. This delightful paradise offers a wide variety of magnificent clean sandy beaches and many enjoyable walks. Because there are frequent large sheltered coves and bays around all sides of Waiheke Island there is always somewhere peaceful and still to anchor.

Waiheke Island

Waiheke's main settlement is at Oneroa where there are charming shops and fabulous restaurants. With good anchorage in bays on either of the north and south sides of the township, Oneroa can be accessed by yacht at any time regardless of the wind direction.

Most of the grassy rolling hills of the island are farmed with sheep or cattle. There are also a number of vineyards to visit that produce some of the best wine in the world.

Bays on east end of Waiheke Island

You can take a pleasant walk to Stony Batter on the heights of the north-eastern corner of the island to see the very interesting heritage-listed world war two gun emplacement and explore its ammunition tunnels. Across the eastern end of the island is a delightful series of small bays each sheltered by the off-lying islands of Pakatoa, Rotoroa, Ponui, and Pakihi.

Pakatoa Island (back to map) The charming small island of Pakatoa with its gorgeous sandy beaches has commercial resort accommodation and a restaurant. You are always welcome ashore at Pakatoa. Rotoroa Island (back to map) This brilliantly beautiful island has good anchorage in a number of bays on all sides each with sandy beaches. The Salvation Army owns this island and has established a centre to assist alcoholics to dry out. Ponui Island (back to map) The emerald green Ponui Island is the largest of the group of islands off the east end of Waiheke. It is privately owned and farmed but farmers usually have no objection to coming ashore provided you close farm gates and do not upset the animals. There are any amount of small harbours, bays and sandy beaches around the shoreline offering a great selection of anchorages. Back to Top

North to Kawau

In addition to visiting the inner island group of Rangitoto, Motutapu and Rakino, the following are just some of the many places to stop and see on the trip north from Auckland to Kawau Island:

Whangaparaoa Peninsular (back to map)

Projecting into the gulf by seven kilometres, this mainland peninsular provides a great number of marvellously protected bays and sandy beaches on both its north and south sides. Gulf Harbour marina is tucked into the southern shore where you can take on water and fuel.

There are suburban residences on much of this land as well as a small shopping centre. A large regional park occupies the whole of the seaward end of the peninsular overlooking the Whagaparaoa Passage and Tiritiri Island.

Waiwera Hot Springs

Waiwera (back to map) Nestled in a narrow valley, the sleepy little resort beach of Waiwera is famous for its natural hot water springs. The swimming pool complex here is open to public admission and has a number of pools of differing temperatures giving you the option to splash around merrily or just sit, relax and soak up the warmth. As Waiwera is exposed to the east, anchorage here is only possible with winds from the west which, fortunately, is the prevailing direction.

Mahurangi Harbour (back to map)

This harbour has some very good beaches and a number of good anchorage spots guaranteeing calm, and sheltered nights at most times.

Kawau Island (back to map)

The charming and beautiful Kawau Island is the undisputed gem of the Hauraki Gulf and the main lure for the sail north from Auckland.

The beautiful Bon Accord Harbour opens from the sheltered Kawau Bay and almost splits the island in two. This pretty harbour has a quantity of smaller bays off to each side including the idyllic Mansion House Bay.

Sir George Grey, Governor of New Zealand at the time, purchased the island in 1862 and converted what had been a mine manger's home into a large and gracious mansion. Now known as the 'Mansion House', it has been recently fully restored and is open daily for inspection. A walk through the lovely Mansion House grounds leads to a short track through native and exotic bush to the site of early copper mines where the remains of a pump-house chimney and several old shafts can be examined. Along the way some wallabies are likely to be observed. Originally introduced to the island from Australia by Governor Grey, this particular species has recently become almost extinct in Australia and has been re-introduced into that country from the Kawau Island stocks. Immediately north of Bon Accord Harbour is the almost completely landlocked North Cove which provides yet another perfectly sheltered anchorage.

Mansion House Bay, Kawau Island Old Copper Mine, Kawau Island

Vivian Bay, just inside the northern tip of the island, has a long sandy beach and is a great spot for a picnic ashore.

There is any number of other interesting and attractive bays on Kawau Island to call in to and check out as well as many more on the mainland side of Kawau Bay.


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Great Barrier Island (back to map) Another wonderful island in the Hauraki Gulf is the ruggedly beautiful Great Barrier Island. It lays about 50 kilometres across the gulf from Kawau Island with the trip across taking 4 or 5 hours in favourable weather and wind direction. This very large island is about 40 kilometres long and, together with Little Barrier Island, tends to shelter the Hauraki Gulf from the worst of any huge ocean seas. Great Barrier Island has a small permanent population and roads. There is a general store to be found at Port Fitzroy. Mostly the island is unspoilt in its natural splendour. Great Barrier Island is majestic in appearance with steep rugged shores on the west coast and scenic surf beaches on the east. Port Fitzroy and the adjacent Port Abercrombie are the prime destinations for cruising yachts. The many sheltered fingers of these sizeable harbours have deep water almost to the shoreline and provide excellent anchorages from which to take to the shores and explore. The southern entrance to Port Fitzroy is only 40 metres wide. Passing through this steep sided, deep water opening and to witness the inner sanctum of the enormous harbour open out before you is a memorable experience. The island's uppermost peak, Mt Hobson, is over 600 metres high and provides magnificent views for those fit and active to tackle the track up to it. For others, a shorter walk along the same track leads you to a kauri log dam originally built for the sudden release of its stored water to wash the huge newly sawn kauri tree trunks down to the harbour. Constructed out of kauri timbers, this dam has been recently restored because of its heritage value and is well worth a visit. There are a number of other points of call along the Hauraki Gulf side of Great Barrier Island including the previous whaling station of Whangaparapara Harbour, Tryphena Harbour, Bowling Alley Bay and a cluster of attractive islands off the westernmost point. Click on this Great Barrier link for further information on Great Barrier Island and check out their great photos. Back to Top

Climate February and March are generally considered as the months with the best and most-settled weather for the Hauraki Gulf although many other months can be quite suitable. Average daily temperatures for these months are 25 C and 23 C respectively although the evenings can become much cooler. The sheltered nature of the many bays and islands means you can reasonably be assured of a great time regardless of what the weather does. Back to Top