Kawau Island is one of the largest islands in the Hauraki Gulf, and one of the best known. It’s a place where land and sea stories meet – from the copper mines of the 1800s, to the grand Mansion House built by Governor Sir George Grey, to the yacht races and summer gatherings that still define its bays today.
Bon Accord Harbour lies at the heart of it all. Deep, sheltered, and accessible from Auckland, it has long been a magnet for cruising sailors. For anyone arriving by boat, Mansion House makes a dramatic first impression, standing proudly at the harbour’s entrance.
The Lidgard family and a new club
The Lidgard family were central to Kawau’s boating legacy. Boatbuilders by trade, they ran a shed at Smelting House Bay in the late 1940s, producing yachts, work boats and launches that still hold a place in Kiwi boating lore. In 1951, the family offered a parcel of their land for the formation of the Kawau Island Yacht Club (KIYC).
By 1954, thanks to donations of timber and plenty of volunteer labour, a clubhouse and jetty stood ready. It quickly became a focal point for island life.
Every summer, gatherings drew crowds of yachts and launches. The New Year’s Day regatta became a highlight, with dinghy races, keelboats, and motorboats all part of the spectacle. Onshore, the clubhouse buzzed with parties, dances, and the the lively spirit of a community bound by the sea.
From yacht club to boating club
The Kawau Island Yacht Club operated for more than six decades before closing its doors in April 2014. Later that year, the Kawau Island Boating Club (KBC) was incorporated, taking over the same clubhouse and facilities, and the new club reopened at Labour Weekend.
The response was overwhelming. By winter 2015, nearly 800 members had signed up, giving the club both financial strength and a clear mandate to carry forward the island’s traditions. Since then, the committee has worked steadily to upgrade the clubhouse and surrounding facilities, ensuring the club remains both welcoming and functional.
2025/26 season opener
Labour Weekend makes for a natural season-opening celebration. In 2025, the long weekend runs from Saturday 25 to Monday 27 October, but take the Friday off your usual routine and you give yourself a four-day spring escape. This year marks the official start of the 2025/26 season, and the club is set to welcome members old and new back to Bon Accord Harbour.
The opening weekend festivities will centre on the Nautica Shipping and Logistics Three-Day Regatta Programme:
- Friday afternoon: Cruise/race from Ponsonby Cruising Club to Kawau
- Saturday: Around-the-islands race
- Sunday: Shorter around-the-islands race
For many crews it offers a more relaxed, family-friendly alternative to the PIC Coastal Classic, which runs the same weekend.
Bon Accord Harbour provides safe anchorages, while ashore there’s no shortage of family adventure. Mansion House and garden visits and swimming, while walking tracks lead through native bush to Schoolhouse Bay, Coppermine Lookout (highly recommended), and other quiet coves.
From the harbour it’s also easy to explore neighbouring islands or cross back to the mainland for day trips. On Sunday, the Waitemata Woodys parade adds colour and character to the weekend, reinforcing the strong link between heritage boats and Kawau’s boating culture.
That blend of history and community is what makes the Kawau Island Boating Club what it is today. From its roots with the Lidgards in the 1950s, through the heyday of the KIYC, and into its current chapter as the KBC, the spirit remains the same – boaties coming together to share sailing, racing, and good company.
Entries for the Labour Weekend regatta are now open at pcc.org.nz. Whether you’re chasing a start line or just looking for a spring escape, Bon Accord Harbour is set to deliver.
