Escape for a day to beautiful Kawau Island on a stunning scenic cruise and discover a pristine wildlife reserve surrounded by the calm clear waters of the Hauraki Gulf...
Kawau Island Super Cruise takes you from Sandspit, just a short drive North of Auckland city, to follow the Royal Mail delivery route around Kawau - the longest mail run by watercraft in the Southern Hemisphere.
This is the perfect way to take in the Island's many stunning bays and gain insight into what life is like for the 70 or so permanent residents who call the road-less Island home. Learn about the history of the Island and take in amazing views while your experienced skipper points out significant landmarks and sights of interest.
Watch Gannets and other seabirds on the hunt for their lunch. Don't forget to keep a close eye out for Dolphins, Penguins and other interesting sea creatures that might show up for a visit.
Arriving ashore at Mansion House Bay there is plenty of time to explore your beautiful surroundings. Pack a picnic lunch to enjoy, visit the historic Mansion House* and stroll through the stunning subtropical gardens alive with native birds such as Tui, Kereru and the cheeky Weka. Proud Peacocks and shy Wallabies call the gardens their home so keep your camera on hand to catch a unique photo opportunity.
Enjoy the numerous walking tracks that beckon you to beautiful beaches. Along the way, discover and explore ancient Maori Pa sites and the ruins of a seashore copper mine once worked by early settlers. Pack your swimwear and some snorkeling gear in summer to explore the crystal clear waters teeming with marine life.
A great day out (but parking is abysmal). The ferry staff were lovely, and the trip was brilliant. We took a picnic lunch and had it in the Mansion house grounds with the peacocks coming and saying hello. Parking at Sandspit is practically non-existent. You need to park in a road about 750m away (Brick Bay Rd) and then walk to the ferry building
Unfortunately information was hard to come by about this tour. When we turned up at the wharf we were told the normal, larger boat was out of action and we would be on the smaller boat. Captain didn't appear happy that we had a pram with us with our 15mo baby. Had to take everything out of it and collapse it at the last minute on the wharf whilst trying to board which was stressful. No assistance offered. This meant baby was free to wander the boat with two open doors which we didn't feel was safe. Once you get to mansion house there are several walks you can do but we weren't sure the quality of the tracks so didn't venture. Will definitely visit again to explore more.
The staff was good but the advertisement is totally falls. This is not near to a Cruise but more a merchant ferry. It stops at multiple places before the final destination. We had a small kid with us and thanks to a couple who gave us a seat otherwise not sure if we would get a seat inside the covered deck. You buy a ticket but there is no seat allocation. All in all it is a ferry which runs daily and you are just a passenger to get to the other side of the island. Would never go again.
Kawau island is my favorite place. I have visited many times. The crew are friendly and helpful and you always find something new everytime you go. Great views. I will say, however, if you wish to not be sworn at, abused by the kawau residents and talked down to by the office staff, when the website says that there is a 24hr surveillance car park to park during your visit, apparently they aren't meaning the 24hr surveillanced carpark ON the wharf. It wasn't a very pleasant way to end our amazing trip.
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Anke from Germany wrote on 25 December 2019
Die besondere Art des Reisens
Tolle Erfahrung mit dem Postschiff von Sandspit nach Kawau Island zu fahren um die Post auszutragen! Es werden mehrere Buchten angefahren und Steg um Steg warten bereits Leute auf ihre Post und andere wichtige Utensilien. Die Fahrt bis Kawau hat ca 30 Minuten gedauert bis die erste Bucht angelaufen wurde, währendessen hat der Kapitän viele interessante Info's über die Insel und die Umgebung gegeben. Auch zu jeder angelaufenen Bucht wurde viel Wissenswertes weiter gegeben. Nach ca 2 Stunden haben dann am Mansion House angelegt und konnten zwischen der Rückfahrt um 2pm oder 4:30 pm wählen. Schöne Wanderungen auf der Insel bieten viel über Flora und Fauna. Da auch das Wetter sehr angenehm war und die Passagieranzahl sehr überschaubar fanden wir diesen Ausflug sehr schön!