West End Rowing Club is one of Auckland's oldest rowing clubs, founded in 1884 and based at Saunders Reserve on the Whau River, with a boatshed at Mercer and a purpose-built coastal clubhouse at Cox's Bay. The club says that clubhouse is the only dedicated coastal rowing clubhouse in Auckland. It takes rowers of all ages, from juniors and school crews to masters and novices. Its Give It a Row course is five Sunday mornings from 8 to 10am at Saunders Reserve, for NZ$250 with all equipment provided, and the club asks people to register their interest for the next intake. Masters is for rowers aged 27 and over. Novice and club squads train under head coach Sam Jackson, and the club also runs coastal rowing and beach sprints.
Recent news from the club: Harry Fitzpatrick will race both the NZ Men's Four and Eight at the World Champs in August, and the club's lead women's coach, Molloy, is coxing the NZ Women's Eight. Coming up are the Erik Verdonk Memorial at Sylvan Park, Lake Pupuke, in November 2026, the KRI Christmas Regatta at Karapiro in December 2026, and the NZ Nationals at Lake Karapiro in February 2027. The club is also home to rowing crews from Baradene College, Mt Albert Grammar and St Peter's College. Our pick in Herne Bay for coastal rowing and a first season on the water.