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Kawau Island Super Cruise - Royal Mail Run Return Cruise

4.5
401
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...

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...

Highlights

  • Take in spectacular views Kawau Island's Bays from a unique perspective
  • Spot main landmarks and learn all about the Island's history from your skipper
  • Look out for dolphins, penguins and other interesting sea creatures
  • Visit the Mansion House* and explore the surrounding gardens and walking tracks
  • Discover fascinating local cultural and historic sites
  • A fantastic idea for all ages!

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.

Adult $107.00
Child $54.00
Under 5s $0.00 (Children under the age of 5 travel Free)
Family $297.00 (2 Adults + 2 Children)
Senior $100.00

Location

  • Departs Sandspit Wharf 10:30 am daily - Returns from Mansion House 2pm. Sandspit Wharf is located approximately 50 minutes drive north of Auckland
  • via Warkworth. (Or 2 hours drive South from Whangarei).

Child Friendly

  • This experience welcomes families with children.

Notes

  • *The Mansion House Cafe ***Closed Mondays and Tuesdays and from May - October ***

    The Mansion House Cafe is open on the island at weekends and most days during the summer season for brunch and lunches. Please check directly with the Mansion house (+64 9 445 9142) for opening times / days as they are subject to change throughout the year.

    Please note: The Department of Conservation charges a small fee on the day for entry to the historic Mansion House - 16+ years old: $10.00 per person. Children free with a paying adult, with a maximum of 4x children per paying adult.

    Please check with Department of Conservation for opening hours of the Museum and track maintenance www.doc.govt.nz or phone (09) 422 8882 (We have 2 tracks closed at the moment but tracks to Lookout, Coppermine, School House bay and Lady's bay are open).

  • Child Age 5 - 15 years. Infant 0 - 4 years are free of charge.

    Prices are for a return ticket.

    Onboard BBQ: For an extra $33 per adult, $33 per senior, and $20 per child you can enjoy a traditional Kiwi BBQ cooked and served while we cruise.

    Picnicking: Packing a picnic to enjoy on the reserve is a great idea; there are plenty of picnic tables at strategic points throughout the reserve and a free gas BBQ available in Mansion House Bay.


    Important Legal Obligations:

    The reserve has no rubbish disposal facilities so you will need to take all rubbish you bring onto the island back with you

    To protect the unique wildlife on Kawau Island there are strictly no Dogs or animals of any kind allowed

    Fire Ban - the lighting of fires is prohibited on the island

    No Camping in the reserve

    No removing or disturbing artifacts or other historical remains

    Non-compliance with these rules of the reserve could lead to prosecution .

Available Bookings from 31 Mar to 13 Apr 2024

Change Dates

All prices are shown in NZD ($)

Sun 31 Mar
Mon 1 Apr
Tue 2 Apr
Wed 3 Apr
Thu 4 Apr
Fri 5 Apr
Sat 6 Apr
Sun 7 Apr
Mon 8 Apr
Tue 9 Apr
Wed 10 Apr
Thu 11 Apr
Fri 12 Apr
Sat 13 Apr

  • Adult$71.00
  • Child$54.00
  • Under 5s Free
  • Family$297.00
  • Senior$100.00

  • Adult$128.00
  • Child$67.00
  • Under 5s Free
  • Family$297.00
  • Senior$100.00

  • Adult$65.00
  • Child$67.00
  • Under 5s Free
  • Family$297.00
  • Senior$100.00

  • Adult$103.00
  • Child$67.00
  • Under 5s Free
  • Family$297.00
  • Senior$100.00

  • Adult$109.00
  • Child$67.00
  • Under 5s Free
  • Family$297.00
  • Senior$100.00

  • Adult$109.00
  • Child$67.00
  • Under 5s Free
  • Family$297.00
  • Senior$100.00

  • Adult$65.00
  • Child$67.00
  • Under 5s Free
  • Family$297.00
  • Senior$100.00

  • Adult$85.00
  • Child$67.00
  • Under 5s Free
  • Family$297.00
  • Senior$100.00

  • Adult$128.00
  • Child$67.00
  • Under 5s Free
  • Family$297.00
  • Senior$100.00

  • Adult$65.00
  • Child$67.00
  • Under 5s Free
  • Family$297.00
  • Senior$100.00

  • Adult$103.00
  • Child$67.00
  • Under 5s Free
  • Family$297.00
  • Senior$100.00

  • Adult$109.00
  • Child$67.00
  • Under 5s Free
  • Family$297.00
  • Senior$100.00

  • Adult$109.00
  • Child$67.00
  • Under 5s Free
  • Family$297.00
  • Senior$100.00

  • Adult$65.00
  • Child$67.00
  • Under 5s Free
  • Family$297.00
  • Senior$100.00

Authenticated Reviews & PhotosAll of our reviews are from people who have booked and paid for this activity thru Bookme

Authenticated Reviews & PhotosAll of our reviews are from people who have booked and paid for this activity thru Bookme

4.5

401 reviews

Showing all 401 authenticated Bookme reviews

Bronwyn Owens from New Zealand wrote on 12 January 2022

Royal mail run

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

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Maddison Thompson from New Zealand wrote on 04 January 2023

My favorite place

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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sonic26 from New Zealand wrote on 21 October 2023

Five star trip on a perfect day, thanks :)

Five star trip on a perfect day, thanks :)

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karanveer1389 from New Zealand wrote on 01 January 2022

Not sure if it was a Super CRUISE

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.

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Jessica Oakley from New Zealand wrote on 15 January 2023

Hard with a toddler

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.

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