Motutapu – Hauraki Gulf

With such a huge variety of world class destinations and anchorages throughout its 4,000km2 it’s often easy to overlook some of the stunning spots just a stone’s throw from downtown Auckland that can be accessed without lengthy travel times (or burning large quantities of fuel!).

Just 10 nautical miles from Westhaven,  Motutapu’s Home Bay is one such, often overlooked, spot that offers secure, calm anchorage in all Northerly through Westerly winds and is ideal for a quick day trip with friends or an easy first stop at the beginning of a longer adventure.

Home Bay is a great spot for kids to adventure with 300m of stoney beach (great for treasure hunting/sea glass collecting) and a small creek flowing onto the northern end of the bay. Tucked in behind a magnificent stand of mature Pohutukawa sits the beautifully restored Reid Homestead which now acts as the visitor/information centre for the Motutapu Restoration Trust and during Summer offers coffee, ice creams and snacks for purchase.

At the southern end of the beach is a large flat grass area that forms part of the Motutapu Island Campsite, always a hive of activity over Summer and an idyllic place to set up a picnic.

Home Bay is a great base to start your exploration of the entire island with a network of walkways to take you to all corners as well as across to Rangitoto.

At 178 million years old Motutapu is one of the oldest land masses in the Hauraki Gulf. The island has lived an exciting life – it was intensively settled by Maori, it hosted massive Victorian picnic parties, and was a base during WWll.

There are many disused military sites on the island including a battery of three 6 inch guns and anti-aircraft, machine gun, radar and searchlight installations.

Whether it’s a last minute afternoon excursion or you’re at the start of something bigger, sometimes there’s no place like Home (Bay).