Kawau Cruises & Kawau Water Taxis runs ferries and water taxis to Kawau Island from Sandspit Rd in Rodney, serving island residents, holidaymakers and day-trippers alike. It holds a 4.4 rating from 375 Google reviews, with customers praising the friendly crews and the choice of boats and sailing times.
Island ferries run to the boat's clock, not yours, so check first and last sailings before committing to a long walk or an afternoon on the beach. A scheduled ferry usually lands at the main wharf, while an on-demand water taxi can set you down closer to your own bay. Summer weekends fill quickly, so booking ahead is wise, and weather can shift departures at short notice. Day-trippers who arrive early tend to get the calmest water and the quietest tracks.
For a day among the island's Mansion House, peacocks and bush-clad bays, this is the local way across from Sandspit.