Area Information

Kawau Island

KAWAU ISLAND is steeped in history and was once the holiday home of one of New Zealand’s early Governor Generals, Sir George Grey. His home has been restored beautifully and is now open to visitors all year round. There was quite a large settlement during these early years, mainly based around the copper mining industry. The original old school house still stands at School House Bay in Bon Accord Harbour.

There are numerous walkways, clearly marked from which to appreciate the Island’s special characteristics.

Renowned fishing grounds, superb sheltered harbours for boaties……this is really a unique location, and very accessible to the Mahurangi Coast and Auckland City.

Ferry and water taxi service

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Size and Location

Kawau Island is 8 kms offshore from Sandspit (which is approx. 5 min drive from Warkworth, and 45 min drive from central Auckland). The ferry trip takes approx. 15 mins from the mainland.

There is accommodation at Vivian Bay, Pa Farm - Bon Accord Harbour, numerous bed and breakfasts. The Yacht Club in Bon Accord Harbour supplies food, drinks and groceries.

Main areas occupied are, Bon Accord Harbour, North Cove & South Cove (sheltered Harbours) and also Vivian Bay, (with beautiful sandy beach).

Other properties tend to be sprinkled along the West Coast line between these main areas. Different areas have different characteristics that suit varying needs of property owners.

Understanding local Knowledge is important in this specialist market when buying or selling properties.

Kawau Island covers an area of approx. 5000 acres, the bulk of which is in private ownership. There are around 450 individual ratepayers and approx. 80 permanent residents (this figure varies time to time)

Property Market

There are always limited numbers of properties available for sale as they are often put into Family Trusts and kept for many years. The unique location and lifestyle of the Island is often considered irreplaceable.
If you are seriously interested in properties on Kawau, it is advisable to register for my data base (margolsen@xtra.co.nz) with details of your personal requirements so I can notify you early of properties becoming available for sale.

Community Organisations

There is a special advisory committee set up for Council to represent interests of residents on Kawau. The Kawau Island Residents and Ratepayers Association protects and promotes interests of the Island dwellers.

Access

Except for South Cove and a small area in School House Bay, which have roading, most properties have water access, over jetties and pontoons which are serviced by Ferries or private boats. School House Bay and South Cove have public all tide wharves. Knowledge of the tides becomes important in the rhythm of life.

Many properties have individual jetties and some are shared with neighbouring properties. Helicopters are sometimes used for private access, building supplies and medical emergencies.
It is important to understand these aspects when investigating property purchase.

Services

Most water supply comes from individual tank collection off roofs and some properties have underground water bores. Individual septic tanks cope with sewerage.

There is power and telephone supply to the Island.

Supplies and smaller freight can be delivered on Ferry mail run (3 days a week). There is a regular Ferry service most days, although not very suitable for daily commuting. There are barging facilities. There are no schools on the Island.
Correspondence schooling is an option

Main Areas of Occupation

	BON ACCORD HARBOUR Renowned worldwide for its large sheltered harbour it gives excellent mooring and anchorage facilities for boaties. During New Zealand’s hosting of the famous Americas Cup, celebrations were held at Mansion House Bay and many magnificent yachts visited this area. Pah Farm sited at the end of the Harbour hosts a large scale, yearly fishing competition, and has accommodation and bar facilities. A fish breeding programme is in place here and a viewing of the tanks of young fish are really worth a visit. Kawau yacht club is also situated here.
	SCHOOL HOUSE BAY Bon Accord Harbour. Named through its sitting of the original school house, now a private residence this bay faces north for all day sun and like South Cove has an excellent public wharf and short road giving good access to some of the properties here. This gives convenience for people transporting supplies and mail to and from ferries and barges. Properties here adjoin large blocks of land belonging to the Department of Conservation and locals and visitors can enjoy beautiful bush walks through to Historic Mansion House (30 min walk) Ladies Bay and Copper Mine Bay, ideal for swimming and picnics. Most Locals have dingy's and often use these for dropping in at the Yacht Club, a short distance across the bay, for general supplies, fast foods and drinks.
	SOUTH COVE This Area enjoys expansive sea views from Sandspit to Auckland and out over the Gulf including a distant view of the Sky Tower in Auckland on a fine day. Residents and visitors enjoy the parade of boats, birds and sea life from this area. An excellent deep water public wharf located in the sheltered harbour, where some boats are moored, gives access up roading to individual properties serviced with underground power and telephone. 63 lifestyle properties, with mostly around 1 acre lots were developed in the 1970’s. This has been an increasing popular area with many properties changing hands in recent years especially after many of the large pine trees that covered the lots were felled. As elsewhere on Kawau Island now, there is very little available for sale on the property market

NORTH HARBOUR - An attractive Harbour, the second largest for sheltered moorings has areas of beautiful native bush. Locals use bush walks over to Vivian Bay and Sandy Bay (white sand surf beach on the Eastern Coast of the Island). Camp Benson, an educational camp is situated in the Cove and school children and locals enjoy its facilities. Community functions are often held here.

Access to most properties here is over private jetties and pontoons. Local knowledge of these is very important. The two tidal inlets here are serviced by a well run community jetty and pontoon to give owners all tide access.

VIVIAN BAY- A prestigious area with its superb white sandy beach and North Facing sunny location with views extending to Takatu Peninsula on the main land.

Little Vivian, with its own private community jetty to properties and part of the larger bay area enjoys similar views.