Scandrett

Located at the south eastern edge of Kawau Bay, Scandrett Regional Park encompasses Mullet Point and includes regenerating coastal forest, rocky headlands, an attractive beach and a historic farm precinct.

It is one of the most recently opened of Auckland's 25 regional parks and remains under development. From the cliff tops at the end of Mullet Point there are outstanding views in all directions including views of Kawau Island (Te kawau-tu-maro), the numerous smaller islands in Kawau Bay and the Hauraki Gulf.

The park provides an ideal setting for walking, swimming, kayaking, mountain biking, fishing and picnicking.

Scandrett Regional Park takes its name from the Scandrett family, who farmed the land for more than 130 years.

History

The Mullet Point area was known to Maori as Purahurawai "the expansive, sparkling waters". In those days Maori came from throughout the Hauraki Gulf to Kawau Bay (off Mullet Point) to catch and dry sharks for a winter food source. There are a number of sites of past Maori settlement within Scandrett Regional Park, including two headland pa. The land was the site of early shipbuilding during the 1850s and 1860s. When George Scandrett arrived from Ireland in 1863, its long farming history began. The historic Scandrett homestead, built in 1884, differs from many other early farmhouses in that it is made of an early type of concrete instead of the usual kauri timber. The associated farm buildings - a barn, milking shed (formerly a hen house), implement shed, dairy and cream sheds - are relics of a bygone era when access to the property was by sea. They are being restored and remain a central feature of the park. The Scandrett family continued to farm the land until it was sold to the Auckland Regional Council in 1998.

Wildlife

The trees harbour native birds, and in spring you can expect to see - and hear - flocks of noisy tui feasting on nectar from the flowering kowhai.

Native bush

A significant remnant of coastal forest containing pohutukawa, taraire, kohekohe, tawapou, mahoe and kowhai clothes the park's cliffbound southern coastline. The grazed farmland on the sheltered northern slopes has pockets of coastal pohutukawa, pine and other introduced trees. A magnificent grove of mature pohutukawa grows on the spine of the peninsula above the old homestead. Near the historic farm precinct are a number of exotic trees including an enormous, old Norfolk Pine. They were given to the Scandrett family by Sir George Grey, a former Governor of New Zealand and owner of nearby Kawau Island.