Kawau Island: Mansion House, Tracks and Bays

Kawau Island brings together evidence of the copper industry and the island’s early history, with tracks leading to viewpoints and bays. Two questions are especially helpful when planning your trip: how will you get to the island and go ashore, and which historic sites or landscapes would you like to explore? The tracks and landing places each have their own features.

Getting There and Going Ashore

Water taxis and ferries run daily from Sandspit Wharf near Warkworth to Kawau Island. Check schedules and operators before travelling so your plans fit the available services. Landing and ferry arrangements may also change.

At Mansion House Bay, there is a sandy and stony beach suitable for dropping off visitors in dinghies and tenders. The historic Mansion House wharf may be used only for drop-offs and pick-ups; commercial ferries operate there. This restriction is important for your arrival: the wharf is not intended for general stays. Check the landing guidance again before travelling.

Mansion House and the Historic Reserve

The Kawau Island Historic Reserve protects Mansion House and its gardens, as well as sites and relics of the historic copper industry. Mansion House was the former home of Sir George Grey and is listed as a Category 1 Historic Place. The gardens around the house can be explored. This allows you to take in the site’s history and its landscaped setting together, without conflating the copper industry remains with the later residence.

The historic wharf also tells the story of different building phases: it was built for Sir George Grey in 1875, replacing an existing wharf dating from 1844. This chronology helps put the site’s construction history into context. The wharf is also covered by the current landing guidance, which limits its use to drop-offs and pick-ups.

Tracks to Views and Historic Remains

The remains of Kawau Island’s copper industry can be explored via the Historic Reserve track network. The Coppermine Track provides a specific connection to the area’s earlier development: it follows an old carriage road built for Sir George Grey. Those interested in industrial history can connect the relics with a track whose route itself reflects an earlier use.

For a view over Mansion House Bay, the lookout on the Two House Bay Track offers a different perspective. It is open to the public, has a picnic table and provides a view over the bay. The Momona Point and Pā Track, on the other hand, leads to a former pā site and a headland with good views of the mainland. The destinations offer different points of interest: one focuses on the view over the bay, the other on the former pā site and the outlook towards the mainland.

A short side track off Schoolhouse Bay Road leads to a small historic cemetery. Early residents of Kawau Island are buried there, including copper miners and their families. The site adds the story of the people who lived on the island to the evidence of its industry.

Bays and Island Character

Kawau Island has numerous bays that provide shelter in almost any weather. Together with its historic tracks, they create a varied picture of the island: the bays shape its landscape, while Mansion House, the cemetery and the copper industry remains reveal different chapters of its history. When choosing places to visit, you can therefore decide whether to focus on views, landscapes or historic sites.

Discover more destinations: Warkworth, Great Barrier Island, Kumeu, Big Omaha, Silverdale, Bombay, Piha, Wellsford

For the broader travel overview: Auckland.