Tony and Mel joined us aboard Imagine for a few unhurried days at sea. With the wind spinning through every point of the compass, we set our course for Kawau Island, letting the shifting breeze decide our rhythm. Our first night found us anchored off Motuketekete, a small privately owned island tucked just south of Kawau, its sheltered cove protecting us from the easterly wind and swell.
The water there was cool and impressively clear, and we all slipped in for a swim before swimming ashore to explore the quiet shoreline. Later, as the day softened into evening, we gathered on the foredeck with drinks and nibbles, watching the sun melt into the horizon. Stories from past adventures on Imagine drifted between us, carried on the warm air like familiar music.
The next few days slipped past almost without us noticing, each one shaped by the wandering wind. We moved from bay to bay, tucking ourselves into whatever shelter the shifting breeze allowed. One morning we mustered a burst of energy and wandered through a corner of Kawau, letting the crude roadways lead us along the ridge displaying magnificent views. The rest of the time, though, we surrendered to the slow pulse of the island—stretching out on deck, drifting in and out of the cool water, circling the boat in lazy swims that felt like the only thing the day truly required.
Facts
Kawau was named after the Kawau Paka; the white throated or little shag-cormorant which breeds on the Island. Kawau Island is one of the largest islands in the Hauraki Gulf and is rich in history. The tribes that occupied Kawau were notorious for their piracy and cannibalism. It was so bad that tribes from the mainland combined forces and attacked the Kawau tribes, ending their control of the island.
In 1841 James Forbes Beattie, acting for the British Loan and Investment Company, purchased Kawau Island (Maori land) as an investment in New Zealand. In 1844 the discovery of copper was made by Alexander Kinghorn and his miners. all mining operations on Kawau stopped in 1858. In 1862 the Island was purchased by one of New Zealand’s first governors, Sir George Grey, as a private owner. More about Kawau history ca be found here https://www.kawauisland.org/kawau-island-history
